Properties of cambisol in beech-fir forests of Velebit and Gorski Kotar

Background and Purpose: Cambisol is the best represented soil in Dinaric beech-fir forests. The paper presents and compares properties of cambisol in the areas of northern Velebit and Gorski Kotar. Materials and Methods: Localities with cambisols over limestone were selected on Velebit and Gorski Kotar. All the localities were reconnoitred and their affiliation to the association Omphalodo-Fagetum was established. Soil samples were taken in 47 pedological profiles. The following were analyzed: pH values, organic carbon and total nitrogen content, nitrate and ammonia nitrogen content, physiologically active phosphorus and potassium content, and soil texture. The data were statistically processed by Statistica 7.1. Results: Cambisol on Velebit is deeper than cambisol in Gorski Kotar. A lower pH value was recorded in cambisol on Velebit. Cambisols of Velebit and Gorski Kotar belong to humus-rich soils and soils that are very rich in total nitrogen content. A statistically significantly higher NH4 + content was recorded within the entire cambisol profiles in Gorski Kotar. The A horizon of cambisol profiles opened on Velebit is poorly supplied with physiologically active phosphorus, whereas in Gorski Kotar the supply ranges from poor to good. With regard to texture, cambisol in the A horizon on Velebit and in Gorski Kotar is predominantly silty clay loam and in the B horizon it is light clay. Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, the pH value of cambisol on Velebit is lower (more acid) than in all the other localities in Gorski Kotar. In terms of NH4 + content, a statistically significant difference between Velebit and Gorski Kotar was established with the t-test and the variance analysis.