Pattern of Distribution of Townsville Stylo, Annual Grasses and Perennial Grasses in Relation to Soil Variation

The patterns of variation of soil conditions and vegetation were mapped on a mosaic area (4 ha) of solodized-solonetz and solodic soils in a seasonally dry tropical climate. The soil variables measured included: topography, available P, depth of A horizon, pH, basic exchangeable cations and the tota...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of applied ecology 1977-08, Vol.14 (2), p.621-630
Main Authors: McCown, R. L., Murtha, G. G., Field, J. B. F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural soils
Agrology
Coastal plain soils
Forest soils
Grasses
Grassland soils
Perennials
Sandy loam soils
Soil horizons
Vegetation
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Summary:The patterns of variation of soil conditions and vegetation were mapped on a mosaic area (4 ha) of solodized-solonetz and solodic soils in a seasonally dry tropical climate. The soil variables measured included: topography, available P, depth of A horizon, pH, basic exchangeable cations and the total soluble salts profile. Vegetation attributes included the total herbage yield and yield of perennial grasses, annual grasses, Townsville stylo and forbs. Correlations between soil attributes, between vegetation attributes and between soil and vegetation attributes were calculated. Only the total soluble salts profile accounted for a significant amount of the variation in vegetation attributes. Since the salt profile is known to be dependent upon the normal depth of wetting in the B horizon, it is concluded that the pattern of perennial grass distribution was determined primarily by variation in subsoil permeability, i.e. water storage capacity. The yield of other vegetation components were negatively correlated with the perennial grass component, and it is concluded that the edaphic factors influence these components mainly indirectly via competition with the taller growing perennial grasses.
ISSN:0021-8901
1365-2664
DOI:10.2307/2402572