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The calcifuge behaviour of Visearía vulgarís
Author(s) -
Tyler Germund,
Olsson Pal Axel
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1654-1103
pISSN - 1100-9233
DOI - 10.2307/3235731
Subject(s) - cambisol , soil water , calcareous , calcareous soils , phosphorus , plant community , agronomy , soil ph , botany , biology , environmental science , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , ecological succession
Abstract Soil factors responsible for the inability of Visearía vulgaris to colonize or survive on calcareous soils in Scandinavia were studied using experiments with plant establishment from seeds and re‐establishment of mature plants, in soils of naturally differing or artificially varied chemical properties. Limestone soil proved less suitable for re‐establishment of mature plants, and establishment from seeds was not possible in this soil. The plants grown on limestone had a very low phosphorus content and displayed deficiency symptoms. Acid leptite soil and soil from the A‐horizon of a dystric cambisol were suitable for plant establishment from seeds and re‐establishment of adult individuals, respectively. However, growth increased significantly when pH‐KCl was raised to 7.6 by adding CaC0 3 . Establishment from seeds was successful in the Archaean and Ordovician limestone soils only when CaHP0 4 was added. The calcifuge behaviour of Visearía vulgaris is not due to negative effects of a high pH or a high Ca concentration in the soil. Inability to utilize the native phosphorus of such soils is the most evident explanation.