Chemical and Biochemical Properties of Soils Developed from Different Lithologies in Northwestern Spain (Galicia)

Abstract

Physical and chemical soil properties are generally correlated with the parent material, as its composition may influence the pedogenetic processes, the content of nutrients, and the element biocycling. This research studied the chemical and biochemical properties of the A horizon from soils developed on different rocks like amphibolite, serpentinite, phyllite, and granite under a relatively similar climatic regime from Galicia (northwest Spain). In particular, the effect of the parent material on soil evolution, organic carbon sequestration, and the hormone-like activity of humic and fulvic acids were tested. Results indicated that all the soils were scarcely fertile because of low concentrations of available P, exchangeable Ca (except for the soils on serpentinite and phyllite), and exchangeable K, but sequestered relevant quantities of organic carbon. The scarce soil fertility was common to all soils independently of the parent material, and we attributed this similarity to the pedogenetic pressure induced by the climatic conditions. Also, the hormone-like activity of humic and fulvic acids, similar for all the soils, was probably due to pedogenesis. We hypothesized that the hormone-like activity of the humic substances helps growth and diffusion of vegetation in low fertile soils and, consequently, soil organic carbon sequestration too.

Effects of Short-Term Application of Chemical and Organic Fertilizers on Bacterial Diversity of Cornfield Soil in a Karst Area

“…Previous studies have shown that soil parent material is the key to determining the differences in soil properties and mineral element composition (Cardelli et al 2017) and is related to nutrient cycling in the soil-ecosystem and its fertility (Anda et al 2015). Therefore, the soil parent material indirectly affects soil bacterial community through its physicochemical properties and mineral element composition.…”

Improving Nitrogen and Phosphorus Efficiency for Optimal Plant Growth and Yield

“…Table 2 explained that there are soils containing gravel and stones with loam to silt loam. The higher drainage portions of the gravel infused soil may move P into groundwater and nearby streams, whereas silty loam may retain more P. The primary soil order in Maine is Spodosols, susceptible to P deficiency with the third minimum distribution of P among the 12th order after Andisols and Vertisols [124]. A University of Kentucky study on P showed that testing soil P changed under different soils with the same rate of P application [123].…”

Land Use Effect on Quality of Plateau Soils: A Case Study of Ososo in Northern Edo State, Nigeria

“…Avl P demonstrated significant variation at the topsoil under different land uses (p > 0.05). This infers the effect of the examined land uses on Avl P. However, in examining chemical and biochemical properties of soils developed from different lithologies in Northwestern Spain (Galicia), Cardelli et al (2017) reported low values of available P (with the exception of the soils on serpentinite and phyllite). They opined that this circumstance was ascribed to both parent rocks and environmental situations.…”