Waloryzacja siedlisk obszarów górskich na podstawie Siedliskowego Indeksu Glebowego (SIGg)

The correct assessment of the site conditions is the basis of the good management of forest areas. The aim of this study was to find a set of soil properties, which allow separating the diverse sites in terms of the soil productivity. We used 180 locations in the Carpathians and the Sudety Mountains for testing. The study plots were located in transects from the foothills to the top along the slopes, taking into account the variability of site conditions, geological substrate and exposition. The index was calculated on the basis of the content of <0.02 mm particles, the sum of exchangeable base cations, soil acidity and the ratio between total N content and organic C in the humus−mineral horizon. The soil trophic index for mountain areas (SIGg) that include the climatic factor was introduced. The factor is defined as the 650/altitude ratio for a given point above sea level. In the mountains, the content of <0.02 mm fraction, the sum of exchangeable base cations and soil acidity were determined in the column of 1 m² of the soil cross section and depth of 1 m (1 m³ of volume) due to the lower depth of the soil profile. The SIGg correctly separates soil of different productivity as the properties closely associated with the stable elements of the soil, expressing its production and properties, which reflect the current state of the soil environment, were used in the construction SIGg.