Edaphic factors of the habitats of natural lucerne populations
2001
Lemetti, I. (Estonian Agricultural Univ., Tartu (Estonia). Dept. of Soil Science and Agrochemistry) | Bender, S. | Tamm, S. (Jogeva Plant Breeding Inst., Jogeva (Estonia))
Edaphic factors of the habitats of natural lucerne populations were examined in 16 sites of Estonia. Soil texture was mostly sand and/or gravel content was high. Studied soils were mostly different kind of Regosols, Leptosols and Cambisols. Habitats of natural lucerne populations in Estonia are located on different soil types studied can be characterised by the same complex of properties: neutral or alkaline soil reaction, sandy texture or high gravel content, complete drying over the vegetation period. As the upper soil horizons have sandy texture and high gravel content, lucerne can easily become a dominant species even on calcareous soils with gleyic properties. Soils with the characteristics similar to that of the natural habitats can be used for the agricultural cultivation of lucerne. On the one hand, these are the soils characteristic, to lucerne certain advanced status, compared to other natural and cultivated plant varieties. On the other hand, these soils are not suitable for intensive agriculture
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