The content of phosphorus in mountain meadow (Polonina) soils as an indicator of past shepherding activity
2012
Chodorowski, J. | Melke, J. | Ziółek, M. | Uziak, S.
This research was conducted in the area of the Carynska Polonina (the Western Bieszczady, the Eastern Carpathians, Poland). The content of total phosphorus (P2O5 t), inorganic phosphorus (P2O5 in), organic phosphorus (P2O5 org) and phosphorus extracted with 1% citric acid (P2O5 ac) was determined in 8 profiles of mountain meadow (polonina) soils. The content of the examined forms of phosphorus is highest in the surface humus horizons A, but, as arule this decreases with depth. In general, the amount of organic phosphorus (P2O5 org) was found to be higher than the amount of inorganic phosphorus (P2O5 in). The high content of phosphorus extracted with 1% citric acid (P2O5 ac) in soils under the Rumicetum alpini community may indicate the sites of past shepherding activity (shepherds shelters and cattle accommodation) in this area. P2O5 ac was found to be the most useful indicator of anthropopression compared to other forms of phosphorus. The impact of human activity on the natural environment of Carynska Polonina intensified several times, and the last phase of anthropopression was connected with an increase in population and economic development in this area during the first half of the 20th century, between 1911 and 1939.
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