Relationships between soil organic carbon, functional traits, and edaphic variables of four woody species in Montane Cloud Forest

Soil organic carbon is influenced not only by vegetation and edaphic variables but also by plant functional traits. This work analyzed the relationships between soil organic carbon, functional traits, and edaphic variables in Montane Cloud Forest. Also, a model to predict soil organic carbon that includes plant functional traits was established. The plant functional traits were measured in Gordonia fruticosa, Weinmannia pinnata, Beilschmiedia tovarensis, and Chrysochlamys colombiana. Soil organic carbon content and edaphic variables of surrounding soil were determined. Soil organic carbon was significant correlated with some edaphic parameters and plant functional traits. The best model predicted 99% of the total soil organic carbon and included Bulk Density, Specific Leaf Area, Leaf Nitrogen Content and Specific Stem Density.