Some Aspects of Mineral Cycling in a Maquis (Evergreen Sclerophyllous) Ecosystem of Northeastern Greece

Primary production and nutrient pools in the soil and vegetation of a maquis ecosystem of northeastern Greece are examined. The abo veground biomass of 43.5 tha−1 is similar to that of other Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Among the nutrients examined, the ecosystem seems to be deficient in phosphorus, since only 0.87 kg ha−1 of it are incorporated into the soil annually, while plant uptake reaches 2.79 kg ha−1, resulting in a phosphorus deficit of about 1.9 kg ha−1.