The objective of the study was to examine the interrelationships of soils, vegetation and position on the landscape in open geomorphic systems. The major landscape positions were the summit, backslope, footslope and toeslope. Beginning with the backslope, the thickness of the surface horizon, percent clay and moisture content increased downslope with obvious alluvial stratification at the toeslope. Geologic processes of erosion and sedimentation were primary factors influencing soil properties on the backslope, footslope and toeslope. Soils on the summit differed in that they were chronologically older and resulted from pedologic rather than sedimentation processes. Nonparametric analysis indicated a significant relationship (P<0.05) between cover of the major species and position on the landscape. Plant biomass, species composition and soil profiles varied with landscape position, which illustrated the concomitant development of soils and vegetation as influenced by topography. By appearances and moisture observations, the concave landscape positions that receive water from above, especially on the N aspect, were forested and the convex positions, especially on the S aspect, or in the backslope position, were covered by short and midgrasses.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Butler et al. (1986) studied this question.