Articles

Site classification in a mixed hardwood forest (Hallerbos, Belgium) with a homogeneous ground vegetation dominated by Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex. Rothm.

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Abstract

The  forest of Halle (560 ha), situated 20 km south of Brussels is covered by a  beech (Fagus sylvatica)  forest, locally mixed with secundary species (Tilia,  Fraxinus, Acer, Quercus,... ). In almost all  stands, herbal vegetation is dominated by bluebell (Hyacinthoides  non-scripta).     The research intended to classify 36 plots of different tree species  composition according to their site quality. Three classification methods  were compared: the first one based on the indicator value of the understorey  vegetation, a second one on the humus morphology and a last one on some  quantitative soil characteristics. According to the plant sociological site  classification, the plots have the same site quality. However, humus forms  differ apparently and significant differences were found in pH value and base  cation saturation of the soil, abundance and biomass of earthworms and  biomass of the ectorganic horizon. Tree species proved to be the main cause  of these differences.     The results illustrate that the herbal vegetation is not always a reliable  indicator of site quality. In the case of a homogeneous vegetation dominated  by one or more indifferent species, classification on humus morphology or  soil analysis are more appropriate. In the forest of Halle, the tree species  is probably the main cause of the observed differences in site quality.

How to Cite:

Maddelein, D. & Muys, B. & Neirynck, J. & Sioen, G., (1994) “Site classification in a mixed hardwood forest (Hallerbos, Belgium) with a homogeneous ground vegetation dominated by Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex. Rothm.”, Silva Gandavensis 59. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sg.v59i0.868