Novak, T.J., 2005, Afforestations in the Hungarian puszta area: their role in the landscape structure, and influences on landscape elements, in: ECLAS (D. Oguz), ‘Landscape change’, Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agriculture Ankara University, Ankara
- Author : Novak, T.J.
- Year : 2005
- Published in Book : Landscape change
- Pages : 230-240
- Abstract in English : The authors investigated one of the typical landscape types of the Hungarian lowland areas: a solonetzic grassland, situated on the eastern part of the Hungarian Plain. The area is a flat floodplain. Landscape history, vegetation and archeological studies show that the area were dominantly edaphic steppe during the Holocene period. The traditional land use and landscape structure were developed under the influence of relatively unfavourable conditions. The recent landscape structure is dominated by pastures, whereas the surrounding areas are dominated by plough lands. Since the beginning of the 1920s aimed numerous concepts to change the unfavourable soil and waterhoushold conditions of this area; soil reclamation and water regulation concepts purposed the amelioration of widespread areas of the region. One of them wanted reclaim both soil and water conditions with carrying out afforestations: Quercus, Fraxinus, Populus, on more alkaline sites Eleagnus and Tamarix species were used. Since 1973 a large area of the landscape is protected (Hortobágy National Park). The landscape structural and botanical valuability of this afforestations in this traditional non-wooded landscape is discussed from different aspects. The influence of the settled ligneous vegetation on their environment were evaluated on base of vegetation and soil studies. As reference were the surrounding grasslands also studied. A significant lower soil pH, cation exchange capacity, smaller adsorbed sodium ratio and higher content of organic matter could be established. DTA investigations proved that a change occurred in the quality of the organic content as well. Woodlands have significantly changed the physical and chemical conditions of the originally solonetzic soil types, the soils developed under forested sites should be definitely distinguished from the original soil taxon. The ecological indication character of the undergrowth of afforestations differs from the grasslands. The planted forests are poor in species (0,012 species/m2) and they are in this aspect less valuable habitats than alkaline grasslands.
- Comments/Notes : KEYWORDS: alkaline grassland; afforestation; solonetz; changing soil type. / Eclas 2005