Articles | Volume 9, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-63-2018
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-63-2018
Research article
 | 
31 Jan 2018
Research article |  | 31 Jan 2018

The hidden ecological resource of andic soils in mountain ecosystems: evidence from Italy

Fabio Terribile, Michela Iamarino, Giuliano Langella, Piero Manna, Florindo Antonio Mileti, Simona Vingiani, and Angelo Basile

Download

Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Download
Short summary
Andic soils have unique morphological, physical and chemical properties that induce both considerable soil fertility and great vulnerability to land degradation. Here we attempt to show that soils rich in poorly crystalline clay minerals have an utmost ecological importance. Our results are hoped to be a starting point for better understanding the ecological importance of andic soils and also possibly to better consider pedological information in carbon balance calculations.