Soil organic matter accumulation, litter decomposition and humus forms under mediterranean-type forests in southern Tuscany, Italy

The amount of organic matter and rate of litter decomposition in relation to vegetation type under mediterranean-type forests in southern Tuscany was studied. Since existing concepts are largely based on studies of soils on calcareous substrates in this region, particular attention was paid to soils on non-calcareous materials. The humus type and distribution at five sites on acid metamorphic rocks and at one site on dolomitic limestone with different vegetation types was investigated. The input of above-ground litter was also determined. On the metamorphic rocks, clear trends in humus profile development could be observed from deciduous through sclerophyllous to coniferous vegetation: there was a decrease in litter nitrogen content (9.3 to 5.8 g N kg^?1 DM), an increase in the amount of organic matter in ectorganic layers (2.53 to 4.66 kg m^?2), a decrease in the decay constant k (0.26 ± 0.02 to 0.17 ± 0.03 a^?1), and a decrease in soil faunal activity. The results indicate that, under eu-mediterranean to sub-mediterranean forests, decomposition rates are comparable to those under temperate deciduous forests, and that the dominant humus form is a leptomoder. The spatial variation in the amount of organic matter within the plots was considerable, and was related to vegetation type.