The Relationship between the structure of plant community and the soil in an abandoned cropland around Komado Moor

To consider the way for the recovery of a beech forest in an abandoned cropland surrounding Komado moor in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, we clarified soil profile on each plant community type. Moreover we examined the relationship between the plant community types and the characteristics of the soil (soil hardness, and soil permeability). The area surrounding the moor, excluding the abandoned cropland, was a secondary beech forest. In the abandoned cropland, five community types were identified. The shrub type, in which Sasa senanensis or Rubus crataegifolius was dominant, was distributed at the forest edge and along the stream. The Phragmites communis type was distributed over the area of water logging. The pasture type and the Miscanthus sinensis type were distributed on flat land and on the slope, respectively, and the Miscanthus sinensis type was divided into the poor-growth subtype (glass height<2.0m) and the good-growth subtype (glass height≧2.Om). The former was distributed on the upper slope near the farm road, and the latter, on the lower slope. The soil type of the beech forest was moderately moist brown forest soil drier type. On the other hand, the ground level of the abandoned cropland was 30-40cm lower than that of the beech forest. The soil profile of the abandoned cropland was composed of a till layer and B layer. The till layer was yellowish-brown in color, had a nutty structure, and was composed of clayey soil. The B layer was yellowish-brown in color, had a massive structure, and was composed of clayey soil. However, the till layers of the good-growth subtype and the pasture type were thicker than those of the poor-growth subtype. Furthermore, the quantity with root and humus of the good-growth subtype and the pasture type were greater than that of the poor-growth subtype. The soil hardness of the good-growth subtype and the pasture type was softer than that of poor-growth subtype. Also, the water permeability of the good-growth subtype and the pasture type at a depth of 40cm were higher than that of poor-growth subtype. These results suggest that the cause of the difference in the community types seemed to be the difference with the disappearance quantity of surface soil. The difference of the soil hardness, water permeability, and humus thickness was estimated to appear the difference with the disappearance quantity of surface soil. Moreover, we clarified the plat community type which it is possible for a beech forest to be recovered in abandoned cropland and showed a way for a beech forest recovery.