Soil characterization and comparison of organic matter quality and quantity of two standsunder different vegetation cover on Monte Faito (CAMPANIA, S-Italy)

Soil is the largest terrestrial carbon pool, of which about 20% is stored in forest soils. The dominant species of each forest typology strongly influence structure, function and activity of soil microbial communities. There is a substantial lack of studies integrating analyses on soil chemical-physical features and biological activities in soil deep layers under different canopies. Accordingly, the present work aims to (a) characterize and compare organic matter quality and quantity along the profiles of soils developed on the same parent material, but under different canopies and (b) evaluate the distribution and activity of the microbial biomass along the soil profiles. The research was carried out in a mountain ecosystem in southern Italy, along the decomposition’s continuum. In order to reach our goals we evaluated Soil Organic Matter (SOM), Soil Total Nitrogen and Soil Total Carbon and different C fractions, microbial and active fungal biomass, enzyme activities involved in SOM degradation. The results showed that in the soil, the chemical-physical variables made the difference in the A horizons, while some enzyme activities explained most of the diversity in the deepest horizons. Overall, the two stands showed differences, highlighting a separation of the two profiles, despite the same parent material.