Description:
Forest soil moisture limits (hydrolimits) suggest variation in soil water availability for tree species. In this study, we focused on estimations of soil hydrolimits using multiple regression with grain size, Corg, pH/H2O and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in the overlays between forest site georelief and bedrock in the Czech Republic. The multiple regression parameters were optimized in a system of 615 pits from case studies in 32 natural forest areas during 2002–2020. Light anhydromorphic soils were characterized by a decrease in hydrolimits with a profile depth, while hydrolimit values were higher at greater depths in hydromorphic soils. The dependences of hydrolimits on the granularity and forest soil physico-chemical properties were closer in the subsurface horizons than in the top ones. Higher correlations suggested that the hydrolimit increase appears to be more easily achievable in subsurface soil horizons by stimulating variable contents of Corg and CEC. On the other hand, the dependence of hydrolimits on variable soil properties suggested sensitivity to environmental changes affecting ecosystems.