Soil–vegetation relationships in semi-arid Mediterranean old fields (SE Spain): Implications for management

摘要: In recent decades a large proportion of agricultural lands have been abandoned in European countries, mainly semi-arid or mountain Mediterranean areas. Environmental processes old fields attracted the attention many scientists, but several issues remain unanswered. This study seeks to identify edaphic factors determining changes perennial-plant communities area (Baza Basin, SE Spain) and elucidate main relationships between these communities. For this goal, we mapped all calculated surface occupied by each community (single mixed). Floristic data soil samples were collected for communities, through stratified sampling, subjected statistical treatments (ANOVA, DCA, CCA, Spearman correlation). The joint floristic variables confirmed that determines establishment vegetation area. Specifically, salinity, moisture, gravel content accounted most variation. results may be useful old-field management, example, areas should not cultivated due salinity high ecological value.