Studio pedologico-forestale dei boschi ripariali del Sulcis (Sardegna Sud-Occidentale)

This paper presents the first results of the sinecological study of edaphohygrophycal vegetation series in the Sulcis area (southwestern Sardinia, Italy). The research defined forest soils and phytosociology of riparian woods and shrubs. Ten main coenosis were recognised and related with 2 different groups of vegetation. The first group includes 7 formations ascribed to the Salici purpureae-Populetea nigrae class; the second one includes 3 groupments ascribed to the Nerio-Tamaricetea class. Soils are always characterised by limited pedogenesis and are generally poorly developed (Typic Xerofluvents, Typic Fluvaquents and Typic Xerorthents). Only on the relatively more stable alluvial terraces, a moderate development is present (Fluventic Haploxerepts and Typic Haploxerepts). The coenosis of the first group are more related to the presence of water than those of the second group. Humus forms, when observed, are classified as Mullmoders.