Soil Variability Along a Hydrological Gradient Within Narrow-Leaved Ash Stands (Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa) in the Karacabey Floodplain Area

Soil variability in floodplain forests plays a crucial role in shaping habitat conditions, nutrient cycling, and the health status of trees. However, detailed pedological analyses linking soil heterogeneity to ash (Fraxinus spp.) habitats remain limited, particularly for the narrow-leaved ash (F. angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa) in its southeastern distribution range. Therefore, this study examined soil variability within the Karacabey floodplain forests (western Türkiye) to identify soil groups followed by their most significant diagnostic properties. Seven plots dominated by narrow-leaved ash were established along a hydrological gradient from permanently flooded to dry sites. Soil profiles were dug to the groundwater level or a depth of 1 m, described in the field, and analyzed for soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, and selected chemical parameters. According to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources, four Reference Soil Groups were identified: Stagnosols, Gleysols, Fluvisols, and Cambisols. The flooded margin was characterized by clay-rich Stagnosols and Gleysols with gleyic and stagnic properties, high organic carbon (up to 10%), and electrical conductivity between 1020 and 2000 μS/cm. The central and coastal plots contained sandy Fluvisols (sand fraction of 78–96%) with moderate electrical conductivity <2000 μS/cm and Na enrichment ≤6.5% linked to periodic marine intrusion. The upland dry ash site contained a well-drained, slightly acidic Cambisol with high organic carbon (6.7%) and vertic diagnostic criteria. These results reveal a distinct hydro-pedological gradient influencing F. angustifolia habitats. Recognizing such fine-scale soil variability is crucial for further studies assessing ash condition and informing the management or restoration of Mediterranean floodplain forests.

Cite this article as: Turczański, K., Tanı, M., Nowiński, M., & Sarıyıldız, T. (2026). Soil variability along a hydrological gradient within narrow-leaved ash stands (Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa) in the karacabey floodplain area. Forestist, 76, 0042, 10.5152/forestist.2026.26042.