Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and belowground biomass is 171 Mg C ha
−
1
. The 40-100 cm deep soil is developed
on calcareous bedrocks and is classified as humic alisol. Mineral soil carbon stock
(0-80 cm) is 223 Mg C ha
−
1
, with 4.4 Mg C ha
−
1
stocked as litter (OL layer). The
climate at the site is Mountain-Mediterranean with an average annual temperature of
6.9 °C and an average annual precipitation of 1,230 mm. Snow cover can last from
mid December to mid March-early April.
2.2.9 La Mandria (IT-LMa)
The tower site (45.15258° N; 7.58259° E) is included into La Mandria regional
park which has an extension of 3,000 ha and is located in the suburbs of Turin,
near Venaria Reale, at about 350 m.a.s.l. The area is typical for peculiar geomor-
phic features originated by the presence of old terraces, residual of the ancient
level of the main plain, which forms a hilly landscape with highlands and valleys,
connected by steep slopes and characterized by regressive erosion of small rivers.
Vegetation is mainly constituted by the oak-hornbeam (
Quercus robur
L. and
Carpinus betulus
L.) of the high plains, which is considered an important forest-type
to be studied and conserved. In the park there are also some plantations of red oaks
(
Quercus rubra
L.), which cover around 20 % of the woods, some Robinia psuedoa-
cacia formation on the slopes, some grasslands and poplar formations on the plains.
Age of the oak-trees is about 80 years in average but an increase of trees mortality is
registered along with wildlife high pressure which stops plant regeneration.
The soil on the top of the terraces is mainly 'paleosols', which according to
the USDA classification are called Typic Fragiudalf, fine-silty, mixed, acid, mesic.
One of the main features of the soil profile is connected to a temporary groundwa-
ter, placed at 60-70 cm below the ground level and a top-layer rich of silt, above a
sub-layer called 'fragipan' which is very hard to root penetration. Therefore trees
tend to stay with their root-apparatus within the upper part of the soil profile, often
increasing the chances of tipping. Moreover, the greatest percentage of biological
activity is detected in the topsoil, due to the difficulties of organic matter to deepen
below the ground water zone.
Climate is classified as humid (second mesothermic with a low summer effi-
ciency) with an annual rainfall of 1,030 mm and an annual temperature of 11.6 °C.
The stand in the surrounding area of the flux tower has a measured biomass of
14 kg m
-2
, a leaf litter of 1.4 kg m
-2
and a tree density of 311 ha.
2.2.10 Lavarone (IT-Lav)
The Lavarone station is situated in the south east of the Trento province (45.95620° N;
11.28132° E; 1,300 m.a.s.l., average annual temperature 7.2 °C, total annual pre-
cipitation 1,150 mm) on a mountain plateau ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 m.a.s.l.
