Aspect-Driven Variations in Soil and Flora: Insights from Menoreh Highland
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22146/jtbb.15610Keywords:
Floral biodiversity, Humid area, Nutrient dynamics, Slope aspect, Tropical regionAbstract
This study examined the influence of slope aspects on soil chemical properties and floral biodiversity within the Menoreh Highland in Indonesia, with a specific focus on the east, north, south, and west-facing slopes. The sampling protocol involved collecting, identifying, and subsequently calculating biodiversity metrics, including Shannon-Wiener, Simpson Index, Richness, and Evenness for each slope aspect. The soil variables scrutinised encompassed moisture content, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Statistical analyses, including ANOVA followed by LSD (α = 5 %), were employed, and correlations between soil chemical properties, microclimate parameters, and biodiversity indices were computed. Humid slopes (south and west) exhibited diminished solar radiation, air temperature, pH, total phosphorus (P), total potassium (K), available calcium (Ca), available magnesium (Mg), coupled with elevated humidity, soil moisture content, SOM, SOC, total nitrogen, CEC, and available sulphur (S) in comparison to arid slopes (east and north). Variations due to varied microclimates and soil chemical properties cause differences in floral diversity. The east slope emerged as the pinnacle of diversity, as delineated by indices such as Shannon-Wiener and Simpson Index, Evenness, and Richness, characterised predominantly by the prevalence of shrub species. Conversely, the west slope exhibited the lowest diversity and was principally dominated by arboreal species. This comprehensive exploration underscores the intricate interplay between slope aspect, soil properties, microclimate, and floral diversity, elucidating the intricate ecological dynamics in the Menoreh Highland.
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