Respirazione del suolo, accumulo di sostanza organica e carica fungina quali parametri per valutare i processi di rinaturazione di aree boschive

The aim of the present research was to assess the soil quality in study areas differently managed for a renaturation purpose. Microbial respiration (evaluated by means of CO2 production), total organic content and fungal concentration of soil were analysed in each area. The study areas are located in the Ticino Valley Natural Park near Zerbolò (Pavia, Italy). The Integral Natural Reserve “Bosco Siro Negri” represented the reference “climax” condition, whereas the most disturbed site was a recently dug-up field (2009) . The soil of the integral natural reserve showed the highest levels of respiration rate, organic content and fungal abundance; the other study areas presented slightly unbalanced results . Only the fungal abundance showed decreasing values starting from the reference condition of the integral natural reserve to the dug-up area, according to the assumed gradient of renaturation.