Changes in forest soils and vegetation in Søgne, southern Norway, during a 20 year period

An investigation of the edaphic conditions and the vegetation of 21 fixed plots in Søgne municipality, Vest‐Agder, South Norway was carried out in 1967‐69 and 1987. Loss on ignition, pH, total nitrogen, total exchangeable bases, base saturation, exchangeable hydrogen, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and manganese was analysed. The species composition of vascular plants was investigated. The total cover of the bottom layer was scored. The soil pH had decreased in the more basic soils but had increased in the more acidic soils. The organic content had increased and base saturation had decreased in most samples. Na⁺ had increased in more than half of the plots, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ had not changed, and K⁺ and Mn²⁺ had decreased in most plots. Salt depositions from the neighbouring North Sea and leaching from the soil accounted for these changes. In many of the parameters opposite changes were found in the poorer soils compared to the richer soils. In the field layer Deschampsia flexuosa, Convallaria majalis had increased, and Oxalis acetocella, Galium odoratum had decreased. The cover of cryptogams had decreased in most of the plots.