SOIL ASSESSMENT BASED ON BOTANICAL COMPOSITION ON HABITATS OF AUTOCHTHONOUS POPULATIONS OF RED CLOVER (Trifolium pratenseL.)

Plant species which grow at particular habitats may point out at specific abiotic characteristics of these habitats. There is a need for a more generic approach to link soil and vegetation responses. An alternative approach is to use Ellenberg indicator values as a means of assessing the likely competitive advantage between different species as projected by dynamic soil models. The way of utilization and maintenance, and different environmental influences change the specific soil conditions at their locations by human-induced and natural stresses. Different ecotypes of red clover registered at surveyed locations are adapting to such environmental changes, and may represent the breeding pool for red clover breeding to abiotic stresses.