Relationships between distribution of vegetation physiognomic types and geomorphic and pedological patterns in a Savanna area (cerrado) in southern Brazil

The present study was developed in the Parque Estadual do Cerrado, located at Jaguariaiva county, Parana state (24 degrees 09' S; 50 degrees 18' WG), in southern Brazil. The objective of this work was to study the influence of geomorphic and pedological patterns on the distribution of the vegetation physiognomic types. The delimitation of the vegetation units was made through the interpretation of aerial photographs (approximate scale 1:25,000). The main geomorphic patterns present in the area were identified through the analysis of this photographs, and with support of a topographical map (1:10,000). The soils distribution along the slope was studied in each of the identified geomorphic compartment. Acid, deep and weathering soils predominated in the area (oxisols, or latosols, in the brazilian soils classification system). Soil types distribution was related to geomorphic patterns. The superior part of the slopes was characterized by the presence of Dark-Red Latosol. The intermediate parts of the slopes presented either, Dark-Red or Red-Yelow Latosol. Red-Yellow Latosol predominated in the inferior part of the slopes, although hydromorphic and semi-hydromorphic soils were found in the lowest part of the slopes.