Ecological restoration by soil transfer: impacts on restored soil profiles and topsoil functions

Abstract

A last resort means to restoring a severely degraded ecosystem can involve soil transfer, especially when destruction of an undegraded system has been previously independently planned. We measured the impact of different soil transfer treatments that varied in vertical and orderly reconstitution of the main soil horizons on the microbial activity and organic matter composition during restoration of a Haplic Cambisol in a steppe ecosystem. There were differences between the topsoil of the reference ecosystem and the soil transfer treatments in terms of physicochemical parameters and microbial activity, but this was not the case when topsoil was not replaced at the soil surface. Three years following restoration, the transferred topsoil treatment, where the three main soil layers were transferred, contained lower particulate organic matter content than the steppe reference soil, despite similarity in potential carbon mineralization. Soil profile descriptions revealed strong differences in overall organization between the transferred soil and the undisturbed steppe soil, particularly with respect to lower biological activity and a lack of connectivity between pedological horizons via the plant root systems and the earthworm activity in the transferred soil. This suggests that soil transfer conducted to retain soil horizons provides good results when the topsoil is transferred, but it may result in altered biological activity, profile morphology, and organic matter content compared with the reference system

Recovery of Mediterranean steppe vegetation after cultivation: Legacy effects on plant composition, soil properties and functional traits

“…As a result of soil disturbance by ploughing, clays from the steppe subsoil layer (20–40 cm) were transported to the topsoil, leading to a higher clay content of the fallow land (10–20 cm; Duclos ). The opposite effect is observed for the coarse silt of the steppe, which was buried in the subsoil as a result of ploughing (Bulot, Potard, Bureau, Bérard, & Dutoit, ; Chenot, Jaunatre, Buisson, & Dutoit, ).…”

Species transfer via topsoil translocation: lessons from two large Mediterranean restoration projects

“…Direct topsoil transfer of the 20-cm upper soil layer was implemented on the former orchard in mid-March 2009 at a ratio of 1:3 on 1 ha (Tables 1 & 2), and in late October 2009 both at a ratio of 1:3 on 3 ha (Jaunatre et al 2014a) and at a ratio of 1:1 on 0.3 ha (Jaunatre et al 2014a). Direct topsoil transfer was also implemented on the pipeline leak site in spring 2011 at a ratio of 1:1 on 5.5 ha (Tables 1 & 2; Bulot et al 2017). At the former orchard, topsoil was spread over the orchard soil (Jaunatre et al 2014a).…”

“…Successful methods of reintroducing target species of local provenances commonly include sowing seed mixtures and transferring seed‐containing hay or soil (Kiehl et al ). Soil transfer can be accomplished through (1) turf transfer, also called community translocation; or (2) bulk topsoil transfer, also called sod dumping (Bullock ; Kiehl et al ; Bulot et al , ; Jaunatre et al ). Soil transfer means that not only seeds are transferred, but also other propagules, such as rhizomes, small shallow‐rooted plants, and microorganisms that may play an important role in the restoration of the plant community (Török et al ; Wubs et al ).…”

Towards an integrated ecological restoration approach for abandoned agricultural fields in renosterveld, South Africa

“…the transfer of unwanted species, movement of large quantities of soil 23 , it is costly and the soil is disturbed. 24 Besides these challenges, several studies have reported that soil transfer provides good restoration results. [23][24][25] In conclusion, previous studies have shown that ecological restoration in abandoned agricultural fields of renosterveld is producing mixed results.…”

“…24 Besides these challenges, several studies have reported that soil transfer provides good restoration results. [23][24][25] In conclusion, previous studies have shown that ecological restoration in abandoned agricultural fields of renosterveld is producing mixed results. One can generally conclude that it is on a slow recovery trajectory.…”