Infiltration and water retention of biological soil crusts on reclaimed soils of former open-cast lignite mining sites in Brandenburg, north-east Germany

Abstract

Investigations were done on two former open-cast lignite mining sites under reclamation, an artificial sand dune in Welzow Süd, and a forest plantation in Schlabendorf Süd (Brandenburg, Germany). The aim was to associate the topsoil hydrological characteristics of green algae dominated as well as moss and soil lichen dominated biological soil crusts during crustal succession with their water retention and the repellency index on sandy soils under temperate climate and different reliefs.The investigation of the repellency index showed on the one hand an increase due to the cross-linking of sand particles by green algae which resulted in clogging of pores. On the other hand, the occurrence of moss plants led to a decrease of the repellency index due to absorption caused by bryophytes. The determination of the water retention curves showed an increase of the water holding capacity, especially in conjunction with the growth of green algae layer. The pore-related van Genuchten parameter indicate a clay-like behaviour of the developed soil crusts. Because of the inhomogeneous distribution of lichens and mosses as well as the varying thickness of green algae layers, the water retention differed between the study sites and between samples of similar developmental stages. However, similar tendencies of water retention and water repellency related to the soil crust formation were observed.Biological soil crusts should be considered after disturbances in the context of reclamation measures, because the initial development of green algae biocrusts lead to an increasing repellency index, while the occurrence of mosses and a gain in organic matter enhance the water holding capacity. Thus, the succession of biocrusts and their small-scale succession promote the development of soil and ecosystem.

Dehydration-induced responses of primary photosynthetic processes and spectral reflectance indices in Antarctic Nostoc commune

“…water holding capacity. The same trend is apparent also in the research of temperate zone ecosystems (Gypser et al 2016). However, knowledge on physiological background of PRI changes in response to hydration status is still insufficient polar autotrophs.…”

Surface indicators are correlated with soil multifunctionality in global drylands

“…Intact surfaces might be expected to have a richer community of biocrust organisms that undertake a greater number of functions associated with mineralization of nutrients. Biocrusts have been shown to enhance water gain and reduce the rate of soil drying compared with bare surfaces (Gypser, Maik, Fischer, & Lange, ). Biocrusts could also promote greater function by maintaining greater water availability, by providing a refuge for bacterial and fungal communities in drylands, which might promote highly functional microbial communities such as Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes (Delgado‐Baquerizo et al, ).…”

Effect of vegetation and its succession on water repellency in sandy soils

“…Reduced infiltration rates were also observed in these soils due to pore clogging by cross‐linking of sand particles with green algal filaments and hydrophobicity that was linked to the microbial EPSs (Fischer et al, ; Pereira et al, ). However, at later successional stages, the dense linkage of soil particles by green algae decreased, but the growth of moss plants and lichen thalli increased (Gypser, Veste, Fischer, & Lange, ), but these changes may have different effects on infiltration. Although Kidron, Yair, Vonshak, and Abeliovich () and Warren () concluded that moss‐dominated crusts appear to enhance infiltration and reduce run‐off in sandy soils (as the moss plants could have increased infiltration along their rhizoids; Felde, Peth, Uteau‐Puschmann, Drahorad, & Felix‐Henningsen, ; Spröte et al, ), Gypser et al () observed a decrease in steady‐state water flow of the biocrust samples in the course of succession from green algal crust to moss–lichen crust.…”