Soil fauna development during heathland restoration from arable land: Role of soil modification and material transplant

Benetková, Petra; Diggelen, Rudy van; Háněl, Ladislav; Vicentini, Fabio; Moradi, Rojyar; Weijters, Maaike; Bobbink, Roland; Harris, J. Arthur; Frouz, Jan

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106531

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, abundances in the samples from the farther part of the spoil heap, being lower than in greater proximity to transported soil or even in the initial phase of the experiment, showed that the colonisation of the spoil heap did not reach a climax even after 20 years, which supports the findings of Moradi et al [19]. Overall, we believe that the addition of fresh soil material of target habitats increases the chance of shifting a succession (both aboveground and belowground) to a desired pathway, as was proven by, e.g., Benetková et al [14,15], Boyer et al [25], Radujković et al [26], or Wubs et al [27]. These studies predicted that the introduction of fresh soil material will speed up the recovery of soil fauna in a disturbed soil material, especially in the first years after introduction.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Nematode Assemblages Development Twenty-One Years after the Introduction of Meadow Soil into Bare Post Mining Spoil Heap

2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The revitalisation of soil fauna in post-mining soils is one of the ways in which we can slow down biodiversity loss. To investigate the effect of a meadow soil transplanted directly into the spoil substrate on the colonisation of a spoil heap, we used nematodes as a tool for an assessment of success in soil fauna recolonisation. Three blocks of meadow topsoil (10 × 3 × 0.4 m) were dug out and transported as intact as possible into a bare substrate of spoil heaps near Sokolov (Czech Republic). The soil samples were taken at the beginning of the experiment (1997) and then, after 19 years (2016), were transported into blocks (B) in their surroundings in a 2 m distance (I) and, finally, 30 m from the transported blocks as a control (C), to compare and assess the complexity of soil food web. Nematode total abundances were highest in B plots and lowest in the nearby I plots at the beginning, whereas later, their abundances were highest in I plots and lowest in the control (C) plots. However, due to the high variability, abundances were statistically insignificant. The trophic composition of I plots became similar to the composition in B plots in the late phase; however, the high occurrence of predators in C plots showed a running succession even after 19 years. Our results together with previous works from the same experiment support the findings that the level of soil development has a larger impact on recolonisation by soil fauna than the migration barrier itself.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Nematode Assemblages Development Twenty-One Years after the Introduction of Meadow Soil into Bare Post Mining Spoil Heap

2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recent research indicated that the use of local soil, but not commercial AMF inoculum, increased native and non-native grass growth at a mine restoration site [82]. There is increasing evidence that the use of local soil as a propagule source can not only aid vegetation establishment but also control assembly and below-ground network connectivity [83][84][85][86].…”

Section: Applications Of Functional Microorganisms On Biorestoration ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of Natural Microorganisms to Land Reclamation and Applications of Functional Microorganisms in Biorestoration of Coal Mining Area

Mao,

Harris,

Zhang

2024

Diversity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Extensive coal mining causes significant ecological and environmental impacts on the local ecosystem, especially on the terrestrial ecosystem. Mining activities induce the degradation of topsoil physico–chemical characteristics and the succession of soil microbial communities. The soil microbial community is sensitive to soil disturbance and restoration practices, being significant in soil reconstruction and land restoration. Microbes could be effective instruments to restore or reclaim disturbed terrestrial ecosystems and indispensable, unambiguous, indicators to assess reclaimed soils. In the present review, we aimed to provide insight into the effects of mining and subsequent land reclamation on soil microorganisms and the importance and application of microorganisms in the reclamation process. We address changes in the diversity and structure of the soil microbial community after reclamation and discuss the main driving factors of the community. We hypothesize that there is a discernible pattern or regularity in the variation of microbial community composition during the process of restoration succession. By employing the life strategy concept, the study attempts to identify and understand how microbial communities evolve during land reclamation. Land reclamation could improve the nutrients in the soil while increasing the proportion of saprotrophic microorganisms. In community succession, vegetation, soil properties, and reclamation time are key determining factors. Whereas bacteria, fungi, and archaea showed different responses to these factors, as they responded differently to varied soil environments, nutrition, and plants, and occupied different biological niches. Finally, we describe the applications of microorganisms as land reclamation monitors or promoters. This knowledge and understanding can provide comprehensive insight into the soil health condition and strong support for forecasting and decision-making in mine land restoration.

show abstract

“…Therefore, in recent decades there has been particular interest in methods that revert improved agricultural land back to heathland systems 5 . Extensive lowland heath decline has also been observed in Denmark and the Netherlands and there are many examples of restoration on former heathland landscapes 9,10 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Restored lowland heathlands store substantially less carbon than undisturbed lowland heath

Duddigan,

Hales-Henao,

Bruce

et al. 2024

Commun Earth Environ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The conversion of lowland heathland to agricultural land in Europe significantly depleted soil carbon stocks. Restoring heathlands has been proposed as a mechanism to sequester soil carbon. Here we compared soil carbon in (i) agricultural pasture; (ii) native heathland and (iii) restored heathland through acidification with elemental sulfur (sulphur). After 18 years of soil acidification, soil chemical properties (pH, extractable nutrients etc.), fauna and vegetation assemblage resembled that of native heathlands. However, native heathland was found to contain more than double the soil carbon stock of restored heath, with significantly higher contents of stable soil organic matter, and restored heath soil carbon was not significantly different to the control pasture. This result, combined with supporting findings of a comprehensive literature review, has ramifications for carbon-sequestration proposals, given the urgency required for climate mitigation tools.

show abstract

Soil fauna development during heathland restoration from arable land: Role of soil modification and material transplant

Cited by 3 publications

References 48 publications

Nematode Assemblages Development Twenty-One Years after the Introduction of Meadow Soil into Bare Post Mining Spoil Heap

Nematode Assemblages Development Twenty-One Years after the Introduction of Meadow Soil into Bare Post Mining Spoil Heap

Responses of Natural Microorganisms to Land Reclamation and Applications of Functional Microorganisms in Biorestoration of Coal Mining Area

Restored lowland heathlands store substantially less carbon than undisturbed lowland heath

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About