Journal Article

FZJ-2017-06362

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Indication of rapid soil food web recovery by nematode-derived indices in restored agricultural soil after open-cast lignite mining

Reichel, R. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Hänsch, M. ; Brüggemann, N.FZJ*

2017
Elsevier Science Amsterdam [u.a.]

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.08.020

Abstract: Open-cast lignite mining consumes arable land, which has to be restored and recultivated afterwards. This process strongly dilutes the organic carbon and nitrogen pool as well as soil biological parameters of the former soil due to mixing with the underlying subsoil and parent material before redeposition. Cultivation of alfalfa is commonly used to restore agricultural land and to refill diluted C and N pools and re-establish biologic functions. Based on nematode-derived indices, we here evaluate the development of the food web during the early recovery period with N-fixing alfalfa on post-mining soil substrates in the lignite mining district west of Cologne (Germany). Nematode-derived indices revealed a fast recovery of the soil food web during this initial alfalfa cultivation. We found evidence that the applied recultivation procedure lowers the stress and disturbance level in the soil-microbial food web and improves the trophic complexity. The fast maturing of the food web was indicated by Thornenematidae nematodes, which indicated a highly structured and stable food web already after three years of alfalfa cultivation. A declining δ15N signal of the soil indicated a strong impact of N-fixation by alfalfa. Microbial and mineral N content increased during the alfalfa cultivation period. We concluded that the rapid recovery of the soil food web might not be paralleled by an equal increase of its capacity to retain N in the soil food web. This might have implications for nitrate leaching, nitrous oxide emission, and a later agricultural recultivation with common field crops.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Agrosphäre (IBG-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 255 - Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction (POF3-255) (POF3-255)

Appears in the scientific report 2017

---

Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record

---