SSS7.1 | Restoration, rehabilitation and management of degraded soils and ecosystems
EDI
Restoration, rehabilitation and management of degraded soils and ecosystems
Co-organized by BG3
Convener: Miriam Muñoz-Rojas | Co-conveners: Carlos Sánchez-García, Marcos Francos, Demetrio Antonio Zema, Thomas Baumgartl, Layla Márquez San Emeterio, Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja
Orals
| Thu, 27 Apr, 14:00–17:25 (CEST)
 
Room K2
Posters on site
| Attendance Thu, 27 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST)
 
Hall X3
Posters virtual
| Attendance Thu, 27 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST)
 
vHall SSS
Orals |
Thu, 14:00
Thu, 10:45
Thu, 10:45
Land degradation affects more than 52 billion hectares of land around the world. This is caused -to a large extent- by anthropogenic activities such as land abandonment, mining activities, deforestation, and inadequate land use and management. Disturbance or insufficient rebuilding of the soil physicochemical and biological characteristics can modify the ecosystem functions and services. In the absence of appropriate restoration, soils and ecosystems would remain in a disturbed state or continue to decline. Therefore, restoration and rehabilitation of degraded soils is critical to create healthy and functional ecosystems that support essential functions and services.
In this session, we welcome contributions covering experimental, observational, and theoretical studies this area of research. Topics of interest (although not limited to) are causes and impacts of land degradation and remedial actions and strategies for soil restoration and rehabilitation at local, regional or global scales.

Orals: Thu, 27 Apr | Room K2

Chairpersons: Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja, Thomas Baumgartl, Miriam Muñoz-Rojas
14:00–14:05
14:05–14:15
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EGU23-13700
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On-site presentation
Agnieszka Józefowska, Wiktoria Ogar, Van Trần Thị Hồng, Tomasz Wanic, Bartłomiej Woś, and Marcin Pietrzykowski

In the Anthropocene era, human activity has very often caused large-scale degradation of entire ecosystems including the soil, with attempts to restore the degraded areas to their ecological functions. Human intervention consisting of afforestation with various tree species initiates and accelerates the long-term process of primary succession in post-mining sites and secondary succession on sites following large-scale disturbances caused by fires.

The advances of soil formation process were investigated in reclaimed areas. Variants afforested with different tree species located in post-mining and post-fire area were investigated. The research plots have been replanted with various tree species, Pinus sylvestris L., Larix decidua Mill., Betula pendula Roth, and Quercus robur L. First research area was opencast sand mine where primary succession supported by afforestation occurs (SM). Second place was reclaimed areas after a large scale fire with secondary succession supported by afforestation. In post-fire place were investigated two variants with (PF_C) and without (PF) pyrogenic (charcoal) carbon present in soil. Each combination of tree and place were investigated in one soil profile and three additional soil cores collected from 0-90 cm, what gave four repetitions of each variant. Soils were characterised on the basis of the World Reference Base (WRB) and their basic properties such as pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen content, sorption properties and grain size distribution were determined.

Studies in transformed areas such as post-mining or post-fire are focusing mainly on the topsoil, in presented research the main goal was to determine what are the differences in pedogenesis in mentioned above scenarios. 

There were slight differences in the thickness of humus horizons (H) in soils under investigated variants. The thickness of H horizons was higher in plots in post-fire in PF_C variant compared to PF and SM. In SM were noted that the highest thickness of H horizon occurs under Larch. In post-mining areas under each tree species occurs Arenosols in post-fire areas occurs Podzols. 

This research was funded by The National Science Centre, Poland, grant No. 2021/42/E/ST10/00248. 

How to cite: Józefowska, A., Ogar, W., Thị Hồng, V. T., Wanic, T., Woś, B., and Pietrzykowski, M.: Soil forming processes visible 30 years after the primary and secondary forest succession in post-mining and post-fire area, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-13700, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-13700, 2023.

14:15–14:25
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EGU23-7858
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On-site presentation
Frank Berninger, Hugh Brown, and Mark Appiah

The role of plantations for restoring humid forest ecosystems is subject to intense debate. Some studies suggest that plantations are inferior to secondary forests in most ecosystem services. In contrast, other studies emphasise the role of planted trees that could catalyse an accelerated development towards late-successional forests. Our study analyses a unique dataset of old (>40 years) unmanaged timber plantations. Planted species were Aucoumea klaineana, Cedrela odorata, Tarrietia utilis, and Terminalia ivorensis. We compare these to secondary forests, and pristine primary stands. Our results indicate that in the unmanaged plantations, species-rich stands with high biomass evolved. The carbon stocks of the unmanaged plantations exceeded the secondary forest and had similar levels to the primary stands. The biomass of the naturally regenerated trees in the plantations was similar to secondary forests. Not surprisingly, timber value of the plantations surpassed both primary forests and secondary forests. Results were more mixed for biodiversity attributes. Plantations of Aucoumea klaineana had lower diversity values than the primary and secondary forests. However, other species, especially plantations of Cedrela odorata, had similar diversity to primary and secondary forests. Species with high conservation value were present in all three ecosystem types. Above-ground carbon stocks in plantations were highest, and there were no statistical differences in below-ground carbon stocks. Our results indicate that plantations could play a role in rapidly accruing carbon in tropical landscapes. 

How to cite: Berninger, F., Brown, H., and Appiah, M.: The potential of plantations to restore ecosystem services, a case study from Ghana, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-7858, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-7858, 2023.

14:25–14:35
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EGU23-3221
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On-site presentation
Richard Lord, Ben Nunn, Ben Wright, Andrea Colantoni, Leonardo Bianchini, Riccardo Alemanno, Oleksandra Tryboi, Maico Severino, and Wilson Leandro

Available data indicates 2.8 million potentially contaminated sites, just across the EU-28. While 650,000 sites have been registered, only 1 in 10 have so far been remediated[1]. The management cost of European contaminated sites is estimated at €6 billion annually[2]. The main types of contaminants are potentially toxic elements (including heavy metals). Similarly, a 2014 Government study in China found 16.1% of all soil and 19.4% of arable land showed contamination, with Cd, Ni and As being the main pollutants[3]. Meanwhile, the global challenge of feeding growing populations while still reducing greenhouse gas emissions leaves less agricultural for dedicated bioenergy crops[4]. Therefore, there is a pressing need to successfully combine nature-based decontamination through phytoremediation with bioenergy production.

 

Given the wide variety of non-agricultural marginal lands[5], species selection must combine significant biomass production with acceptable levels of contamination for subsequent use or energy conversion.  Whereas specialist hyperaccumulator plants may achieve higher levels of contaminants and greater bioconcentration and translocation factors, their inherently lower productivity means that biomass, energy yield and mass of contaminants removed per unit area will be relatively small.  In contrast, high yielding, low contaminant uptake characteristics, such as for conventional energy crop species, could result in greater energy production, economic viability and biomass utilisation potential.

 

Here we report on field scale trials to implement this strategy, part of the CERESiS (ContaminatEd land Remediation through Energy crops for Soil improvement to liquid biofuels Strategies) H2020 Project (GA 101006717). We have evaluated the performance of Phalaris, Miscanthus, Saccharum and Pennisetum species for combined phyto-remediation and phyto-management of contaminated land during energy crop production in Brazil and Europe.  Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a native perennial rhizomatous C3 species suitable for non-agricultural or marginal lands and climatic zones such as Scotland (where Miscanthus x giganteous cannot grow).  Our phytoremediation trials using Phalaris in Italy and Ukraine are the first we are aware of.  In the UK the CERESiS project has utilised field trials originally established during the BioReGen (Biomass, Remediation, re-Generation: Reusing Brownfield Sites for renewable energy crops) EU Life demonstration Project (LIFE05 ENV/UK/000128) in 2007.  These allowed direct comparison of the actual contaminant removal rates of three crop species:  Although the biomass of Miscanthus and short-rotation coppice Salix contained higher concentrations of certain elements, Phalaris far out-performed these in terms of biomass, ease and economy of production[6].  Surprisingly, despite lower contaminant concentrations in Phalaris, such was the increased biomass that the total mass removed was still greater than for Miscanthus or Salix.  This suggests that low-uptake phyto-excluding plants which can tolerate contaminated soils and grow productively may still represent the best and most economically viable option for clean-up of contaminated sites. Meanwhile this nature-based solution can simultaneously deliver a variety of wider societal and environmental benefits, such as greening-up derelict land or the enhanced storage of carbon in soils[7].


[1] Pérez & Eugenio (2018).

[2] Panagos et al. (2013).

[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-27076645

[4] Searchinger et al. (2018).

[5] Mellor et al. (2021).

[6] Lord (2015).

[7] Lord & Sakrabani (2019).

How to cite: Lord, R., Nunn, B., Wright, B., Colantoni, A., Bianchini, L., Alemanno, R., Tryboi, O., Severino, M., and Leandro, W.: Growing perennial grasses on contaminated soils for phytoremediation and renewable energy: a nature-based solution to maximise energy and eco-system service provision?, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-3221, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-3221, 2023.

14:35–14:45
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EGU23-12454
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ECS
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Virtual presentation
Rashika Solomon and Gilboa Arye

Soil salinization has a detrimental effect on plant growth and contributes to agricultural land degradation. The ionic composition of the soil is a significant indicator of soil health. The soluble and exchangeable cation affects the physio-chemical properties of the soil, which in turn determine the suitability of the soil for agricultural use. Currently, soil salinization is one of the major threats to the agricultural productivity of arable lands in many regions of the world. The soils in arid and semi-arid regions having low precipitation and high evaporation rates, like the Negev Desert in Israel, are especially prone to high salinization. Due to the scarcity of fresh water, marginal irrigation water sources such as brackish water in conjunction with surface or subsurface drip irrigation are used extensively in these regions. In the long term, such practices are unsustainable, as precipitation and irrigation are too low to leach the accumulated salts from the active root zone. Salinity and sodicity already existing in many soils of semi-arid and arid regions are further exacerbated by such practices and the continued use might render the land uncultivable. Hence developing a sustainable and economical reclamation regime for saline-sodic soil is essential, while considering the available irrigation water quality in these regions. The main objective of this study was to develop a viable reclamation strategy by using locally available water resources, like brackish water, treated wastewater, desalinated water, and distilled water as rain simulation, with/without soluble or solid gypsum as an amendment. We used flow-through soil column experiments to study the cation transport and exchange in saline-sodic soil from Kibbutz Revivim, Israel (drip irrigated with brackish water for three decades) with four different water qualities and soluble gypsum. The results showed the effect of different water qualities and soluble/solid gypsum on the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and dynamics of cation exchange and transport in the soil. The transport of the major cations Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and the Ks of the soil will be presented and discussed.

Keywords: saline-sodic soil, soil reclamation, cation exchange, irrigation water quality, gypsum.

How to cite: Solomon, R. and Arye, G.: Reclamation of Saline and Sodic Soil: Effect of Irrigation Water Quality and Gypsum application form, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-12454, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-12454, 2023.

14:45–14:55
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EGU23-4888
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On-site presentation
Guy Levy, Yusra Zireeni, and Asher Bar-Tal

Irrigation with secondary treated waste water (TWW) may harm soils, especially clayey ones, through increasing soil salinity and sodicity that subsequently impair its physical and hydraulic properties. We compared the effects of TWW-irrigated  compost and tuff trenches placed in an almond orchard of Kibutz Lavee, Israel, on  properties of a clayey soil to those of TWW or fresh water (FW) irrigation.  Both types of trenches did not reduce soil sodicity (expressed in terms of sodium adsorption ratio, SAR). Compost trenches had no effect on soil salinity while the Tuff ones reduced salinity.  Compost trenches increased soil water content and oxygen concentration, whereas Tuff increased aeration but not soil water content. All treatments irrigated with TWW did not improve aggregate stability relative to irrigation with FW. We conclude that compost and tuff trenches could be considered as solutions for enhancing aeration in the root zone and thus potentially improve crop performance.

How to cite: Levy, G., Zireeni, Y., and Bar-Tal, A.: Effects of Trenches Filled with Compost or Tuff on some Properties of a Clayey Soil Irrigated  with Secondary Treated Waste Water., EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-4888, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-4888, 2023.

14:55–15:05
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EGU23-8507
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Chris McCloskey, R. Jane Rickson, Wilfred Otten, Rebecca Butler, Chris Cantle, Matt Hobbs, and Ceri Spears

Calcareous grasslands are some of Europe’s most species-rich plant communities and important biodiversity sites. These habitats are, however, threatened; many in the UK were lost to changing land use during the 20th century and pressure continues on the remaining (often scarce and fragmented) sites. Habitat restoration and rewilding are increasingly important both in the public consciousness and in governmental policy, and the ecological value and threatened nature of calcareous grasslands make them a prime target for restoration efforts. A growing number of projects are therefore working to restore or re-create chalk grassland ecosystems. An under-explored aspect of this, however, is how by-products from land development projects might be re-purposed to create the specialised soil environment needed to support calcareous grassland communities. This has the potential to combine sustainable re-use of construction materials with novel ways to create or restore calcareous grassland habitats and thus ensure infrastructure projects contribute to net biodiversity gain.

 

In this study we investigate how to optimise the design of soil profiles to support calcareous grassland ecosystems. The study site is located in within the Central 1 section of the HS2 (High Speed 2) Phase One rail development in the Colne Valley (England) being delivered by the Align joint venture. The aim is to create a large area of calcareous grassland as part of a broader (127 hectare) mosaic habitat creation including calcareous grassland, wood pasture and wetland in land that is currently used for construction but was previously arable land. The ‘Colne Valley Western Slopes’ will, when complete, be the largest single area of habitat creation along the HS2 route and will significantly contribute to the project’s commitment to deliver ‘No Net Loss’ in biodiversity.

 

The properties of underlying soils are critical for the establishment, development and health of this internationally important chalk grassland ecosystem. Physical, chemical and biological properties such as soil structure, drainage and restricted nutrient availability are essential for supporting the diverse plant assemblages found in calcareous grasslands. In this project, we are testing through a combination of controlled environment studies and field trials four constructed soil profiles using different configurations of site-derived materials/construction by-products, using both controlled environment studies and field trials. The site-won materials include: 2.6 M m3 of excavated chalk from 16 km of tunnel construction, crushed limestone and concrete from decommissioned compounds/haul roads, and subsoils (stripped during site clearance) that contain highly variable percentages of CaCO3. Here we present results from a large-scale mesocosm trial alongside initial field trial data to assess how these constructed soil profiles affect key factors for habitat creation, including soil hydrology, soil microbial dynamics, nutrient cycling, and vegetation establishment and diversity. The findings for this project will inform and effectively complete the earthworks design for the creation of 88 hectares of calcareous grassland in the Colne Valley, as well as providing insights for other chalk grassland restoration projects elsewhere.

How to cite: McCloskey, C., Rickson, R. J., Otten, W., Butler, R., Cantle, C., Hobbs, M., and Spears, C.: Optimising soil profiles to support calcareous grassland habitat creation, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-8507, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-8507, 2023.

Coffee break
Chairpersons: Marcos Francos, Demetrio Antonio Zema, Layla Márquez San Emeterio
16:15–16:25
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EGU23-14817
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ECS
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Virtual presentation
Rizki Maftukhah, Katharina M Keiblinger, Axel Mentler, Ngadisih Ngadisih, Murtiningrum Murtiningrum, Michael Gartner, Rosana M Kral, and Rebecca Hood-Nowotny

Post-tin mining soil in Bangka Island shows poor fertility and hence limited suitability for agricultural production. Previously, we found that organic amendments like compost, charcoal, and their combination improve the yield of intercropping cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and legume species (Centrosema pubescens). We hypothesize that N-fixation by centrosema in combination with the application of organic amendments has a highly beneficial effect on crop production via improved the nitrogen content from both, the soil amendment and plant's atmospheric nitrogen fixation.

To evaluate the amount of nitrogen fixed by centrosema in post-tin mining soil; soil and crop samples were taken from different soil amendments treatments: (1) dolomite (10 t ha-1); (2) compost (10 t ha-1); (3) charcoal (10 t ha-1); combined treatment of (4) charcoal+compost (10 t ha-1 for each); and (5) charcoal+sawdust (10 t ha-1 for each); and a control for intercropping system of local crops (Cassava and Centrosema) in July 2018. The centrosema was harvested twice during the first and second season (December 2018 and July 2019). The 15N natural abundance method was used to estimate nitrogen fixation (N2-fixation) in centrosema at harvest time.

Comparing season and treatment, the proportion of nitrogen derived from N2-fixation (%Ndfa) was comparable. However, the amount of N2-fixation was significantly different due to biomass accumulation. Soil amended with compost increased N2-fixation in centrosema by 6-fold compared to control (50 kg ha-1), while combined treatment of charcoal and compost increased this value by 8-fold (73 kg ha-1). When comparing the seasons, the average N2-fixation in the first season was roughly ten times greater than in the second season (30 and 3.17 kg ha-1, respectively). In terms of total nitrogen uptake by centrosema across seasons, soil amended with compost or charcoal+compost significantly improved total N uptake in centrosema (61 and 111 kg ha-1, respectively). Accordingly, organic amendments, in particular in charcoal + compost treatment, significantly increased ammonium in the soil at harvest time (6.71±0.29 µg g-1).

Our findings suggest that organic amendments, particularly combined application of charcoal and compost in post-tin mining soils can increase N2-fixation of intercrop centrosema as well as nitrogen availability in the soil, which is of crucial importance in infertile post-mining soils.

Keywords: legume, mining, soil amendment, intercropping, nitrogen fixation

How to cite: Maftukhah, R., Keiblinger, K. M., Mentler, A., Ngadisih, N., Murtiningrum, M., Gartner, M., Kral, R. M., and Hood-Nowotny, R.: Post-tin-mining agricultural soil regeneration using local organic amendments improve nitrogen fixation in legume-cassava cropping system on Bangka Island, Indonesia, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-14817, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-14817, 2023.

16:25–16:35
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EGU23-11396
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ECS
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Virtual presentation
Reducing seed bank viability using soil solarization in dredged sediment applied to agricultural fields
(withdrawn)
Smadar Tanner, Yael Laor, Roey Egozi, and Maor Matzrafi
16:35–16:45
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EGU23-4373
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ECS
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Highlight
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On-site presentation
Anja Gantar, Vesna Zupanc, Helena Grčman, and Marko Zupan

The total area of agricultural land in Europe and Slovenia is constantly decreasing, causing the loss of a potential for food production and self-sufficiency capacity. In addition to limiting soil sealing, one of the main objectives of the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 involves recultivating degraded sites, which requires appropriate materials, in particular for fertile, top layers.

Due to the complexity of the restoration process of agricultural land, the ability of the restored areas to provide full or any scope of ecosystem services as expected depends on several factors. What the opencast mines have in common is the removal of the top, fertile part of the soil in the exercising of mining rights. The availability of fertile soils with suitable properties is often one of the main limitations for appropriate recultivation. Whilst less fertile soil or even inert construction or industry residuals may be used to recultivate the lower layers, the top layers require using engineered soils with appropriate physical, biological and chemical properties. These properties depend on the purpose of the final use of sites. Apart from making sure that the engineered soils have appropriate physical, chemical and biological properties, it is also necessary that they do not contain excessive concentrations of potentially hazardous substances when it comes to agricultural use.

The primary aim and objective is to develop technologies for producing fertile soils from inorganic and organic waste resulting from construction work or opencast mines and other industrial processes. The main categories of waste where the Slovenian recycling rate is lower than the EU rate are sewage sludge and non-hazardous construction and demolition waste. In this contribution, we are studying how to improve non-fertile soils with various additives of secondary origin to prepare fertile soil mixtures that enable a safe space greening or even food production.

Acknowledgements: Project LIFE20 IPE/SI/000021 je co-financed by European Union.

Keywords: agricultural landscape, land rehabilitation, recultivation, top soil

How to cite: Gantar, A., Zupanc, V., Grčman, H., and Zupan, M.: Engineered soils for recultivation of degraded sites, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-4373, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-4373, 2023.

16:45–16:55
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EGU23-13923
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Yuqiao Long, Jing Sun, Joost Wellens, Gilles Colinet, Wenbin Wu, and Jeroen Meersmans

Recent estimates from satellite imageries indicated that extensive cropland abandonment took place across China due to rural outmigration, agricultural policy and environment changes[1-3]. Cropland abandonment provides an opportunity for C sequestration, and therefore climate change mitigation, soil retention and food security. However, this depends on the duration of cropland abandonment, which lacks comprehensive research. In this study, we map cropland abandonment and recultivation across the Yangtze River Basin in central China using a series of annual land cover maps of the period 2000 - 2020. The InVEST model is used to study the spatial distribution of carbon storage. We found that cropland abandonment is widespread, but last on average only 5.5 years. In addition, over 50% of the abandoned croplands will be recultivated (i.e. back into cropland) or convert into impervious surfaces (i.e. urban) within 20 years, limiting its ability to provide ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, soil retention and food security, due to a relatively small capacity of C sequestration. More precisely, the combined effect of recultivation and conversion into impervious surfaces resulted in an accumulated loss of 75% of abandoned croplands and 41% of carbon as compared to a situation without recultivation or conversion into impervious surfaces. In conclusion, this study highlights the need for land policymakers to make careful reflections as regards the conversion of abandoned croplands in order to mitigate climate change and combat soil degradation. Hence, it could be interesting to set up incentives for ecological restoration in order to valorize opportunities that cropland abandonment may provide us with when aiming to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

References:

1. Liang, X.; Jin, X.; Yang, X.; Xu, W.; Lin, J.; Zhou, Y. Exploring cultivated land evolution in mountainous areas of Southwest China, an empirical study of developments since the 1980s. Land Degradation & Development 2021, 32, 546-558.

2. Long, Y.; Wu, W.; Wellens, J.; Colinet, G.; Meersmans, J. An In-Depth Assessment of the Drivers Changing China’s Crop Production Using an LMDI Decomposition Approach. Remote Sensing 2022, 14, 6399.

3. Yan, J.; Yang, Z.; Li, Z.; Li, X.; Xin, L.; Sun, L. Drivers of cropland abandonment in mountainous areas: A household decision model on farming scale in Southwest China. Land Use Policy 2016, 57, 459-469.

How to cite: Long, Y., Sun, J., Wellens, J., Colinet, G., Wu, W., and Meersmans, J.: Cropland abandonment across the Yangtze River Basin does provide only limited benefits for C sequestration, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-13923, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-13923, 2023.

16:55–17:05
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EGU23-17010
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ECS
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Virtual presentation
Frederick Dadzie, Miriam Muñoz-Rojas, Eve Slavich, Patrice Pottier, Karen Zeng, and Angela T. Moles

Identifying an efficient microbial inoculant to promote plant growth is a key pillar in microbial ecology. A wide variety of microbial inoculants have been developed worldwide mostly driven by agricultural demand to define the best inocula. However, the efficacy and comparisons of different microbial inoculants used in dryland ecosystems have rarely been tested. Here, we provide the first quantitative comparison of the effects of commercial versus native inoculants and single versus multiple strain inoculants as well as bacteria versus fungi inoculants on plant growth under field conditions in dryland ecosystems. We used a global meta-analysis of 62 dryland studies to compare the performance of different inocula type on plant growth. We found that microbial inoculation increased plant growth by 43% (CI = 29.69% - 58%) on average in dryland ecosystems, however the magnitude of effect was statistically similar between native (53%, CI = 31% - 80%) and commercial inoculants (40%, CI = 9% - 78%), or between single (39%, CI = 24% - 55%) and multiple strain inoculants (49% , CI = 32% - 68%) or between fungi (39% , CI = 28% - 61%) or bacteria inoculants 43% (CI = 23% - 58%). Our results confirm an assumption that, microorganisms do not usually follow macro-ecological theories and that the choice of an inoculant should be tailored to the purpose and design of the project. In drylands. The result is not only beneficial for agricultural practices in dryland ecosystems, but it is very crucial in dryland restoration projects, especially when the soil system is severely degraded and microbial inoculation is integrated as a plant growth promoter.

How to cite: Dadzie, F., Muñoz-Rojas, M., Slavich, E., Pottier, P., Zeng, K., and Moles, A. T.: Paired comparisons of native and commercial inoculants, bacteria and fungi, and single and multi-strain microorganisms show equal effects on plant growth in dryland ecosystems., EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-17010, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-17010, 2023.

17:05–17:15
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EGU23-13674
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Guiyao Zhou, Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja, Shengen Liu, and Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo

The multidimensional dynamics of biodiversity and ecosystem function during the rewilding of Mediterranean forests remain poorly understood, limiting our capacity to predict how future restoration efforts may help mitigating climate change. Here, we investigated the changes in multiple dimensions of biodiversity and ecosystem services in a 120-year forest succession after harvest to identify potential trade-offs in multiple dimensions of ecosystem function, and further assess the link between above and belowground biodiversity and function. We found a positive influence of successional age on multiple dimensions of biodiversity and function, but also some important trade-offs. Two ecosystem axes of function explained nearly 75.4% functional variation during ecosystem rewilding. However, while the first axis increased with successional age promoting plant productivity and element stocks, the second axis followed a hump-shaped relationship with age supporting important reductions in nutrient availability and pathogen control in old forests. Our study further revealed that a significant positive relationship between plant and soil biodiversity with multiple elements of multifunctionality as forests develop. Moreover, the influence of plant and soil biodiversity were especially important to support a high number of function working at high levels of functioning. Our work provides new insights on the patterns and functional trade-offs in the multidimensional rewilding of forests, and further highlight the importance of biodiversity for long-term Mediterranean rewilding.

How to cite: Zhou, G., Lucas-Borja, M. E., Liu, S., and Delgado-Baquerizo, M.: Plant and soil biodiversity is essential for supporting highly multifunctional forests during Mediterranean rewilding, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-13674, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-13674, 2023.

17:15–17:25
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EGU23-10170
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Nathali Maria Machado de Lima, Ryan Tangney, Miriam Muñoz Rojas, and Mark Ooi

Microorganisms called endophytes are passed from parent plants to their offspring and play significant roles in plant growth and development. In recent years, endophytes have gained attention for their ability to help plants withstand stress and have been used in revegetation efforts. However, there is still a lack of understanding about seed endophytes in ecosystems prone to fire, where the dormancy and germination of seeds are affected by various factors that can impact the persistence of plant populations. This gap in knowledge hinders the ability to predict how plant populations will respond to selective pressures and stress caused by climate change. To address this, the present study focused on characterizing seed-borne endophytes in order to understand their potential to enhance germination and growth under stress. Mixed and pure cultures of endophytes were isolated from the fire-prone species Anigozanthos manglesii, Haemodorum planifolium and Haemodorum spicatum, all of which are native to Banksia woodlands in Western Australia and belong to the Haemodoraceae family. The bacterial community composition and diversity of each species were also analyzed using next-generation sequencing targeting the 16S rRNA. This study is unique in examining seed endophytes in fire-prone species and provides a foundation for future research on the relationship between seed microbiome composition, germination success, and seedling vigour.

How to cite: Machado de Lima, N. M., Tangney, R., Muñoz Rojas, M., and Ooi, M.: Seed microbial community characterisation and isolation from three species common to fire-prone Australia., EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-10170, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-10170, 2023.

Posters on site: Thu, 27 Apr, 10:45–12:30 | Hall X3

Chairpersons: Thomas Baumgartl, Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja, Carlos Sánchez-García
X3.155
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EGU23-2606
Demetrio Antonio Zema and Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja

Wildfires are becoming more intense and threatening increasingly larger areas, with loss of biodiversity and increased hydrogeological risks. Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools to control and limit the risk of catastrophic wildfires, preserving the natural state of forests. However, indications about the correct use of prescribed fire are needed by forest managers, and the analysis of published data reported in the relevant literature may be essential. This paper presents a review of 41 papers published in international scientific journals in the last 20 years about the hydrological and erosive effects of prescribed fire on forest soils. A quantitative database of observations about water infiltration, soil water repellency, surface runoff and soil erosion has been set up, based on measurements in 85 case studies reported in those articles. The effects of annual precipitation, soil slope, burn severity, fire application season, post-fire ground cover, and vegetation type on post-fire hydrology have been statistically explored using meta-analysis techniques. The bibliographic research has revealed that the case studies are not homogeneously distributed on the global scale but concentrated in few countries. The meta-analysis has shown that water infiltration decreases and soil water repellency appears in the short-term after prescribed fire. Noticeable increases in surface runoff (up to 20-fold the values measured in the unburned soils) and mainly in soil erosion (with peaks of 700-fold the pre-fire conditions) are common in the few months after the prescribed fire. Water infiltration is significantly influenced by precipitation, soil slope, soil burn severity, and vegetation type. All these variables together with burn season and ground cover after fire application are significant factors of variability of surface runoff, while only soil slope, vegetation type and burn season are significant drivers of soil erosion. The period of soil disturbance due to fire on soils commonly last few months, but some studies show that the pre-fire hydrological and erosive response to prescribed fire does not restore after two years. The post-fire increase in soil erosion is higher compared to surface runoff, and the highest soil loss is observed when fire is applied in summer in forest covered by trees, at soil slopes higher than 40%, moderate to high severities. On a practical approach, indications about the control and mitigation of the hydrogeological hazard after prescribed fire are given to land managers as follows: (i) need for post-fire management actions and control of soil burn severity and level of post-fire ground cover burning; (ii) temporal and spatial extensions of experimental activities to multi-year monitoring, catchment-scale investigations and observations also in case of repeated applications of prescribed fire; (iii) integration of the experimental observations with measurements of soil properties, vegetation characteristics and water quality; (vii) guidelines for standardized and appropriate measurement and analytical methods in experimental activities, in order to ensure the comparability of data and consistent interpretation of results.

How to cite: Zema, D. A. and Lucas-Borja, M. E.: Effects of prescribed fire on soil hydrology on a global scale: a systematic review and a meta-analysis, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-2606, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-2606, 2023.

X3.156
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EGU23-1876
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ECS
Carlos Sánchez-García, Marcos Francos, and Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja

Fire is a transcendental natural element in ecosystems. At the level of anthropic use, it plays a fundamental role when it comes to managing forest areas, and at the environmental level, it is a key factor in the evolution of ecosystems. Anthropogenic fires began to be detected in the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, and in recent centuries they have become a constant in the Mediterranean regions. One of the post-fire effects is the loss of soil due to erosion, and in turn, the restoration measures are aimed at stabilizing the soil. Levees are one of the measures that has been used historically, these places act as sediment traps and, therefore, from the analysis of sediment and the analysis of sedimentary coals, the forest history of an affected area by fire, could be reconstructed. This presentation aims to provide a methodological proposal for the study and analysis of historical and prehistoric fires based on sedimentary analysis. The area that has been chosen for the proposal is dissociated between the southeast and the center-west of the Iberian Peninsula, Province of Albacete and Provinces of Salamanca, respectively. The sampling of sediment containment dikes and the analysis of the different soil layers (clay, sand or ash) are part of erosion and transport after fire. In this case, the ash layers serve as dating and the accumulation of sediments in upper layers allows us to know the loss of soil that occurred after the fire event. The different restoration measures that have been taken after the fire will cause the sedimentary aggradation in the dike to be different. Finally, in areas where the dry-stone walls have been built with the same intention as the dikes, it is possible to reconstruct the history of the fires from the sedimentary carbon; this technique is widely used in paleoenvironmental studies and, in this case, would provide information about the forest response at different climatic moments during the Holocene.

How to cite: Sánchez-García, C., Francos, M., and Lucas-Borja, M. E.: Methodological proposal for the reconstruction of paleofire and fire history from sedimentological analysis, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-1876, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-1876, 2023.

X3.157
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EGU23-4533
Thomas Baumgartl, Franziska Bucka, Evelin Pihlap, and Vilim Filipovic

Open-cast or surface mining present a site-specific and a temporary use of land that unavoidably involves the displacement of the fertile topsoil layer and overall environmental change. Following mine closure, rehabilitation of mining areas is essential to build sustainable and stable landforms. Reclamation of soils is particularly challenging as their construction needs to take into account broader land reclamation analysis including soils, water, vegetation, stability and biodiversity effects. The objective of this study was to assess development in soil properties of rehabilitated soils since construction (1980, 1998, 2009, 2016, 2017) focusing on hydraulic and mechanical soil properties. The study was performed at an open-cast lignite coal mine site in south-east Australia (Victoria) in 2021. Soil hydraulic properties (SHP) were determined using the extended evaporation method while the mechanical properties were assessed using in-situ vane shear tests. The study indicated the relevance of a consistent soil cover design and construction. The soil hydraulic properties results showed a shift in soil water retention curve characteristic (1980 vs 2017 site), together with a decrease in saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), which can certainly influence soil water dynamics and increase surface runoff. The vane shear test showed large heterogeneity among the sites with rehabilitated sites indicating large internal variation compared to the reference site and generally higher shear resistance. Differences in soil hydraulic conductivity and higher SOC storage over time revealed developments in soil recovery, but the improvement in soil mechanical strength did not show any relation to soil properties affecting soil structural stability. Rather, the change was driven by the large variability in texturally affected pore size distribution among the sites. The observed small-scale heterogeneity of the rehabilitated soils is most likely explained by disturbance due to excavation activities and used rehabilitation methods as well as availability of the soil material. Closer monitoring of rehabilitated areas temporally and spatially as well as in improvement in topsoil cover design is recommended, as such heterogeneity leads to uncertainty in long-term sustainable landscape formation.

How to cite: Baumgartl, T., Bucka, F., Pihlap, E., and Filipovic, V.: How do mine rehabilitation strategies affects soil heterogeneity and structure in the long term?, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-4533, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-4533, 2023.

X3.158
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EGU23-1896
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ECS
Soil properties and vegetation patterns four years after a wildfire and post-fire salvage logging treatment in a Mediterranean environment
(withdrawn)
Marcos Francos, Xavier Úbeda, and Paulo Pereira
X3.159
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EGU23-4561
David Zumr, Tailin Li, Jakub Jeřábek, Jan Winkler, and Magdalena Vaverková

A controlled burn was conducted on a grassland in Řisuty, Czech Republic, to study the effects of a short prescribed fire on soil physical and hydraulic properties, soil water balance and emergent vegetation. The grassland was newly established on arable soil three years prior to the study. The experimental site contained a weather station and sensors to measure soil temperature and soil moisture at three different depths. The soil, a loamy Cambisol, was not water repellent. A 5 x 5 m plot covered with sun-dried grass was burnt. The fire reached a temperature of about 700 °C over a period of 15 minutes. The subsequent hydrological regime of the soil was compared with that of a nearby unburned reference plot. Immediately after the fire and at weekly to monthly intervals thereafter, soil samples were taken to determine organic carbon content, soil structure stability, hydraulic conductivity, bulk density and soil texture. The results showed that temporary burning improved the hydraulic properties of the topsoil, with the infiltration capacity and water content of the soil in the burnt plot increasing throughout the year compared to the control plot. This provided a suitable habitat for the colonising vegetation. The findings suggest that small-scale controlled biomass burning can have a positive impact on the soil ecosystem and a temporary improvement in the hydraulic properties of the upper soil layer. The contribution is a result of a INTER‐COST project of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech republic, grant no. LTC20001.

How to cite: Zumr, D., Li, T., Jeřábek, J., Winkler, J., and Vaverková, M.: How a Short Prescribed Fire Affects Soil Physical and Hydraulic Properties, Soil Water Balance, and Emergent Vegetation in a Grassland, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-4561, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-4561, 2023.

X3.160
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EGU23-4613
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ECS
Gaeun Kim, Jieun Ahn, Hanna Chang, Jiae An, and Yowhan Son

Desiccation of the Aral Sea left a vast area of unstable, saline, and barren seafloor. In response, afforestation using indigenous trees, mainly Haloxylon species, has been performed to ameliorate the soil. This study examined 1) changes in topsoil chemical properties after vegetation establishment based on 30-year chronosequence of afforested sites and 2) dynamics in the topsoil properties in two cases of naturally vegetated versus afforested areas. In August 2019, soils were sampled from the northeastern Aral Sea bed, Kazakhstan, where the shoreline retreated during the 1970s. We selected a non-saline area without any vegetation, a visibly salinized area without any natural vegetation, and 12 paired sites with predominantly sandy soil texture that were naturally vegetated or afforested during 1990, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2013, and 2017. In the 0‒10 cm soil layer, 3 points were sampled in each site and we analyzed soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), total nitrogen (TN) and carbon (TC), total organic carbon (TOC), available phosphorus concentration (P2O5), exchangeable cation concentrations (K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Na+), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The soil samples in chronosequence sites showed a wide range of EC, without any significant temporal trend. The pH ranged between 8.5 and 10.0, characterized soil as alkaline. CEC ranged from 9 to 45 cmolc kg-1. Soil pH, EC, and TDS variations among the chronosequence sites (natural or afforested) were not statistically significant. In contrast, we observed marginal increases in K+ and P2O5 after the vegetation establishment. Also, TN and TOC concentrations increased over time, significantly faster in afforested than in naturally vegetated sites. However, TC contents showed a sudden decrease in the oldest natural vegetation. This result may be partly attributed to the spatial variability in sampling locations used for the chronosequence analysis. Lastly, there were strong positive correlations among TOC, TN, K+, and P2O5; which imply an increase in soil organic materials’ contribution to nutrient accumulation and overall soil quality. In conclusion, afforestation contributed to soil amelioration but this effect was also observed in naturally vegetated sites.

How to cite: Kim, G., Ahn, J., Chang, H., An, J., and Son, Y.: Changes in soil chemical properties along afforestation chronosequence in the dried Aral Sea bed, Kazakhstan, from 1990-2019, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-4613, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-4613, 2023.

X3.161
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EGU23-4790
Degradation of oxytetracycline in saturated porous media by in-situ chemical oxidation using oxygen-doped graphitic carbon nitride and peroxymonosulfate (PMS)
(withdrawn)
Seokoh Ko
X3.162
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EGU23-8228
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ECS
Hafiz Khuzama Ishaq, Eleonora Grilli, Iseult Malrieu, Micol Mastrocicco, Rosaria D’Ascoli, Gianluigi Busico, Flora Angela Rutigliano, Rossana Marzaioli, Elio Coppola, Fernando Pulido, Filipe Silva, Marco Bijl, Joao Madeira, and Simona Castaldi

Healthy soils are fundamental to support ecosystem functions and productivity and represent an adaptive fundamental condition to face climatic change extremes, like in Southern Mediterranean often characterized by land degradation, soil erosion and desertification risk. As part of the project LIFE16 CCA/IT/000011 Desert Adapt, since 2018 we have been working on agroforestry pastoral areas of Portugal to test more adaptive strategies, including changes in grazing cycles which can allow a better regeneration of the grass cover, higher protection of the soil and improvement of the overall soil functions that support pasture productivity. We present the first data set of soil monitoring from spring 2022 and we combine the evaluation of soil amelioration with a full integrated management view of the improved grazed system to underline the multiple beneficial environmental effects of soil protection within and beyond the soil system.

How to cite: Ishaq, H. K., Grilli, E., Malrieu, I., Mastrocicco, M., D’Ascoli, R., Busico, G., Rutigliano, F. A., Marzaioli, R., Coppola, E., Pulido, F., Silva, F., Bijl, M., Madeira, J., and Castaldi, S.: Adaptive land management to fight land degradation in Mediterranean agroforestry pastoral areas, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-8228, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-8228, 2023.

X3.163
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EGU23-14965
Miriam Muñoz-Rojas, Frederick Dadzie, and Nathali Machado de Lima

Global environmental changes such as drought, intense fire and land degradation are rapidly transforming the structure and functioning of ecosystems worldwide. These changes are leading to a severe loss of above and belowground biodiversity and increased soil degradation. Soil microorganisms control important ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling, plant productivity and climate regulation. Thus, microbially assisted conservation and restoration have the potential to reconnect above- and belowground dynamics, creating functional ecosystems that are more resilient to climate change impacts.
Our recent research has focused on (i) assessing the responses of soil microbial communities to disturbance, e.g., severe fire, and extractive activities such as mining, and (ii) developing bio inoculants composed of locally sourced soil bacteria from the rhizosphere, and biocrust cyanobacteria, to promote plant growth and soil fertility and enhance ecosystem capacity for global change adaptation. This presentation will showcase some key findings of these studies conducted in contrasting Australian ecosystems (shrubland-grassland in the arid zone, and subtropical/temperate forests). These outcomes include the successful translocation of whole-soil communities for inhibiting weeds, and the effective use of indigenous microbes (rhizobacteria and cyanobacteria combinations) for soil carbon sequestration, nitrogen fixation, and growth promotion of key arid and temperate plant species. We will also discuss the potential applicability of these approaches through emerging seed enhancement technologies such as biopellets, for landscape-scale conservation and restoration programs in the context of climate change.

How to cite: Muñoz-Rojas, M., Dadzie, F., and Machado de Lima, N.: Emerging soil microbial-based strategies and seed enhancement technologies for restoring biodiverse degraded ecosystems, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-14965, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-14965, 2023.

X3.164
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EGU23-15496
José A. González-Pérez, Nicasio T. Jiménez-Morillo, José A. Vega, Cristina Fernández Filgueira, Teresa Fontúrbel, and Gonzalo Almendros

For temperate regions in forests and scrublands, a 5-level categorization was established to operationally define soil burn severity (SBS). This classification is important for estimating post-fire erosion risks and scheduling post-fire rehab activities [1]. This work describes the relationships between field SBS and molecular-level changes in the soil organic matter (SOM). Direct analytical pyrolysis [2] was used to study unburned (SBS-0) and burned soils (SBS 1 to 5) at two scenarios: 1) wildfire, and 2) burning laboratory experiment. The pyrolysis compounds were identified and plotted in modified 3D van Krevelen diagrams [3]. Moderate chemical changes occurred between stages SBS-0 to SBS-3, such as, dehydration, demethylation, depletion of polymethylene structures, carbohydrate rearrangements, lignin demethoxylation and triterpene preservation. Clear SOM transformations occurred at SBS-4 onwards with concentration of alkyl structures (triterpenes). Progressive changes in terms of SBS were not linear for all compounds. The subtraction surfaces suggest two major stages: SBS (0–1) generation of pyrolytic anhydrosugars; and SBS (3–4) generation of condensed compounds. Molecular-level changes in SOM after wildfire and laboratory experiment were similar. Nonetheless, the former showed incorporation of alkyl compounds and methoxyphenols, probably inputs of charred biomass from the vegetation.

Keywords: Soil Burn Severity; Statistical Analysis; Analytical Pyrolysis

References:
[1] Vega, JA. et al. 2013. Plant Soil 369, 73–91
[2] Jiménez-Morillo, NT. et al. 2016. Catena 145, 266–273
[3] Almendros, G. et al. 2018. J. Soils Sediments 18, 1303-1313

Acknowledgment:
Funding projects: MARKFIRE (EU-FEDER Andalusia; P20_01073), EROFIRE (FCT Portugal; PCIF-RPG-0079-2018). Contract: N.T.J.M. (FCT CEECIND/00711/2021 and RYC2021-031253-I). Technical assistance D. Monis and A. Carmona.

How to cite: González-Pérez, J. A., Jiménez-Morillo, N. T., Vega, J. A., Fernández Filgueira, C., Fontúrbel, T., and Almendros, G.: Chemometric evaluation of the field burn severity indexes, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-15496, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-15496, 2023.

X3.165
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EGU23-17322
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ECS
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Antonio Peñalver-Alcalá, Eduardo A. Garcia-Braga, Joaquim Farguell, Marcos Francos, and Xavier Úbeda

Wildfire is a common disturbance in Mediterranean forests ecosystems. However, during the last decades wildfire frequency and burned surface area have been increasing. The abandon of forest areas by the population, the change of soil uses and climate change are causing wildfires of higher magnitude and difficult to control. The affected ecosystems have several difficulties to recover due to the high temperature reached during those great fires. The effects of fire on burnt soil forests depend on many different factors, such as the intensity of fire, duration, quantity of combustible or recurrence among others. However, the understanding of wildfire effects on soil forests at long-term is still needed to improve.

The aim of this study is to monitor the long-term effects (28 years) of a wildfire (55 ha) in Cadiretes Massif on soil properties in two areas affected at different fire severities (low severity: LS; high severity: HS). An unburnt Control area (C) adjacent to the burnt area was selected to compare with LS and HS. Prior the wildfire, the area was a plantation of Pinus pinaster ssp. with some individuals of Quercus suber L. No management has been applied in the area after the wildfire. The soil properties studied were hydrophobicity, pH, salinity, extractable calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Soil Organic Carbon stock (SOCstock). Moreover, non-tree biomass accumulation on soil forests was collected in three different layers: freshly fallen, dry litter and humus.

In all studied areas (C, LS, HS) a hydrophilic behavior was observed. Moreover, in both burnt areas (LS and HS) and in C area were found similar pH values and Mg2+, Na+, K+ concentrations (~5.3, ~591 mg kg-1, ~142 mg kg-1, ~244 mg kg-1; respectively). However, significant differences (p<0.05) were found in soil salinity, Ca2+, TN, TOC and SOCstock between C area (~115µS cm-1, ~2955 mg kg-1, ~0.26%, ~6.9%, ~113 kg C m-2) and burnt areas (LS: ~87µS cm-1, ~2681 mg kg-1, ~0.22%, ~5.0%, ~72 kg C m-2; HS: ~80µS cm-1, ~2337 mg kg-1, ~0.19%, ~4.5%, ~57 kg C m-2). Related to the non-tree biomass accumulation, significant difference was found in the accumulation in humus between C (~232g m-2) and burnt areas (LS: ~116g m-2; HS: ~100g m-2). No significant differences were found in the accumulation of freshly fallen (~275g m-2) and dry litter (~111g m-2).

These results could indicate that at long-term, soil properties of burnt areas are partially able to recover and reach similar values to those of unburnt areas. However, it also seems that some soil parameters need more time to reach similar values than unburnt areas, especially after high severity fire episodes

How to cite: Peñalver-Alcalá, A., Garcia-Braga, E. A., Farguell, J., Francos, M., and Úbeda, X.: Long-term effects on soil forest unmanaged after a wildfire at different fire severities: historical fire at Cadiretes Massif, Catalonia, Spain, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-17322, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-17322, 2023.

Posters virtual: Thu, 27 Apr, 10:45–12:30 | vHall SSS

vSSS.10
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EGU23-12372
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ECS
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Highlight
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Rocco Labadessa, Luigi Forte, Serena D’Ambrogi, Paolo Mazzetti, Laura Tomassetti, and Cristina Tarantino

The need of adopting practices to restore degraded land has been stressed by the new Soil Strategy, with regard to dry ecosystems showing greater risk of desertification. To assess the effectiveness, feasibility and replicability of restoration techniques applied to Mediterranean dry ecosystems, a set of different restoration techniques has been tested in Alta Murgia National Park (Southern Italy), one of the NewLife4Drylands project (NL4D; https://www.newlife4drylands.eu) pilot sites. This area is particularly subjected to land degradation processes as a result of recent and widespread activities of rock shattering for the conversion of calcareous pastures to croplands, which had caused an extensive loss of semi-natural vegetation and ecosystem functions. Experimental efforts were aimed at testing sustainable techniques for the restoration of protected dry grassland types that naturally occur in the study area. Within an overall surface of 9000 m2, 42 experimental plots of 20x10m areas (14 treatments with 3 replicates) were selected in either recently ploughed or unploughed surfaces. For each soil type, a set of restoration techniques was tested, including different combinations of soil processing (i.e. harrowing, topsoil inversion, sod cutting, soil compression), transfer of plant material (i.e. dry hay, seed-enriched hay, shrub seeds) and soil cover (jute bionet). Unmanaged surfaces were selected as control plots for each soil type. Restoration effects, in terms of changes in plant community and soil features, will be monitored in comparison with initial conditions. The experimented approaches, along with the assessment of its effectiveness and feasibility, will provide useful information to guide the users to the identification of the most suitable nature-based solutions for the restoration of degraded lands. Within the aims of the NL4D project, the results of this experiment will be used to validate protocols and monitoring tools for environmental management and planning at local and regional scale based on the use of remote sensing techniques.

How to cite: Labadessa, R., Forte, L., D’Ambrogi, S., Mazzetti, P., Tomassetti, L., and Tarantino, C.: Dry grassland restoration in Mediterranean degraded lands: the NewLife4Drylands pilot case in Alta Murgia, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-12372, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-12372, 2023.

vSSS.11
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EGU23-5920
Álvaro Fajardo-Cantos, Esther Peña-Molina, Javier González-Romero, Daniel Moya, Asunción Díaz, Raúl Botella, Manuel-Esteban Lucas-Borja, and Jorge Antonio De las Heras

The current forest fire regimes are increasing due to high temperatures, global warming and frequency of wildfires in dry ecosystems like in the Mediterranean Basin. These issues are decreasing ecosystem’s resistance and resilience, worsening desertification, for this reason, it is of great importance to analyze the effects on the soil. However, it is now possible to apply some preventive tools to avoid wildfire effects or reduce their impacts on ecosystems. Fire is used as preventive tool, prescribed burning (PB) change both the fuel loads in forest ecosystems and vegetation strata. However, fire can produce changes in soil characteristics and physico-chemical parameters.

The studied PB was carried out in spring 2021 (early burn) in SE Spain. The mainly vegetation is shrub (i.e., Macrochloa tenacissima (L.) Kunth, Cistus Clusii Dunal, Salvia rosmarinus (L.) Schleid) with poor dry soils formed mainly by cambisols. For improve the knowledge at short/medium-term PB effects on soil, this study attempted to analyze the ecological early PB effects on semi-arid land soils by CO2 flow soil respiration (SR) automatic chamber (CFLUX-1 Soil CO2 Flux System), minidisk infiltrometers for soil hydraulic conductivity (SHC) by infiltration rate and Water Drop Penetration Time (WDPT) methodology for measuring soil water repellency (SWR). It also analyzed soil physico-chemical properties. In addition, this study tries to generate a protocol or guide of good practices for PB. There were no significant differences in any studied variables after the 1-year period according to our formulated hypotheses. However, effects were observed on some parameters on the first days after the PB, such as SOM and nutrients.

How to cite: Fajardo-Cantos, Á., Peña-Molina, E., González-Romero, J., Moya, D., Díaz, A., Botella, R., Lucas-Borja, M.-E., and De las Heras, J. A.: The response of soil in a semi-arid landscape with SE orientation after early prescribed burning., EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-5920, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-5920, 2023.