Organic Matter Dynamics in Reclaimed Lignite Mine Soils under Robinia pseudoacacia L. Plantations of Different Ages in Germany
Abstract
In temperate regions, cultivation of Robinia pseudoacacia L. has recently received considerable attention because it is a fast-growing species for biomass and bioenergy production, while acting as a potential carbon (C) sink to counterbalance carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and an alternative to agricultural crops on marginal sites. The objective of our work was to compare total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and organic C fractions in postlignite mining soils under different development stages of R. pseudoacacia. Soil samples from three different depths (0–3, 3–10 and 10–30 cm) were taken in plantations 2, 3, 4, and 14 years old (R2, R3, R4, and R14, respectively). The TOC and TN contents increased with increasing tree age in all layers (P < 0.01). In the top 30 cm, TOC and TN stocks ranged from 11.7 to 59.8 Mg C ha−1 and from 0.30 to 2.61 Mg N ha−1 at R2 and R14, respectively. The rate of C sequestration was calculated to be 4.0 Mg C ha−1 year−1. Microbial biomass C and N were strongly correlated to TOC (r2 = 0.96 – 0.81; P < 0.001) and TN contents (r2 = 0.92 – 0.91; P < 0.001). The light fraction C (CLF) accounted for 15–30% and the heavy fraction C for 70% of TOC in all layers. In the 0- to 3-cm layer, CLF increased by 0.5 g kg−1 year−1. The results indicate that plantations of R. pseudoacacia are an attractive alternative to increase soil C contents in reclaimed lignite mining soils. In the short term, microbial biomass C and light fraction C are sensitive and provide an appropriate measure to assess soil C changes caused by cultivation of R. pseudoacacia.
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Results reported in this study are in agreement with those obtained by Matos et al. (2012).
“The results herewith reported are in agreement with those obtained by Matos et al. (2012)”
From Carbon sequestration potential in perennial bioenergy crops: the importance of organic matter inputs and its physical protection (2016) · cites this paper as Matos et al. (2012)
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- Authors
- Matos, E. S., Freese, D., Böhm, C., Quinkenstein, A., & Hüttl, R. F.
- Affiliations
- Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (DE)
- GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (DE)
- ORCID
- Freese, Dirk
- Venue
- Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-03
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 745-755
- ISSN
- 0010-3624 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-2416
- OpenAlex
- W2039892244
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 5.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis (publishedVersion)
- Publication Database GFZ (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
- Social Sciences › Education › Forest, Soil, and Plant Ecology in China
- Keywords
- Robinia pseudoacacia, soil organic carbon, soil nitrogen, carbon sequestration, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, light fraction carbon, tree age, mine reclamation, energy plantations, carbon sink
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