Relationship between soil organic carbon and microbial biomass on chronosequences of reclamation sites

• Published in: Microbial ecology Vol. 15; no. 2; p. 177
• Main Authors: Insam, H, Domsch, K.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.1988
• Subjects: BOSQUES; CARBON; CARBONE; CARBONO; CONTENIDO DE MATERIA ORGANICA; ELEMENTO PRIMARIO DEL SUELO; FAUNA DEL SUELO; FAUNE DU SOL; FORESTS; FORET; MATERIAU ORIGINEL; MINE SPOIL; ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT; RECLAMATION; RECUPERATION DES SOLS; REHABILITACION; SOIL FAUNA; SOIL PARENT MATERIALS; TENEUR EN MATIERE ORGANIQUE
• ISSN: 0095-3628; 1432-184X
• DOI: 10.1007/bf02011711

The interrelationship between soil microorganisms and soil organic carbon was studied on an agricultural and on a forest chronosequence of open-pit mine reclamation soils. Thirty years after reclamation, soil carbon levels of 0.8% on the agricultural sites and 1.7% on the forest sites (A-horizon) were reached. Microbial biomass rose very fast to levels characteristic of undisturbed soils. Microbial carbon (Cmier) was 57 mg·100 g(-1) soil after 15 years on the agricultural sites and 43 mg·100 g(-1) on the forest sites. The contribution of Cmier to the total organic carbon (Corg) decreased with time, more rapidly on the forest sites than on the agricultural ones. From the Cmierr/Corg ratio it became evident that both chronosequences had not yet reached a steady state within the 50 years of reclamation. A significant decrease of the metabolic quotient qCO2 (microbial respiration per unit biomass) with time was observed on the agricultural sites but not on the forest sites. The Cmier/Corg ratio proved to be a reliable soil microbial parameter for describing changes in man-made ecosystems. For evaluating reclamation efforts, the Cmier/Corg ratio can be considered superior to its single components (Cmier or Corg) and to other parameters.