Soil organic matter, C and N accumulation during natural succession and reclamation in an opencast sand quarry (southern Poland)

Abstract

Abstract The work presents study results on the formation of humus horizons, the accumulation of organic carbon and nitrogen as well as humus composition in successional and reclaimed soils in a sand mine cast in southern Poland. Research plots were designed in chronosequence: 5, 17, 20 and 25 years. Increased thickness of humus horizon and accumulation of organic carbon was reported both in successional soils and in reclaimed soils. However, in corresponding age groups of reclaimed soils these characteristics were two times as high as in successional soils. The estimated accumulation rate of organic carbon (Corg) was three times higher and total nitrogen (Nt) five times higher in reclaimed soils than in successional soils. In both types of soils there was an increase in the amount of carbon trapped with humic and fulvic acid (CHa + CFa) and structure of humic acids. Studies indicated that reclamation treatment significantly accelerated soil-formation in opencast sand mine.