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BTU
The formation of dunes in central Europe reflects ample sediment supply during the last deglacial hemicycle. A Quaternary inland dune complex in southern Brandenburg, Germany, was studied to frame the duration of pedogenesis in two outcrops containing buried paleosols. An integrative approach, which combined geomorphological, sedimentological, pedological and chronological methods was used to identify aeolian deposition events, ensuing pedogenesis and anthropogenic remobilization. At the outcrops, which were situated approximately 2 km apart from each other, a total of twelve samples of the aeolian sands were dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and a further six samples using 14C dating. Although the dunes have similar morphological features, these forms have a different history of aeolian sand deposition and pedogenesis. At the older dune (Gl 1) the surface soil is a well developed Podzol, whereas soil development of the younger dune (Gl 2) is clearly in an initial state. The studied sites of the dune complex also differ in grain size distribution and in the presence of buried soils, thereby indicating a climatic impact on aeolian remobilization.
Natural shear forces due to gravity along inclined terrain surfaces are controlled by the inclination of the terrain, material composition and its mechanical properties, stratification and hydraulic stress states. Both shear forces and shear strength under a given inclination of the terrain surface strongly depend on the interaction between mechanical and hydraulic stresses. These internal conditions as well as the interactions between these various components are fundamentals in all nonplanar regions under arable, forest or grassland management and they dominate also under various geoscientific aims. Generally, soil creep is a slow soil movement downslope under gravity. It can occur even on gentle slopes when the shear forces exceed the shear strength of the soil. Deposited material on slopes is more sensitive to such movements than well-developed soils due to the absence of a pronounced soil structure, site and management dependent hydraulic properties and functions, which results in low soil strength. We applied the described measurements and the modelling approaches to investigate and to analyse the stability of an artificially constructed water catchment (Chicken Creek) in the mining district of Cottbus/Germany, where glacial sand was deposited above a clay layer with an inclination of about 3.5%. At the lower part of the catchment, an impermeable barrier (claywall)was positioned transversally to the main slope. Mechanical and hydraulic parameters of the soil layers were determined on soil samples taken from the field site. The measured values were inserted as input parameters for the finite element model (Plaxis 2D) to simulate soil movements and their effect on the stability of the catchment. The obtained results showed that the kind of construction negatively affected the physical low soil strength (low precompression stress) although the bulk density was very high (1.7–1.9 g/cm3 for the sandy material). Hydraulic conductivity revealed a significant anisotropy with higher hydraulic conductivity values in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, finite element results showed that the design of the newly formed landscape remains weak concerning mass movements too. The high water table in the sandy material in conjunction with low soil strength enhances the downslope movement and increases the shear stress near the clay wall at the lower end of the slope, which finally results in soil creep processes. These results also proof that such geotechnical and modelling approach is also suitable to validate or to predict mass movements and the internal processes responsible for these internal mass erosion.
Cross-linked polyacrylates in post-mining substrates: persistence and effects on plant growth
(2014)
Application of hydrophilic polymers composed of cross-linked polyacrylate can improve soil water-holding capacity and accelerate the restoration of post-mining substrates. In this work, we studied the persistence of a polyacrylate polymer incorporated into a soil and its impact on plant nutrients at a reclamation site of former lignite mining in Lusatia (Germany). In contrast to autumn application, the incorporation of the polymer enhanced the sequestration of plant-derived carbon in the soil, which was reflected by a significant increase in the concentration of a lignin marker. Attenuated total reflexion–Fourier transform infrared spectra (ATR-FTIR) and total elemental contents in the applied polymer suggested an intensive cation exchange between the polymer framework and the soil-forming substrate. In addition, there was an enrichment of carbonaceous material, which seems to reduce the swelling and thus the water-holding capacity of the cross-linked polyacrylate. Conversely, this process protected the polymer structure from rapid decomposition.
Introduction
(2006)
Water infiltration and hydrophobicity in forest soils of a pine–beech transformation chronosequence
(2006)
Innovations in land-use as response to rural change - a case report from Brandenburg, Germany
(2007)
Holocene Dune Formation and Human-Induced Aeolian Remobilisation in South Brandenburg, Germany
(2008)
In the Mid Latitudes form and function of the earth surface are mainly affected by Pleistocene periglacial processes such as solifluction, cryoturbation and aeolian deposition. On the other hand, human impact on landscapes in Central Europe may date back to the earliest farmers from the Neolithic Period (c. 5500 a cal BC). At least since the Middle Ages intense land-use produced wide deforested areas. In the sand-rich North German Lowland these human-induced deforestation often resulted in the remobilisation of Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene sand dunes. Especially in the vicinity of former mining sites or glassworks the dune landscapes possess quite young stratigraphic disturbances (fossilized horizons, weak developed top soils). Within the scope of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre (SFB/TRR) 38, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), inland dunes in South Brandenburg were used as comparison sites to study structures and processes of the initial ecosystem development phase in an artificial water catchment. Here, we present first results of the pedostratigraphy and the age of two dune systems near Glashuette which is about 50 km south of Berlin. Based on twelve Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and six radiocarbon (14C) datings a chronology of the landscape development for the last c. 10000 years is derived. Data prove that both dune systems - even though they are just c. 1 km apart and have similar morphological features such as height, width, and orientation - have a completely different history in aeolian sand deposition and pedogenesis. At dune 'Glashuette 1' a well established podsol forms the topsoil. At dune 'Glashuette 2' soil development is clearly in a more initial state showing only some humus accumulation and weaker podsolization processes. OSL and 14C ages of sand from 'Glashuette 1' range between about 11.4 ka cal. BC (3.9 m below surface) and 9.4 ka cal. BC (0.7 m below surface). Against that, the sands in 'Glashuette 2' are mainly dated to about 0.8 ka cal BC (3.4 to 0.7 m below surface). On the basis of our findings further analyses can be planned more accurately to study the impact of initial processes on the later state of ecosystems characteristics.
Recultivation efforts in mining areas attempt to regenerate soils and landscapes for various land use options and create initial conditions which are beneficial for the development of the future ecosystems. On very young landforms physical and chemical properties of soils play a major role for the further evolution of the developing ecosystem as well as the landforms itself. Less is known about the very first alterations of physical parameters in accordance to different land uses and recultivation practices. Our study deals with the agricultural recultivation of post lignite mining areas in Lusatia, East Germany. The sandy substrate used for recultivation stems from depths of several meters and is therefore free of recent soil organic matter. The substrate itself is unstructured. After it has been excavated and transported on conveyor belts to the recultivation site, it is piled up to dams of a height of 1-4 m and levelled off with heavy crawlers. During these processes the substrate is subjected to strong mechanical stresses. This practice induces compaction which causes decreasing yields of agricultural crops to a certain extent. In this context we are investigating the effect of different organic soil additives in combination with different recultivation crop rotations on the development of soil structure for improved agricultural land use. Our experimental site has recently been heaped up and levelled off. On the 25 experimental sub areas 2175 undisturbed soil samples were taken out of three soil depths to characterize initial physical properties before any recultivation measures have been applied,. We present laboratory results of this status-quo sampling. The results indicate that the site is very heterogeneous in terms of mechanical stability, bulk density, total pore volume, saturated hydraulic conductivity and air permeability. Moreover, our results show that bulk density is not an appropriate parameter to derive soil functions, e.g. permeability or stability. Additionally we found that even in areas of bulk densities > 1.8 g/cm3 and with an inclination < 2 % impressive run-off and gully erosion developed during heavy rainfall events. We conclude that initial processes altering soil physical parameters play a major role for the landform evolution within the first 12 months after dumping. Further studies should reveal the mid-term impact of organic additives on the soils after 7 yrs.
The influence of biological soil crusts in natural ecosystems on structures and processes is well investigated. However, in South-Brandenburg (Germany), it is possible to study the development of biological soil crusts (BSC) during initial ecosystem genesis on two artificial water catchments with well-known ages and under differing starting conditions. The two experimental sites are located in the recultivation area of the lignite open-cast mining district of southern Brandenburg with a distance of approximately 1 km between them. Two different topographies were constructed at the experimental sites: the experimental plot at the catchment Neuer Lugteich was shaped like a dune, whereas the artificial water catchment Hühnerwasser was modelled as an inclined slope. The catchment Neuer Lugteich is four years older than Hühnerwasser. The original substrate at Neuer Lugteich is more sandy and carbonate-free compared to the original substrate dumped at Hühnerwasser. At both sites geomorphological differentiation and crust development were compared and the importance of substrate-dependent water availability and crust type clarified. Once settled, the crusts influenced the water regime of the soils by delaying infiltration through enhanced water repellency, and by limiting water infiltration. Chlorophyll analysis revealed that all crusts were at early stages of development. At Neuer Lugteich, the establishment of the biological soil crusts was closely associated with the vegetation succession, whereas no clear succession of the crusts could be observed at Hühnerwasser. The mosaic-like pattern of the biological soils crusts is associated with the distribution of fine-grained material here.zeige weniger
Our study deals with agricultural recultivation of open cast brown coal mining areas in Lusatia, Eastern Germany. In this region the largest brown coal (lignite) mining area of Germany is located. Lignite mining activities lead to major disturbances of the landscape. Recultivation efforts attempt to regenerate mining areas for agricultural land use options. The geological “parent” material is of saaleian origin, has a sandy texture and was excavated from several meters depths before mining and is now used for recultivating the excavated area. Consequently, it is free of recent soil organic carbon. The substrate itself is unstructured. The partly wet or dry substrate is subjected to strong mechanical stresses during the excavation, deposition, refilling and levelling processes throughout the year. This practice leads to more or less compacted soils/substrates which may result in small yields of agricultural crops. In this context we investigate the effect of different organic soil additives in combination with different recultivation crop rotations on the development of soil structure for improved agricultural land use. Our experimental site has been heaped up and levelled off in 2006 and 2007. On each of the 24 experimental sub areas undisturbed soil samples have been taken to characterise the substrates according to their mechanical and hydraulic parameters and to determine the scattering of these parameters on a site that is assumed to be recultivated as homogenously as possible. First results of our ongoing experimental study indicate that the soil physical properties such as texture, bulk density, precompression stress, air permeability and saturated hydraulic conductivity are not identical on each of the 24 subplots. The soil physical properties behave differently in relation to each other. E.g. we found a negative correlation between bulk density (∼1.35–∼1.90 g/cm3) and precompression stress (∼30–70 kPa) and no decisive interrelation between bulk density and air permeability or saturated hydraulic conductivity.
Synthese und Ausblick
(2009)