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In order to integrate necessary interdisciplinary complexity, sustainability, defined targets and endpoints for reclamation progress, the objective of this research is to advance reclamation knowledge on (i) international scale and (ii) national scale, taking Nigeria as an example. On the international scale (i), a systematic reclamation threshold scale for assessing, evaluating, documenting, and monitoring reclamation progress was developed. The threshold stages begin from the initial state I0 down to degraded state D0 (depending on the type of mining). Reclamation starts with soil reconstruction R-2 up to revegetation R-1 (red zones) to reach minimum threshold R0 (amber zone). Beyond R0 are the green zones R1, R2, and R3 representing soil/abiotic condition, biological and improved threshold respectively. Adaptation of the threshold model to degraded ecosystems in national and international laws is recommended. On the national scale with Nigeria (ii), endowed with over 34 solid minerals and abundant crude oil, findings show that almost all mine sites are below the minimum threshold scale R0. The sites are adversely affected by Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM), whereby, contamination and soil lithology disturbances are the state-of-the-art discussions. However, bioremediation (phytoremediation) is the most feasible remediation technique. Therefore, for the crude oil contaminated sites, this study highlights typical cogitation for large in-situ implementation and potential species for remediation. For the mineral resources, gold mining was the typical example. As a practical approach, experimental areas on an abandoned mining site (Site 1), an active mining site (Site 2) and an undisturbed vegetation site (Control) in southwestern Nigeria were mapped out to represent its mining and farming activities. On the sites, (a) the impacts of the ASM activities on the floristic association were assessed. (b) the potential of 2D Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) was explored to characterize the horizontal and vertical landscape homogeneity of the mine sites, and lastly, (c) the study identified native high-accumulating plants growing on the sites that can be employed for phytoremediation. Thus, the results show that (a) the floristic association of the mine sites have been stressed and disturbed. (b) the resistivity structure of the sites shows that ASM has greatly impaired the lithological status of the sites. (c) out of the 9 considered species, Crinum jagus has the highest accumulation factor of 8.71, 37.47, 1.08 and 29.38 for Pb, Cd, Fe and Cu respectively. It is a recommendable novel plant in the tropics. However, future studies must verify its hyperaccumulator potentials, identify other high accumulating species and develop effective approaches and policies to curb ASM activities and enhance remediation in Nigeria.
With regard to the depletion of global phosphorus reserves and with the aim of ensuring sustainable soil fertility on agricultural soils, a fundamental understanding of mechanisms of fixation and mobilization of inorganic phosphorus in soils is required. Amongst others, phosphorus availability is affected by ad- and desorption reactions on pedogenic Fe- and Al-hydroxide surfaces. The characterization of phosphate binding on those contrasting mineral surfaces can help to find solutions for enhancing the mobilization of fertilized but not available soil inorganic phosphate. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic experiments were carried out during phosphorus adsorption on crystalline gibbsite, poorly crystalline 2-line-ferrihydrite and amorphous Fe:Al-hydroxide mixtures. Desorption experiments with CaCl₂, CaSO₄, citric acid (C₆H₈O₇), and humic acid (C₉H₉NO₆) were conducted to determine the capacity of phosphate fixation and mobilization in short- and long-term. Additionally, phosphorus release from the Fe- and Ca-phosphates vivianite and hydroxyapatite were analyzed.
For gibbsite, the formation of AlHPO₄ and Al₂HPO₄ can be assumed, while for ferrihydrite, a FeHPO₄ or Fe₂PO₄ complex and the precipitation of FePO₄ with longer equilibration time were observed. Fe₂HPO₄ or a Fe₂PO₄ surface complex was deduced for amorphous Fe-hydroxides, an AlH₂PO₄ surface complex was identified for Al-hydroxides. The weakly associated amorphous FeO(OH) molecules enhance the precipitation of FePO₄. With high Al content, a weaker phosphate binding of both inner- and outer-sphere complexes and either no or minor quantities of precipitate were formed. Ferrihydrite showed a more rigid structure and a lower extent of precipitation compared to amorphous Fe-hydroxide. The cumulative phosphorus desorption followed the order CaCl₂ < CaSO₄ < humic acid < citric acid for crystalline and amorphous Fe- and Al-hydroxides as well for vivianite and hydroxyapatite. While inorganic anion exchange took part at easily available binding sites and fast exchangeable phosphorus, organic acids additionally affect the more heavily available binding sites and slow exchangeable phosphorus. For humic acid, the accumulation of metal-organic complexes in the desorption solution was suggested, whereas for citric acid the dissolution of the minerals was maintained. The cumulative release rates of the Flow-Through-Reactor setup were higher compared to batch due to a short residence time and a continuous concentration gradient. This could lead either to an over- or underestimation of the available phosphorus pools and influenced the comparability of both methods.
An empirical and simulation-based assessment of tree growth in temperate alley-cropping systems
(2020)
The potential of biomass generated from dedicated energy crops, used in short-rotation coppices (SRC), progressively grows recognition as a flexible primary source for the generation of energy, heat, fuel, and bio-based materials and chemicals. The alley-cropping systems (ACSs), which can integrate tree strips managed as SRC into agriculturally managed fields, are often regarded as an adaptable multi-crop land-use strategy that can provide ecological and economic benefits. The research aim of the present dissertation has focused on investigating the prospective implications of different site-specific conditions and scenarios on tree growth in ACSs with SRC, thus incorporating several experimental and simulation-based studies. For this, the ability of a process-oriented, eco-physiological tree growth model was investigated in order to (i) impute missing empirical data, thus securing a reliable repository of tree growth characteristics, (ii) simulate the tree growth in terms of woody biomass production in strong relation to the interactions with adjacent crops and their respective resource capture, (iii) predict and evaluate the tree growth sensitivity to prospective climate changes, thus performing risk assessments for the near and distant future, and (iv) derive and assess the land equivalent ratio (LER) and gross energy yield for different climatic, soil, and management scenarios. The findings have corroborated the potential tree growth vulnerability to prospective climatic changes, particularly to changes in water availability, and have underlined the importance of coping management strategies in SRC for forthcoming risk assessments and adaptation scenarios. Both LER and gross energy yields had resulted in a convex curve where the maximum values were achieved when either the tree or crop component was dominant (>75% of the land area) and minimum when these components shared similar proportions of land area. Collectively, the implications of different site-specific conditions and scenarios on tree growth in ACSs with SRC have been investigated in order to improve the decision-making, optimization, and adaptation of such systems. Last but not least, this dissertation has emphasized the considerable potential of modelling approaches in ACSs, as they can impute missing data from scarce available data and simulate tree and crop yields for specific site-conditions in a non-intrusive, inexpensive, and prompt way while supporting early site-setup planning.
Designing and implementing comprehensive reclamation programme during mine operations can minimize environmental damage and decrease potential legal liability. Although Regulation (23) of the Ghana Environmental Assessment Regulation (1999) requires mine proponents to have plans for reclamation, it has been revealed most degraded mine-sites have not been reclaimed. Even in cases where some mining companies made reclamation attempts, such efforts could not produce any favourable outcome due to the failure in adopting such best reclamation management practices as slope stabilization and substrate amendment to promote vegetation establishment. Subsequently, this study was undertaken to (a) investigate the role of biological geotextiles in erosion control and (b) examine effects of organic amendments with stockpiled subsoil on tree growth and on ground vegetation cover. A waste-rock dump was graded to 33% slope and covered with a 70 cm layer of subsoil at the Amoma Pit of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited Ahafo-South project. To achieve the first objective, two kinds of biological geotextiles; Elephant-grass mat and “York” mat, were used with bare ground as control, in a randomized block design with two replications each. Mat performance against erosion was expressed as a percentage from the total sediment yield. Results showed both the Elephant-grass mat and the York mat significantly (p < 0.05) reduced soil loss by 56.6% and 97.3%, respectively, compared to the control. The mats acted as cover and protected the graded mine-slope against erosion and allowed vegetation to establish and grow through them.
Two experimental plots (24 × 15 m) were established on a different portion of the waste-rock dump for the second objective. The treatments, manure (23 t ha-1) and control (no manure), were applied, followed by seeding of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and planting of potted-seedlings of five forest-tree species. The Laser-point-quadrat method was used to estimate ground vegetation cover, whereas erosion was visually observed. Diameter and height data of the planted trees were collected. The results indicated the manure had significant positive influence on tree growth and on ground vegetation cover which facilitated superior soil stabilization, compared to the control. Manure supplied sufficient N to overcome N deficiency of the subsoil and additionally increased soil organic matter that boosted microbial activity and mineralization. The findings of the study highlight the urgent need of implementing best reclamation management practices in protecting the environment and securing successful reclamation during mine operations in Ghana. The achievement of this will promote responsible mining and further contribute to Ghanaians’ acceptability of mining as a sustainable developmental land use activity, rather than as a curse.
Multidimensional visualization of preferential flow pathways using neutron and x-ray radiation
(2016)
The occurrence of preferential flow of water in soils is rather the rule than the exception particularly in heterogeneous structured soils. The quantitative prediction is difficult because of the spatial as well as temporal variability. One aim of the dissertation was to visualize the soil structure and flow patterns in mine soils using a combination of neutron radiography, neutron tomography and x-ray computed tomography experiments. Both radiation techniques were used to describe preferential pathways as a soil structure with CT and the process of preferential flow of water with NT. For the first time neutron radiation was applied on undisturbed soil cores to visualize water distributions in natural soils on three examples for heterogeneities of different origin.
In a first investigation we used neutron radiography to analyze the moisture distribution in undisturbed slab-type and cylindrical samples of mine soils containing lignitic fragments and inclined soil layers. 2D radiography sequences indicated that flow pathways are highly dependent on the shape, distribution, and internal structure of the lignitic fragments. For 3D experiments, the quantitative analysis of water contents failed due to a pronounced beam hardening effect. The tensiometer data indicated the existence of local non-equilibrium in pressure heads between fragments and matric pore regions.
The objective of the second study was to analyze and visualize the effects of initial soil structure formation at the surface of bare soils in an artificial hydrological catchment that has been left to undirected ecological succession for three years. The three-dimensional (3D) micro-morphology was described using the X-ray computed tomography (CT); two-dimensional (2D) infiltration patterns were obtained from drip infiltration experiments using time-resolved neutron radiography (NT). The analyses of CT data indicate the existence of (i) structural crusts on soil consisting of sandy to loamy sediments and (ii) depositional crusts on sandy sediments. The results of combined observations using CT and NT suggest that the initial soil surface structure alterations of young sandy sediment modify moisture patterns of infiltrating water only slightly.
The aim of the 3rd experiment was to study effect of two ‘ecological engineers’, moss vegetation and beetle larvae on pore structure and infiltration. The soil pore structure was characterized by micro-computed tomography analyses of bare soil, sparse and dense moss-vegetated samples containing a single burrow. Flow patterns of infiltration experiments were visualized using the neutron radiography technique. The results of this study suggest that moss vegetation and burrowing activity of ground beetles strongly control the initial soil development by modification of pore structure and surface water infiltration.
In this study the mycorrhizal community of the Ericaceae Comarostaphylis arbutoides was investigated to reveal further ectomycorrhizal fungal species that are associated with this tropical plant. Mycorrhizal systems of selected genera were investigated in more detail regarding their phylogeny, morphology, and anatomy as well as the genetic confirmation of the associated host tree.
The genetic investigation of mycorrhizal systems collected at the Cerro de la Muerte (Costa Rica) detected a diverse fungal community. Most common were species of the genera Russula, Cortinarius, and Cenococcum, as well as not further determined members of the Cantharellaceae and Helotiales. The genera Cenococcum, Clavaria/Clavulina, Phellodon, Piloderma, Sebacina, Tomentella/Thelephora, as well as Xerocomus could be proven genetically for the first time from Costa Rica based on mycorrhizal systems.
Comarostaphylis arbutoides was proven to be mycorrhizal with Leotia cf. lubrica, Sebacina sp., and diverse species of the genus Cortinarius. Species of other genera are also assumed, but their confirmation is still to be made.
On the basis of genetics and the investigation of its mycorrhizal systems, the collected Costa Rican Sebacina sp. may constitute a hitherto not described species. However, to confirm this assumption fruit body investigations are necessary. Sebacina sp. was proven in this study to be also mycorrhizal with Quercus sp.
The ascomycete Leotia lubrica was proven to be mycorrhizal for the first time. However, mycorrhizal findings of this species are still rare in literature and further studies are necessary to underpin its new status. As Leotia lubrica occurs worldwide, other host plants, beside the proven Comarostaphylis arbutoides, are assumed for this species as well.
The mycorrhizal samples of the genus Cortinarius could comprise approximately 15 species. Their final determination is still outstanding, but it is assumed that also hitherto not known species were detected in this study. A host preference is indicated as species of Cortinarius are found to be associated either with Comarostaphylis arbutoides or Quercus sp., but needs to be confirmed by including mycorrhizal samples of Quercus trees.
One third of the sequenced mycorrhizal systems still remain unidentified. Therefore, repeated comparison with sequence databases is recommended. The phylogenetic and morphological/anatomical investigation of already identified as well as unidentified mycorrhizal systems is advised to deliver additional descriptions of Costa Rican ectomycorrhizal fungi and therefore contribute to the knowledge of tropical fungal species.
Dieser Tagungsband umfasst Beiträge, die im Rahmen des 5. Forums Agroforstsysteme, welches am 30. November und 1. Dezember in der Kaiserkrone zu Senftenberg (OT Brieske) stattfand, in Form von Vorträgen oder Postern präsentiert bzw. vorgestellt worden. Das Forum fand unter der Schirmherrschaft der Stadt Senftenberg statt und wurde durch die Innovationsgruppe AUFWERTEN (vom BMBF gefördertes Forschungsprojekt; Förderkennzeichen: 033L129 AN; www.agroforst-info.de) sowie durch das Ministerium für Ländliche Entwicklung, Umwelt und Landwirtschaft des Landes Brandenburg veranstaltet.
Das Forum stand unter der Überschrift „Bäume in der Land(wirt)schaft – von der Theorie in die Praxis“. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist die inhaltliche Vielfalt der Beiträge dieses Tagungsbandes zu verstehen. Diese befassen sich zum Teil mit konkreten wissenschaftlichen Fragestellungen, beleuchten andererseits jedoch auch Aspekte, die vor allem für die Praxis von großer Relevanz sind. Zudem werden in einigen Beiträgen Forschungsprojekte vorgestellt oder Planungsansätze für Agroforstflächen beschrieben.
In der Praxis der Braunkohlegewinnung im Lausitzer Tagebaurevier werden natürlich gewachsene Böden in den betroffenen Gebieten zerstört. In der Folge entwickeln sich aus den verkippten Substraten nährstoffarme Rohböden, auf deren Oberflächen als erste Pioniere zumeist Grünalgen, Moose, Flechten und Bakterien siedeln, welche die obersten Bodenpartikel vernetzen und so biologische Bodenkrusten ausbilden. Diese Biokrusten stabilisieren die durch spärliche Vegetation gekennzeichneten Rekultivierungsflächen, wirken erosionshemmend und beeinflussen die Hydrologie und Wasserumverteilung der oberen Bodenschicht.
Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Untersuchung von unterschiedlichen Sukzessionsstadien von Biokrusten auf zwei Rekultivierungsflächen der Bergbaufolgelandschaft in der Niederlausitz, die durch unterschiedliche Substrateigenschaften, Topographie und Rekultivierungszeiten gekennzeichnet sind. Auf einer künstlichen Sanddüne und einer tertiären Fläche wurden Krustentypen hinsichtlich einer divergenten Artenausprägung und den damit verbundenen funktionellen Eigenschaften untersucht.
Parameter der Photosynthese wurden hinsichtlich ihrer Bedeutung für die Charakterisierung und Funktion der Biokrusten analysiert. Des Weiteren wurde der Einfluss der Biokrusten auf den Kohlenstoff- und Stickstoffhaushalt der Böden untersucht. Zuletzt sollte festgestellt werden, ob und wie die kleinräumige Mosaikstruktur der Biokrusten die Hydrologie sowie Funktion und Aktivität der Krustenorganismen beeinflusst. In Bezug auf die Artenzusammensetzung der Bodenkrusten konnten auf beiden Standorten Übereinstimmungen als auch Unterschiede festgestellt werden, da es sich bei allen Organismen um ubiquitäre Arten handelte. Auf beiden Standorten fanden sich die Grünalgen Zygogonium und Ulothrix, die Moose Ceratodon und Polytrichum sowie Flechten der Gattung Cladonia. In Schlabendorf wurde aufgrund der längeren Rekultivierungszeit bereits eine höhere Artendichte festgestellt. Das betraf besonders Arten der Flechtengattung Cladonia. Eine standortspezifische Präferenz hinsichtlich des Substrates oder der naturräumlichen Gegebenheiten nicht festgestellt werden konnte.
Die Auswertung der ökophysiologischen Parameter ergab einen Anstieg der Chlorophyllgehalte, des Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), der Chlorophyllfluoreszenz sowie der Netto-Photosyntheseraten mit fortschreitender Krustenentwicklung. Der Anstieg der Photosynthese-relevanten Parameter verlief aufgrund der heterogenen Verteilung der Organismen zwischen den Biokrusten des gleichen Sukzessionsstadiums nur in frühen Stadien linear.
Die höchste photosynthetische Aktivität wurde bei den Moos-Krusten festgestellt, gefolgt von den Grünalgen-Krusten und den Flechten-Krusten. Das Verhältnis von Brutto-Photosynthese zu Respiration lies den Schluss zu, dass die CO2-Fixierungsrate in den Flechten-Krusten aufgrund der mycobiontischen Respiration niedriger ausfiel.
Die Infiltration in den Krusten wurde durch das Vernetzen von Sandpartikeln durch Grünalgen-Filamente und den Verschluss der Porenräume gehemmt. Die Wasserspeicherkapazität nahm jedoch aufgrund des organischen Materials zu. Das Auftreten von Moosen förderte hingegen die Infiltration und verringerte die Wasserhaltekapazität, da Rhizoide das Substrat auflockerten bzw. sich präferentielle Fließwege bildeten. Die C- und N-Gehalte der Krusten nahmen durch den Zuwachs der organischen Biomasse bei fortschreitender Entwicklung zu.
Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit erfolgte die Untersuchung quartärer und tertiärer sandiger Substrate im rekultivierten Bereich des Tagebaus Welzow-Süd im Lausitzer Braunkohlerevier über einen Zeitraum von 28 Monaten. Die Substrate und Substratmischungen wurden auf ihre Benetzungseigenschaften sowohl im Hinblick auf die räumliche Heterogenität und zeitliche Variabilität als auch in Abhängigkeit von Art und Gehalt an organischer Substanz untersucht. Die Bewertung der Benetzungseigenschaften erfolgte mittels Kontaktwinkelmessungen und WDPT-Test in Freiland und Laborstudien.
Während die quartären Substrate im gesamten Untersuchungszeitraum durchgehend gut benetzbar waren und als hydrophil eingestuft wurden, wiesen die untersuchten tertiären Sande im feldfeuchten Zustand zum Teil extreme Benetzungshemmung auf. Wie die vorliegende Untersuchung bestätigt, wurde nachgewiesen, dass trotz kleiner gemessener Kontaktwinkel eine ausgeprägte Benetzungshemmung vorliegen kann.
Die untersuchten tertiären Substrate sind durch eine hohe horizontale und vertikale räumliche Heterogenität der Benetzungseigenschaften gekennzeichnet. Am oberen Hangbereich und auf den Kuppenbereichen lag überwiegend starke Benetzungshemmung vor. Durch den daraus resultierenden Oberflächenabfluss verbunden mit Substratverlagerung wurden zum Teil erhebliche Reliefänderungen, resultierend in einer ausgeprägten Kuppen- und Rinnenstruktur, beobachtet.
Zudem wiesen die tertiären Substrate ein zeitlich stark differenziertes Benetzungsverhalten auf. Während im Winter und im Frühjahr überwiegend eine gute Benetzbarkeit des Substrats bestand, lag im Sommer und im Herbst zum Teil erheblich ausgeprägte Benetzungshemmung vor. Die zeitliche Variabilität der Benetzungseigenschaften des tertiären Substrats wird maßgeblich durch die Luft- und Bodentemperaturen sowie einen kritischen Bodenwassergehalt von 2 Masse-% beeinflusst. Des Weiteren konnten Abhängigkeiten zwischen schwach oder mäßig ausgeprägter Benetzungshemmung und der Niederschlagsmenge nachgewiesen werden. Je höher die Niederschlagsmenge, desto schwächer war die Benetzungshemmung ausgeprägt. Bei vorliegender starker Benetzungshemmung des tertiären Substrats erfolgten Änderungen im Benetzungsverhalten hingegen vor allem durch langanhaltende Niederschlagsereignisse oder Niederschlagsereignisse hoher Intensität.
Die Zugabe organischer Substanz verschiedener Art und Herkunft führte in allen Fällen zur Induzierung von Benetzungshemmung. Sowohl in den Freiland- als auch in den Laborversuchen wurde mit steigendem Gehalt an organischem Kohlenstoff eine stärker ausgeprägte Benetzungshemmung nachgewiesen. Für die untersuchten Substrate konnte ein kritischer Wert von 0,25 % organischen Kohlenstoffs ermittelt werden, unterhalb dessen vorwiegend Benetzbarkeit der Substrate vorlag.
Als Haupteinflussparameter für die Ausbildung der Benetzungseigenschaften des tertiären Substrats wurden die Parameter Globalstrahlung und Lufttemperatur sowie der Bodenwassergehalt mittels multivariater statistischer Methoden identifiziert. Ein konzeptioneller Ansatz zur Implementierung des Parameters Benetzungshemmung in die hydrologische Modellierung ermöglicht mittels meteorologischer und bodenphysikalischer Parameter die exemplarische Zuordnung von tertiären Substratproben in Gruppen mit hydrophilen, mäßig benetzungsgehemmten und sehr stark benetzungsgehemmten Eigenschaften ohne direkte Messung der Benetzungshemmung.
Der integrierte Versuchsansatz zur in situ Charakterisierung der Benetzungseigenschaften verschiedener Substrate und Substratmischungen im Freiland und ergänzender Laborstudien ermöglicht eine verbesserte Analyse der pedologischen und hydrologischen Prozesse der „critical zone“. Erstmalig wurde im Rahmen der vorliegenden Dissertation anhand meteorologischer Parameter und dem Bodenwassergehalt eine Zuordnung von Benetzungseigenschaften durchgeführt.
Die im Rahmen der vorliegenden Datenanalyse gewonnenen Erkenntnisse hinsichtlich der die Benetzungshemmung beeinflussenden Parameter bieten einen konzeptionellen Ansatz zur qualitativen Weiterentwicklung mathematischer Prozessmodelle der Abflussbildung. Die vorliegende Studie ermöglicht eine Abschätzung der vorliegenden Benetzungseigenschaften anhand meteorologischer Parameter sowie kritischer Werte für den Bodenwassergehalt und den Gehalt an organischem Kohlenstoff. Durch die Einbindung in hydrologische und Erosionsmodelle wird damit im Weiteren die Möglichkeit gegeben, Oberflächenabflüsse und Bodenabträge von benetzungsgehemmten Flächen zu prognostizieren.
Vor dem Hintergrund veränderter Niederschlagsmuster mit einer Häufung meteorologischer Extremereignisse ist eine Einstufung der Bodensubstrate in Gefährdungsklassen zweckmäßig, da die Ausbildung von Benetzungshemmung vor allem unter trockenen und warmen Bedingungen begünstigt wird. Somit kann ein Instrument geschaffen werden, um Bodendegradierung als Folge von Benetzungshemmung wirksam vorzubeugen.
Objective of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre (CRC/TR) 38 was the study of structures and processes of the initial ecosystem development. It was assumed that the initial phase is characterized by less structured and therefore less heterogeneous ecosystems. Thus, analysis of young ecosystems in their initial stages should provide better insights into ecosystem functioning. Following this basic concept, the idea of the CRC/TR 38 was to analyze the establishment of new structures and processes which lead to a growing structuring and in consequence to a growing complexity and heterogeneity in an artificially created watershed. Further, with the help of this step-by-step development of the ecosystem it was aimed to learn from occurring feedbacks, which appear between old and newly emerging structures and patterns in order to better understand also the behavior of more mature systems. Special emphasis was placed on the spatial and temporal dynamics of both evolving structures and related processes and their interactions. In summary, the CRC/TR 38 was able to identify a number of structures and processes that are considered to be relevant and specific for young systems.