Thin technosols mature to agronomically functional soils on a reclaimed ash landfill

Golob, Nejc (avtor), Zupan, Marko (avtor), Weninger, Thomas (avtor), Strauss, Peter (avtor), Glavan, Matjaž (avtor), Zupanc, Vesna (avtor)

The long-term functionality of thin (≤ 30 cm) technosols – anthropogenic soils constructed from homogenized transported soil over reclaimed lignite fly ash landfills – is evaluated here. This study investigates three distinct parcels (defined as contiguous land-use areas reclaimed with same initial substrate material in different phases) on a landfill in central Slovenia: P1 (28 years old), P2 (25 years old), and P3 (15 years old). Soil sampling was conducted during a single campaign in 2024 to assess pedogenic stabilization. All parcels demonstrated plantavailable water (PAW) above the 20% vol. agronomic threshold, with P1 reaching 26.1% vol. and P3 23.8% vol. Strong aggregate stability (>90% waterstable aggregates) was observed across the site. The oldest parcel (P1) exhibited the most favorable bulk density (~1.11 g cm-³), stable pH and uniform saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), while younger parcels showed localized compaction exceeding 1.50 g cm-³. Chemical analysis via pXRF confirmed that trace elements (e.g., Cr: 84–111 mg kg-¹, Ni: 45–57 mg kg-¹) remain within Slovenian regulatory limits. While topsoil nutrients are adequate (OM 5.5–6.0%), a sharp decline in the subsoil (OM ~2.1%) indicates limited vertical nutrient cycling. These findings prove that even a thin technosol can develop essential functions for agriculture, such as water retention and structural stability, within three decades. However, limited soil depth restricts drought resilience to approximately 7–10 days in younger covers versus 28 days in mature ones.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: anthropogenic soil, land reclamation, renaturation, soil developtment, soil functions, soil quality, technosol
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Datum objave: 05.03.2026
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 15 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 6, [article no.] 1727139
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180298
• UDK: 631.4
• ISSN pri članku: 2673-8619
• DOI: 10.3389/fsoil.2026.1727139
• COBISS.SI-ID: 270599171
• Datum objave v RUL: 05.03.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Frontiers in soil science
• Skrajšan naslov: Front. soil sci.
• Založnik: Frontiers Media SA
• ISSN: 2673-8619
• COBISS.SI-ID: 103530499

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: antropogena tla, melioracija, renaturacija, razvoj tal, funkcije tal, kakovost tal