Dataset for the project "The role of expansive and invasive plant species in shaping the activity of microbial communities and carbon sequestration in the soil of post-mining spoil heaps."

Description of the project: Research on carbon sequestration in all types of ecosystems, including human-transformed oligotrophic ecosystems, has become more important today from a climate change perspective, as it can help mitigate its effects. Increasing the potential for C sequestration on brownfield sites can be achieved by improving biological processes and developing soil organic matter reservoirs. This may be particularly relevant for the functioning of oligotrophic ecosystems such as waste coal mine spoil heaps. In studies conducted to date on soil carbon dynamics, it has been found that carbon storage capacity is related to vegetation type, among other factors. This is mainly due to the fact that different plant species affect the physical and chemical properties of the soil, the chemical composition of the litter, detritus supply and rooting depth differently. Furthermore, plant species have been shown to influence the composition and biomass of soil microbial communities, and these microorganisms are responsible for the decomposition of organic compounds in the soil. There is little knowledge of soil microbial communities and their activities in the different plant communities of post-mining spoil heaps, especially with regard to the effects of specific microbial communities on soil carbon sequestration. The aim of the project was to compare the influence of a native expansive grass species (Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) ROTH) and an alien invasive species (Solidago gigantea AITION) on the activity and structure of soil microorganisms and carbon sequestration on post-mining spoil heaps spontaneously colonised by vegetation and subjected to reclamation. The study was carried out on a model post-mining heap, part of which has been reclaimed with overburdened soil, while the remaining part has not undergone any reclamation and is subject to spontaneous succession processes. An analysis of total organic carbon (TOC) in soil substrate samples was carried out to determine the effect of the plant species studied on carbon sequestration. TOC consists of organic compounds mainly derived from root exudates, microbial biomass and decomposition of plant litter and SOM by microorganisms. Therefore, the structure of soil microbial assemblages was also investigated by means of phospholipid fatty acid profiles and the activity of these microorganisms, by means of soil enzyme analysis and functional diversity of microorganisms using BIOLOG® Ecoplates. In addition, the in situ level of CO2 release from the soil was also determined.