The impact of subsoil management on the delivery of ecosystem services (2020)

Ittner, S., Gerdes, H., Athmann, M., Bauke, S., Gocke, M., Guigue, J., Jaiswal, S., Kautz, T., Schmittmann, O., Schulz, S., Seidel, S.

BonaRes Series, (),

doi:https://doi.org/10.20387/bonares-bszh-qbkn

Abstract

In recent years, the interest in subsoil has increased, since it can hold immense reservoirs of nutrients, organic matter and water. The subsoil can therefore provide important ecosystem services for the agricultural production system and beyond. This paper assesses the sustainability of two subsoil management measures with regard to the delivery of soil-related ecosystem services: a) the cultivation of deep-rooted pre-crops (biological approach) and b) stripwise mechanical subsoil loosening in combination with the incorporation of compost (Soil³ method). The analysis includes the identification of soil-related ecosystem services to which the subsoil contributes, the identification of related indicators, and the analysis of changes in the delivery of ecosystem services. The results show that both subsoil management measures lead to a change in the provision of soil-related ecosystem services. With the exception of the effect on potential N-leaching, both measures have an overall positive effect on considered ecosystem services.