Fate of the main carbon forms in soil organic matter from post-mining soils amended with urban compost in southern Spain (Almería)

Abstract

In general, post-mining rehabilitation of gypsic soils is hampered because of its low organic matter content in the topsoil, which has been removed and replaced by alternative “soil-forming materials”. However, not all organic amendments are equally beneficial and there is classical controversy on their suitability for the formation of humic substances. In general, urban composts have a poor potential to yield humic substances.