8.02.03 – Humus and soil biodiversity

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Unit 8.02.03

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The starting point to the Unit was the constitution of a European working group whose mission statement has been defined as follows:

• Normative actions: to present an harmonized humus description and classification system in different biogeoclimatic regions
• To see the humus profiles in a dynamic context
• To strengthen understanding of ecosystem dynamics in the soil compartments
• To apply knowledge from humus studies in management: decisions in land management (i.e. in respect to carbon sequestration or consequences of climate change) or support to decisions in forestry
• To look for dependencies between humus forms and biodiversity

Humus plays an important role in the functioning of ecosystems. It acts as a link between above- and below-ground ecosystem compartments. The fall and decomposition of organic matter return minerals and energy to the soil biota, and the depth or depth ratio of different humus horizons is indicative for turnover and carbon storage in forests. Humus forms are indicators of site quality and current site condition.

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