A Pedogenic View of Ecosystem Restoration

Abstract

Ecosystem response to site restoration depends in part on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. Soil properties are influenced by the factors and processes of soil formation that determine soil profile characteristics and pedogenic pathways for soils. Loss of integrity of the original soil profiles or disruption of a past pedogenic pathway from site disturbance may limit the success of restoration if assessment is based on comparisons to previous ecosystems or mature reference systems. New profile characteristics and a pedogenic pathway will emerge over time if materials are used to construct soil profiles or if topsoil or organic matter amendments are added to enhance ecosystem development during site restoration. Ecosystem restoration should include the following pedogenic evaluation of soils: 1) the integrity of existing soil profiles of a degraded site; 2) the soil types (based on soil orders) and past pedogenic pathways for sites of intact soil profiles or sites that require only surface horizon modification; 3) the relative contributions of soil forming factors and processes on future pedogenesis; 4) the conditions that promote or hinder horizon development; and 5) predictions of pedogenic pathways and potential soil types after site restoration. Understanding pedogenesis as a component of ecosystem restoration will improve our understanding of how soils influence ecosystem development, as well as our ability to predict potential success of ecosystem restoration.