Soil structure formation through the action of plants and microbes

土壤结构是指固体和空隙的大小、形状和排列、孔隙的连续性和团聚体。土壤结构的形成是植物、土壤动物、微生物等不同生物群与风化矿物质、有机质相互作用的结果。结果，形成了特定于土壤的结构。我们研究的目的是了解通过植物输入的有机质(从根和植物凋落物)、通过根创建的孔隙网络、微生物群落的组成和功能以及土壤团聚体结构的建立之间的相互关系。我们的研究将依赖于露天褐煤矿区复垦期间建立的一个独特的基于黄土的时间序列0-24年。将首次通过将土壤化学的专门知识与微生物基因组学和土壤-植物相互作用联系起来进行调查。我们的方法是基于现场研究与具体的现场和实验室实验相结合，涵盖了从土柱上的土壤层到土壤团聚体的空间尺度。

Soil structure refers to the size, shape and arrangement of solids and voids, continuity of pores and aggregation. The formation of soil structure is the result from the interaction of different biota, like plants, soil fauna and microbes with the weathered mineral material and organic matter. As a result soil-specific structures are formed. The aim of our investigations is to understand the interrelation between organic matter input through plants (from roots and plant litter), the pore network created through roots, the microbial community composition and function and the build-up of the soil aggregate structure. Our investigations will rely on a unique loess-based chronosequence from 0-24 y established during reclamation of open-cast lignite mining sites. For the first time investigations will be carried out by linking expertise from soil chemistry with microbial genomics and soil-plant interactions. Our approach is based on a combination of field studies with specific field and lab experiments, covering spatial scales from the pedon over soil columns to soil aggregates.