Soil aggregate stablity, organic carbon and plant available nutrient contents (N,P) in soils of prehistoric mounds after abandonment of cultivation

Abandoned prehistoric mounds in Hungary's Hortobágy National Park show significant soil regeneration potential after decades of cultivation. Research reveals that these sites, once plowed for agriculture, exhibit improved soil aggregate stability and organic carbon content following spontaneous vegetation recovery. The study highlights a 15-20% increase in aggregate stability compared to cultivated soils, alongside elevated plant-available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels—critical nutrients for ecosystem restoration. These findings suggest that legal protection of such mounds can accelerate soil rehabilitation, offering insights for conservation strategies in similar lowland landscapes.

Botos, Á., Ökrös, V., & Tóth, C. (2015). Soil aggregate stablity, organic carbon and plant available nutrient contents (N,P) in soils of prehistoric mounds after abandonment of cultivation. Landscape & Environment, 9(1), 42–50. https://doi.org/10.21120/le/9/1/4