Technosols Made of Urban Wastes are Suitable Habitats for Flora and Soil Macrofauna

10 Pages Posted: 12 Jul 2024

See all articles by Manuel Blouin

Manuel Blouin

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Charlotte Pruvost

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jérôme Mathieu

Sorbonne University

Jeanne Vallet

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Florence Dubs

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Agnès Gigon

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Thomas Z. Lerch

University Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne

Abstract

Cities are increasingly recognized as specific ecosystems, in which green infrastructures, gardens, parks… can offer new habitats to flora and fauna. Cities also have a limited ability to recycle waste, which could be improved by transforming certain construction waste into Technosols. Here, we show that Technosols made of “fine earth”, excavated from deep soil horizons and usually deposited in landfills by the building sector, can promote plant growth, plant diversity and soil macrofauna. A four-year follow-up showed diversity and abundance levels comparable to temperate meadows. It also suggests a strong potential in terms of carbon storage. This solution could thus simultaneously supply a resource for local green spaces, reduce construction waste in landfills, lessen topsoil removal from neighboring environments, helping cities to take their part in climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation efforts.

Keywords: carbon storage, fine earth: green waste compost, plant growth, macrofauna, vegetation.

Suggested Citation

Blouin, Manuel and Pruvost, Charlotte and Mathieu, Jérôme and Vallet, Jeanne and Dubs, Florence and Gigon, Agnès and Lerch, Thomas Z., Technosols Made of Urban Wastes are Suitable Habitats for Flora and Soil Macrofauna. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4893273 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4893273

Manuel Blouin (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Charlotte Pruvost

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Jérôme Mathieu

Sorbonne University ( email )

UFR 927, 4 Place Jussieu
Paris, PA F-75252
France

Jeanne Vallet

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Florence Dubs

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Agnès Gigon

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Thomas Z. Lerch

University Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne ( email )

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