Soil development and properties of microbial biomass succession in reclaimed post mining sites near Sokolov (Czech Republic) and near Cottbus (Germany)

The vegetation type and the litter quality seem to be of higher importance for soil microbial activity than substrate quality on the reclaimed spoil heaps. The metabolic quotient (respiration-to-biomass ratio) was higher on the clay substrate as compared to sands, indicating higher efficiency of microbial transformation in sands. The high content of total phosphorus in the clay substrate needs not to result in the high phosphorus content in microbial biomass. Phosphorus availability for microorganisms could be lower in clays.