Best Practice Knowledge Base
5.7 Topsoil removal
Topsoil removal is a restoration technique in which the uppermost soil layer is stripped away to reduce excessive nutrient levels, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, which can hinder the re-establishment of native vegetation. This method is especially used in sites where high nutrient concentrations favor competitive species that outcompete native flora, like grasslands or heathlands. By removing this topsoil we can improve the conditions for the germination and growth of target species, promoting the recovery of natural plant communities. However, this approach can also disrupt soil fauna and microstructure. Thus, a careful consideration of potential ecological impacts and complementary measures are needed.
I. Books or book chapters
| Nº | Title | Author | Chapter | Chapter author | Year | Focus region | Language | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Restoration of Ecosystems – Bridging Nature and Humans | Zerbe | Measures in the Practice of Ecosystem Restoration | Zerbe | 2023 | World | English | Introduces different restoration methods, including topsoil removal. | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-65658-7_3 |
| 2 | Restoration of Ecosystems – Bridging Nature and Humans | Zerbe | Norms and Values in Ecosystem Restoration | Zerbe | 2023 | World | English | Possible ecological and ethical problems of topsoil removal to be taken into account. | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-65658-7_24 |
| 3 | Restoration of Ecosystems – Bridging Nature and Humans | Zerbe | Mesophilic, Wet, and Calcareous Grassland | Zerbe | 2023 | World | English | Restoration measures in wet grasslands, including the method topsoil removal. | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-65658-7_15 |
| 4 | Peatland Restoration and Ecosystem Services | Bonn et al. | Restoration of temperate fens: matching strategies with site potential | Kotowski et al. | 2016 | Europe | English | Techniques in fen restoration, including topsoil removal. | https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139177788.011 |
II. Scientific articles
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus region | Language | Type | Summary | Link |
| 1 | The effect of topsoil removal in restored heathland on soil fauna, topsoil microstructure, and cellulose decomposition: implications for ecosystem restoration | Frouz et al. | 2009 | Netherlands | English | Experiment | Topsoil removal effects on soil macrofauna, soil mixing and litter layer in heathlands | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-009-9692-5 |
| 2 | Direct seeding of Quercus robur L. for reforestation: The influence of mechanical site preparation and sowing date on early growth of seedlings | Löf & Birkedal | 2009 | Sweden | English | Experiment | Influence of sowing date and different mechanical site preparation treatments (including topsoil removal) on early oak seedling growth | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2009.05.008 |
| 3 | Topsoil removal improves various restoration treatments of a Mediterranean steppe (La Crau, southeast France) | Jaunatre et al. | 2013 | France | English | Experiment | Topsoil removal benefits on restoration efficiency of nurse species seeding, hay transfer and soil transfer in a Mediterranean steppe | https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12063 |
| 4 | Strengthened plant-microorganism interaction after topsoil removal cause more deterministic microbial assembly processes and increased soil nitrogen mineralization | Zhang et al. | 2024 | Switzerland | English | Experiment | Experiment on the effects of topsoil removal on plant-microorganism interactions in grasslands | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175031 |
| 5 | Natural Establishment of Specialist Plant Species after Topsoil Removal and Soil Perturbation in Degraded Calcareous Sandy Grassland | Olsson & Ödman | 2013 | Sweden | English | Experiment | Topsoil removal benefits on colonization of target species of calcareous sandy grassland | https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12024 |
| 6 | Successful use of topsoil removal and soil amelioration to create heathland vegetation | Alisson & Ausden | 2004 | United Kingdom | English | Experiment | Effectiveness of topsoil removal and deep ploughing of an agricultural grass field for establishment of heathland vegetation | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2004.02.017 |
| 7 | Does topsoil removal in grassland restoration benefit both soil nematode and plant communities? | Resch et al. | 2019 | Switzerland | English | Experiment | Topsoil removal successfulness in converting intensively managed into species-rich grasslands and the soil fauna impacts | https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13400 |
| 8 | Topsoil removal in degraded rich fens: Can we force an ecosystem reset? | Emsens et al. | 2015 | Western Europe | English | Observational study | Study on long-term effects of topsoil removal on soil chemical properties | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.01.029 |
| 9 | Effect of topsoil removal and plant material transfer on vegetation development in created Mediterranean meso-xeric grasslands | Muller et al. | 2013 | France | English | Experiment | Topsoil removal an material transfer relevance in restoring a Mediterranean meso-xeric grassland | https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12059 |