Assessment of topsoil cover (TSC) on soil properties
The use of topsoil cover (TSC) is a common practice for enhancing soil moisture and mitigating the effects of altered precipitation patterns. To compare the performance of biodegradable and novel TSCs with commercial alternatives, a field trial experiment was conducted in a nursery setting using Ash plants (Fraxinus angustifolia) as the study subject. A controlled set without any TSC was also included as a reference. The TSC samples evaluated in this study were: Synthesized TSCs: Disc 1: Composed of gelatin and tannic acid; Disc 2: Made of xanthan gum and wood fibers. Commercial TSC: Thermodisc: Consisting of natural and synthetic fibers; Organic Mulch: Estella: Wood chips used to cover the topsoil. All samples were tested in triplicate. After a 6-7 month incubation period, DNA was extracted from the soil samples, and metagenomic analysis was performed to assess the 16S and ITS sequences, providing insights into the microbial community composition.