The topsoil was characterized according to the soil mapping guide
published by the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural
Resources (Ad-Hoc-Arbeitsgruppe Boden, 2005). The humus horizons
(L, Of, Oh)were distinguished aswell as the uppermost mineral soil horizon (Ah).
The volumetric moisture content (VMC) of the soil samples
was measuredin the lab by weighing the field moist 100 cm
3
soil cylinders and subtracting the dry weight. The soil cylinders were covered
with aluminiumfoil for transport and storage inorder toprevent chang-es in VMC