The effects of replaced topsoil of different depths on the vegetation and soil properties of reclaimed coal mine spoils in an alpine mining area

作者：Xinguang Yang, Xilai Li, Mingming Shi, Liqun Jin, Huafang Sun · 发表于：Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.1163/22244662-20191048 · 被引用次数：11 · 研究领域：Rangeland and Wildlife Management、Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies、Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Replacement of topsoil to an appropriate depth is one of the key methods for ecological restoration. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of topsoil replacement depth on vegetation and soil properties, and to identify the optimum soil depth for reclamation of coal mine spoils in a cold alpine mining area. We sowed 3 herbaceous species after coal mine spoil heaps were treated with topsoil to 3 depths (0, 20‒25, 40‒45 cm). The variations in vegetation community structure, plant growth, soil properties were measured at different replaced topsoil depths. The correlations between plant and soil properties were analyzed statistically. The results showed species richness, diversity and evenness were not significantly different among different depths of topsoil ( P > 0.05). Vegetation coverage, density, height and aboveground biomass increased significantly ( P < 0.05) with increasing topsoil depth. Soil properties did not change significantly with increasing topsoil depth ( P > 0.05), but soil organic matter was significantly higher at 40‒45 cm topsoil depth than at other two depths ( P < 0.05). All soil properties, with the exception of total potassium, were positively correlated with the plant growth parameters. The 40‒45 cm topsoil depth of replacement should be considered as effective method in reclaiming coal mine spoils. The use of both topsoil replacement to a depth of 40‒45 cm and sowing of suitable herbaceous seeds is found to be an effecti...