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Land Subsidence in a Coal Mining Area Reduced Soil Fertility and Led to Soil Degradation in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions

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  • Kang Ma

    (School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China)

  • Yuxiu Zhang

    (School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China)

  • Mengying Ruan

    (School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China)

  • Jing Guo

    (School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China)

  • Tuanyao Chai

    (College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

Underground coal mining in western China causes heavy land subsidence and alters the soil ecology. However, the effects of land subsidence on soil fertility are not currently known, and the key factors governing its impact remain unclear in sandy land. We investigated the effects of land subsidence induced by underground mining on the soil quality in western China. Soil samples were collected at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm from control and subsidence areas in three coal mines. The results showed that the soil water content (SWC), clay and silt percentage, total nitrogen (TN), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 + -N), nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 - -N), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) of the subsidence areas were significantly lower than those of the control areas. The saccharase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase activities in the subsidence areas decreased compared to those in the control areas, while the sand percentage of soil tended to increase. Soil nutrient contents, bacterial quantities, and activities of soil enzymes were positively correlated with SWC. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the soil particle size distribution, SWC, and electrical conductivity (EC) were the major environmental factors driving changes in soil properties. These results indicated that land subsidence induced by coal mining caused losses in surface soil water and nutrients, and ultimately led to soil quality degradation. Therefore, the reclamation of mining subsidence land might be necessary, especially in arid and semi-arid areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Kang Ma & Yuxiu Zhang & Mengying Ruan & Jing Guo & Tuanyao Chai, 2019. "Land Subsidence in a Coal Mining Area Reduced Soil Fertility and Led to Soil Degradation in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:3929-:d:276991
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qiang Sun & Jixiong Zhang & Qiang Zhang & Xu Zhao, 2017. "Analysis and Prevention of Geo-Environmental Hazards with High-Intensive Coal Mining: A Case Study in China’s Western Eco-Environment Frangible Area," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Hengjie Luan & Huili Lin & Yujing Jiang & Yahua Wang & Jiankang Liu & Pu Wang, 2018. "Risks Induced by Room Mining Goaf and Their Assessment: A Case Study in the Shenfu-Dongsheng Mining Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Yuejuan Chen & Jin Zhang & Anchao Zhou & Bo Yin, 2018. "Modeling and analysis of mining subsidence disaster chains based on stochastic Petri nets," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 92(1), pages 19-41, May.
    4. Quanchao Zeng & Yang Liu & Li Xiao & Yimei Huang, 2017. "How Fencing Affects the Soil Quality and Plant Biomass in the Grassland of the Loess Plateau," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-12, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hai Huang & Jing Guo & Yuxiu Zhang, 2020. "The Response of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities to the Soil Environment of Underground Mining Subsidence Area in Northwest China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Jinhui Chen & Izhar Mithal Jiskani & Guoqing Li, 2023. "Ecological Restoration of Coalmine-Degraded Lands: Influence of Plant Species and Revegetation on Soil Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Huijuan Zhang & Wenkai Liu & Qingfeng Hu & Xiaodong Huang, 2023. "Multi-Scale Integration and Distribution of Soil Organic Matter Spatial Variation in a Coal–Grain Compound Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Li Li & Tingliang Li & Huisheng Meng & Yinghe Xie & Jie Zhang & Jianping Hong, 2021. "Effects of Seven-Year Fertilization Reclamation on Bacterial Community in a Coal Mining Subsidence Area in Shanxi, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Bogdan Andrei Miu & Cristian-Emilian Pop & Nicolai Crăciun & György Deák, 2022. "Bringing Life Back into Former Mining Sites: A Mini-Review on Soil Remediation Using Organic Amendments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Subhash Chandra & Isha Medha & Ashwani Kumar Tiwari, 2023. "The Role of Modified Biochar for the Remediation of Coal Mining-Impacted Contaminated Soil: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-27, February.

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