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Analysis of Plant and Soil Restoration Process and Degree of Refuse Dumps in Open-Pit Coal Mining Areas

Author

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  • Xinhui Li

    (Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Mine Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
    School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Shaogang Lei

    (Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Mine Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
    School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Feng Liu

    (Environmental Restoration and Management Center of Jungar Banner Mining Area, Ordos 017100, China)

  • Weizhong Wang

    (Environmental Restoration and Management Center of Jungar Banner Mining Area, Ordos 017100, China)

Abstract

Vegetation and soil restoration are the key to ecological reconstruction in the damaged areas of open-pit coal mining areas. Ecological stability is an important indicator of the degree of ecological restoration. In this study, the ecological stability and the process of plant and soil restoration were investigated at different refuse dumps in three coal mines, namely, the Wulanhada (WLHD) coal mine, the Liulingou (LLG) coal mine, and the Jinzhengtai (JZT) coal mine, in Jungar Banner. Results show that organic matter, total N, available N, and available K increased with the increase in restoration age at the two coal mines of WLHD and LLG. In the JZT coal mine, organic matter, total N, and available K firstly increased, and then slightly decreased with the increase in restoration age. The redundancy analysis indicates that most reclaimed mine soil properties (including soil moisture content, organic matter, total N, and available K) are positively correlated with plant species diversity in the three coal mines, while soil pH and soil bulk density showed a negative correlation with plant species diversity. Plant parameters increased with the years since revegetation, except the Pielou index for the WLHD coal mine, and the Pielou and Margalef indexes for the JZT coal mine. The Euclidean distance between the restoration areas and the natural reference areas decreased with the increase in restoration age. Our findings suggest that, in the three coal mines, the change law of ecological stability conformed to the logistic succession model. The same degree of ecological stability in different refuse dumps may correspond to different degrees of vegetation and soil development. This study emphasizes that ecological restoration in mining areas could benefit the structure of the plant community and the recovery of soil properties, which would eventually improve the ecological stability of coal mining areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinhui Li & Shaogang Lei & Feng Liu & Weizhong Wang, 2020. "Analysis of Plant and Soil Restoration Process and Degree of Refuse Dumps in Open-Pit Coal Mining Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:6:p:1975-:d:333569
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yu Shi & Xiaoxiao Fan & Xiaoying Ding & Meiqi Sun, 2024. "Ecological Restoration of Habitats Based on Avian Diversity and Landscape Patterns—A Case Study of Haining Mining Pit Park in Zhejiang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-28, February.
    2. Tianyu Zhu & Chengzhi Li & Xiaocao Liu & Xiaobing Zhao, 2024. "Assessing Ecological Restoration in Arid Mining Regions: A Progressive Evaluation System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Yu Shi & Xiaoxiao Fan & Xiaoying Ding & Meiqi Sun, 2024. "An Assessment of Ecological Sensitivity and Landscape Pattern in Abandoned Mining Land," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-27, January.
    4. Sunidhi Singh & Shalini Dhyani & Ramesh Janipella & Soumya Chakraborty & Paras Ranjan Pujari & V. M. Shinde & Kripal Singh, 2022. "Biomonitoring-Supported Land Restoration to Reduce Land Degradation in Intensively Mined Areas of India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    5. Zhiqiang Liu & Shengwei Zhang & Wenjie Fan & Lei Huang & Xiaojing Zhang & Meng Luo & Shuai Wang & Lin Yang, 2024. "Associations between Surface Deformation and Groundwater Storage in Different Landscape Areas of the Loess Plateau, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-22, February.
    6. Huiting Yu & Jiupai Ni, 2023. "The Comprehensive Management Zoning of Mountains, Rivers, Forests, and Farmlands Based on Element Recognition," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-25, November.
    7. Daolong Xu & Xiufen Li & Jian Chen & Jianghua Li, 2023. "Research Progress of Soil and Vegetation Restoration Technology in Open-Pit Coal Mine: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.

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