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Evaluative Potential for Reclaimed Mine Soils Under Four Revegetation Types Using Integrated Soil Quality Index and PLS-SEM

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  • Yan Mou

    (College of Environment and Ecology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Jinzhong 030600, China)

  • Bo Lu

    (Shanxi Fenxi Mining (Group) Co., Ltd., Jiexiu 032000, China)

  • Haoyu Wang

    (College of Environment and Ecology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Jinzhong 030600, China)

  • Xuan Wang

    (College of Environment and Ecology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Jinzhong 030600, China)

  • Xin Sui

    (College of Environment and Ecology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Jinzhong 030600, China)

  • Shijing Di

    (Shanxi Coshare Innovation Institute of Energy and Environment, Taiyuan 030032, China)

  • Jin Yuan

    (College of Environment and Ecology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Jinzhong 030600, China)

Abstract

Anthropogenic revegetation allows effective and timely soil development in mine restoration areas. The evaluation of soil quality is one of the most important criteria for measuring reclamation effectiveness, providing scientific reference for the subsequent management of ecological restoration projects. The aim of this research was to further investigate the influence of revegetation on mine-reclaimed soils in a semi-arid region. Thus, a coal-gangue dump within the afforestation chronosequence of 1 and 19 years in Shanxi Province, China, was selected as the study area. We assessed the physicochemical properties and nutrient stock of topsoils under four revegetation species, i.e., Pinus tabuliformis (PT), Medicago sativa (MS), Styphnolobium japonicum (SJ), and Robinia pseudoacacia ‘ Idaho ’ (RP). A two-way ANOVA revealed that reclamation age significantly affected SOC, TN, EC, moisture, and BD ( p < 0.05), while the interaction effects of revegetation type and age were also significant for TN and moisture. In addition, SOC and TN stocks at 0–30 cm topsoil at the RP site performed the best among 19-year reclaimed sites, with an accumulation of 62.09 t ha −1 and 4.23 t ha −1 , respectively. After one year of restoration, the MS site showed the highest level of SOC and TN accumulation, which increased by 186.8% and 88.5%, respectively, compared to bare soil in the 0–30 cm interval, but exhibited declining stocks during the 19-year restoration, possibly due to species invasion and water stress. In addition, an integrated soil quality index (ISQI) and the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) were used to estimate comprehensive soil quality along with the interrelationship among influencing factors. The reclaimed sites with an ISQI value > 0 were 19-RP (3.906) and 19-SJ (0.165). In conclusion, the restoration effect of the PR site after 19 years of remediation was the most pronounced, with soil quality approaching that of the undisturbed site, especially in terms of soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation. These findings clearly revealed the soil dynamics after afforestation, further providing a scientific basis for choosing mining reclamation species in the semi-arid regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Mou & Bo Lu & Haoyu Wang & Xuan Wang & Xin Sui & Shijing Di & Jin Yuan, 2025. "Evaluative Potential for Reclaimed Mine Soils Under Four Revegetation Types Using Integrated Soil Quality Index and PLS-SEM," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6130-:d:1694527
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bochao Zhai & Meimei Sun & Xiaojuan Shen & Yan Zhu & Guoqing Li & Sheng Du, 2023. "Effects of Stand Density on Growth, Soil Water Content and Nutrients in Black Locust Plantations in the Semiarid Loess Hilly Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    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 Zhang & Huizhen Mai & Qinghong Qiu & Yinghua Zhu & Jiayi Long & Shengfu Chen & Yuanqi Chen, 2023. "The Responses of C, N, P and Stoichiometric Ratios to Biochar and Vermicompost Additions Differ from Alfalfa and a Mine Soil," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-13, October.
    4. Jingnan Li & Xiangyang Sun & Suyan Li, 2020. "Effects of Garden Waste Compost and Bentonite on Muddy Coastal Saline Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-13, April.
    5. Yida An & Lei Zhang & Qing Wang & Yunwei Han, 2022. "Soil Quality Assessment of Different Land Use Types Based on TOPSIS Method in Hilly Sandy Area of Loess Plateau, Northern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-17, December.
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