Soil Quality in Rehabilitated Coal Mining Areas

In arid and semiarid environments, the sustainability of rehabilitation actions in degraded areas is a matter of concern. It has not been extensively researched. In a Spanish coal mining area, new soils to support vegetation were created (Technosols) using mine spoils and different organic wastes. E...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied sciences 2023-09, Vol.13 (17), p.9592
Main Authors: Bosch-Serra, Angela D., Cruz, Javier, Poch, Rosa M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aggregate stability
Aggregates
Biomass
By products
Carbon
Coal industry
Coal mining
Methods
microbial biomass
micromorphology
Mineral industry
Mining industry
organic matter
pig slurry
porosity
Quality control
Rehabilitation
Sludge
Soil erosion
Vegetation
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Summary:In arid and semiarid environments, the sustainability of rehabilitation actions in degraded areas is a matter of concern. It has not been extensively researched. In a Spanish coal mining area, new soils to support vegetation were created (Technosols) using mine spoils and different organic wastes. Eight years after the establishment of rehabilitation measures, the quality of the works was assessed. Soil properties (organic matter, microbial biomass, structural stability and porosity) were evaluated as quality indicators. Thermogravimetric analysis differentiated between organic-C and other mineral-C sources. The degree of aggregation and the presence of interconnected pores and organic matter with different degrees of decomposition were identified by micromorphological techniques. Microbial biomass and water-stable aggregates satisfactorily traced the early pedogenesis of mine spoils, resulting in good indicators of the quality of new Technosols. Substrates prepared with sludges promoted soil development better than those created using pig slurries, primarily by favoring a higher porosity and organic matter content. Despite that, both treatments demonstrated, after 8 years, their ability to support the ecosystem services of biomass production, carbon sequestration, and organic matter recycling they were planned for, therefore ensuring their sustainability.
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app13179592