Variation of Nutrients and Selected Soil Properties in Reclaimed Soil of Different Ages at a Coal-mining Subsidence Area on the Loess Plateau, China

Tingliang Li, Jiwei Gao, Jianping Hong, Yinghe Xie, Zhiqiang Gao, Huisheng Meng, Li Li, Lixia Meng

Ekoloji, 2018, Issue 106, Pages: 547-554, Article No: e106055

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Abstract

Reclaiming the subsidence area that results from coal-mining could alleviate the shortage of arable land in China. This study examined the effects of fertilization and reclamation age on soil nutrients and other properties in the 0–100 cm profile at an underground coal mine site on the Loess Plateau of China. Soil samples were collected representing three successive reclamation ages (1, 3 and 7 years) and an undisturbed reference farmland soil. Treatments included chemical fertilizers only (CF), organic fertilizers only (OF), a combination of 50% chemical fertilizers and 50% organic fertilizers (COF) and a no-fertilizer control (CK). The study showed that Soil pH and electrical conductivity ranged from 8.03 to 8.43 and 0.11 to 0.25 dS/m, respectively, and no significant differences were found due to any soil depths, fertilizer treatments, reclamation ages. Nutrient contents tended to increase over time as a whole. Additionally, applying manure had a better effect on increasing, available phosphorus and potassium, organic matter and cation exchange capacity in the 0-20 cm soil layer (topsoil) than did applying only chemical fertilizer or a combination of chemical and organic fertilizer; however, no obvious change was found in the properties of the 20–100 cm soil layers for any treatments. Given the above, it is feasible for coal-mining subsidence areas to be reclaimed and returned to farmland on the Loess Plateau of China.

Keywords

soil fertility, reclaimed soil, coal-mining subsidence area, fertilizer, reclamation age

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