Dynamic Parameters of Plant Communities Partially Reflect the Soil Quality Improvement in Eco-Reclamation Area of an Opencast Coal Mine

Abstract

The influence of soil physicochemical properties and the relationship between the plant community and edaphic factors have been studied through monitoring the community dynamic parameters and analyzing the soil properties from four plant plots at the Pingshuo opencast coal mine eco-reclamation area. The results are obtained as follows: (1) the law of the quantity variation of total N and available K is affected by the different kinds of plant configuration mode. It is Robinia pseudoacacia+Pinus tabuliformis (SIV)>R. pseudoacacia (SV)>R. pseudoacacia+P. tabuliformis (SI)>R. pseudoacacia+Ulmus pumila+Ailanthus altissima (SIII). The quantity is close to or exceeds the level of the original geomorphology. The average content of available N has the following order: SIV>SI>SIII>SV; the average content of available P SV>SIII>SIV>SI, both are far below the level of the original geomorphology; pH SIV SIII>SI>SV; in the soil layer of 20-40cm, except the available P, other physicochemical factors are in accordance with the factors of the surface soil; (2) the population average density, height and diameter at breast height (DBH) have no obvious relevance with the average density of the stumpage; (3) the average density, height, and DBH of R. pseudoacacia are closely related to pH and the content of available N and available P and all the index can be fitted by the equation of linear regression of the edaphic factors mentioned above. The principal component analysis shows that the magnitude of the impacts of three kinds of edaphic factors on the R. pseudoacacia population has the following order: pH>available N>available P. The average density of U. pumila is closely related to the moisture content of the soil. This regression model can be used to direct the cultivation and propagation of R. pseudoacacia and U. pumila population at the mine eco-reclamation area.