Effect of covering with natural topsoil as a reclamation measure on brown-coal mining dumpsites

Abstract

Soil reclamation after open-cast brown coal mining is a classical way of landscape restoration. Covering of the dumpsite material with natural topsoil (topsoiling) is a common reclamation practice. We compared soil characteristics between areas covered with natural topsoil and areas without this cover on two different dumpsites in the Czech Republic. It was shown that natural topsoil cover increased organic carbon content and humus quality of the soil and slightly increased the content of available phosphorus that is generally deficient in the dumpsite soils of the studied region. In contrast, content of available calcium and magnesium was lower on the covered sites; however, the content of these nutrients is still very good. The content of clay was also decreased by natural topsoil cover. However, the total and capillary porosity decreased. The effect of topsoil cover on soil pH was not consistent between the two sites under study. Effect of topsoil cover on soil heterogeneity was also assessed using geostatistics. In conclusion, the natural topsoil cover can generally improve the starting quality of the developing soil.