Abstract
Surface coal mining activities have numerous consequences on terrestrial ecosystems. Loss of soil and biomass carbon pool due to mining activities is a serious concern in the rapidly changing environment. We investigated the effect of fast-growing trees (Albizia lebbeck, Albizia procera, and Dalbergia sissoo) on soil fertility and ecosystem carbon pool after eight years of afforestation in the post-mining land of Jharia coalfield, India, and compared with the adjacent natural forest site. Significant differences in soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks in afforested mine soil and natural forest soils were observed. Greater SOC stock was found under D. sissoo (30.17 Mg·C·ha−1) while total N stock was highest under A. lebbeck (4.16 Mg·N·ha−1) plantation. Plant biomass accumulated 85% of the natural forest carbon pool after eight years of afforestation. The study concluded that planting fast-growing trees in post-mining lands could produce a promising effect on mine soil fertility and greater carbon storage in a short period.
Highlights
Natural ecosystems are being degraded in an unparalleled way resulting in climate change, loss of biodiversity, and land degradation
Tree biomass and carbon stock of three dominant tree species, namely Albizia lebbeck, Albizia procera, and Dalbergia sissoo of the Fabaceae family, growing on the afforested mine land, were compared with the natural tropical dry deciduous forest dominated by Shorea robusta (Dipterocarpaceae family)
As in other studies [7,25], we found that carbon stock in plant aboveground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB) increases after eight years of afforestation, and D. sissoo showed greater carbon storage compared to A. lebbeck and A. procera growing at the mine land
Summary
Natural ecosystems are being degraded in an unparalleled way resulting in climate change, loss of biodiversity, and land degradation. Restoration of waste or degraded lands has gained global importance to conserve natural ecosystems and to combat the global climate crisis. According to the United Nations, “there has never been a more urgent need to restore damaged ecosystems than ” the United Nations General Assembly declared 2021–2030 as the decade for ecosystem restoration [1]. It aims to restore degraded land that delivers essential ecosystem services like enhancing food security, water supply, biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. The Bonn Challenge committed to restoring 350 M ha of land by the end of 2030 which helps to restore ecosystem services and provides employment and generates economic growth [2].
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