Abstract
Open-cast lignite mining operations result in a loss of soil quality. Soils associated with coal mining are usually characterised by poor physical and chemical parameters. Low pH and heavy metal toxicity are of the main concerns. The lignite and pyrite content of the dump materials of the Lusatian open-cast mining district in Eastern Germany resulted in high acidification potential and low organic matter content of soils. These extreme conditions require considerable amounts of alkaline materials like compost to enable revegetation. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different application rates of wood compost on soil physico-chemical properties in two representative soil substrates (tertiary and quaternary) and on some plant growth parameters. Soil in each site was mixed with wood compost and sown with a grass mixture. The data of both studied soils showed an improvement in physical properties such as water holding capacity and bulk density in soil ameliorated with compost. Most soil chemical properties were increased significantly with the increase of compost application rates, particularly organic matter content, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity. Compared to the control treatment in each site, the treated soil with compost showed a significant increase in grass biomass (fresh and dry matter yield). The results of these experiments revealed that addition of wood compost had significant positive effects on the soil physical and chemical properties, which affected the response of plant growth and can facilitate the revegetation of substrates contaminated with coal spoil.
Highlights
Open-cast lignite mining operations in the Lusatian district in eastern Germany had disastrous environmental effects and resulted in devastation of soil by creating an area of almost 1000 km2 covered by spoil heaps of clastic overburden sediments of Tertiary and Quaternary age [1]
The results of these experiments revealed that addition of wood compost had significant positive effects on the soil physical and chemical properties, which affected the response of plant growth and can facilitate the revegetation of substrates contaminated with coal spoil
The results showed that the grass responded positively to the application of wood compost, with an increase in fresh matter yield (FMY) and dry matter yield (DMY) that was consistent with an increased application rate of the compost in both types of substrates
Summary
Open-cast lignite (brown coal) mining operations in the Lusatian district in eastern Germany had disastrous environmental effects and resulted in devastation of soil by creating an area of almost 1000 km covered by spoil heaps of clastic overburden sediments of Tertiary and Quaternary age [1]. These spoil heap sediments often abound in lignitic components in the form of coal fragments or as coal dust. Polysaccharides and other polymeric substances present in organic matter act as aggre-
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