Effects of surface cracks on the rhizospheric microhabitat of Artemisia ordosica in subsidence area caused by coal mining

Abstract

The effects of surface cracks caused by underground coal mining on microhabitat in the rhizosphere of Artemisiaordosias were studied based on field investigation and sample analysis. The results show that the amounts of microorganisms, enzyme activity and water content in soil vary with the biomass of A. ordosias, and that the account exhibits in an order of large A. ordosias>medium A. ordosias>small A. ordosias. Surface cracks apparently decrease microbial quantities and enzymatic activities, and change the composition and structure of microbial community in the rhizosphere of A. ordosias. Surface cracks reduce water content and electrical conductivity, enhance the R/S (ratio of root and soil) of water content, electrical conductivity and pH value, and raise the content of Na and Pb in rhizosphere soil of A. ordosicas. It can be concluded that the disturbance of underground coal mining on the microhabitat in the rhizosphere of A. ordosica is obvious in the early days.