Evaluating the microbiological dynamics and physicochemical characteristics of the soil on slopes and flats in alpine mining regions with different reclamation times

Abstract

AbstractEcological restoration in alpine open‐pit mines significantly impacts microbial communities and soil characteristics, yet early adaptive responses in mine dump slopes and flats are not well understood. Thus, using high‐throughput sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA amplicon study, our study uses spatial sequence rather than time successional sequence to investigate early‐stage changes in soil microbe and physicochemical properties in alpine mining land reclamation in Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The pH range of the treatment location was neutral to alkaline from 7.5 to 8.0. In 2021, conductivity is higher on slopes than on flats; however, by 2019 or before, conductivity is higher on flats than on slopes after soil reclamation. The CEC is lower for slopes and flats in 2021, but it rises for both as reclamation time lengthens. Gradual increase in soil organic matter and other nutrients and higher overall nutrient content on the flat than on the slope. The bacterial community connections during mine reclamation and restoration are as follows: Proteobacteria > Acidobacteriota > Bacteroideta > Actinobacteria > Firmicutes. Their abundance varies throughout the bacterial community. Important bacteria such as Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Lysobacter, norank‐f‐norank‐o‐Vicinamibacterales and Ferruginibacter also appeared in the reclamation process. Fertilization of side slopes can result in notable changes to the qualities of the soil, according to data from the Qinghai West Copper Mining Area. Through appropriate approaches and regular monitoring, better reclamation outcomes can be reached in the first year with more plentiful soil microorganisms on slopes.