Fungal abundance and diversity as influenced by properties of Technosols developed from mine wastes containing iron sulphides: A case study from abandoned iron sulphide and uranium mine in Rudki, south-central Poland

Abstract

Reclamation of mine spoils is a process leading to initiation of soil-forming and biological processes in former mining areas. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the change in soil fungi abundance and diversity depending on Technosols properties as an effect of reclamation in 1970s. The investigation was carried out in the area of the abandoned “Staszic” mine in Rudki village (south-central Poland). Three soil profiles developed from mine wastes were investigated. Basic physicochemical properties and fungal abundance and diversity were determined. The results showed that fungal abundance and species composition is diverse in the studied Technosols, which is closely related to soil properties, in particular with pH, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) content. Profile R1 represented a site where reclamation (i.e. neutralization of high acidity) did not succeed, therefore the pH of soil was low (3.0–3.9), plant cover was very scarce, and there was a very low concentration of TOC (up to 0.6%) and TN (up to 0.06%). Profile R1 was the most specific in terms of fungal diversity. The most frequent fungal species was acidophilous Acidiella sp. Profile R2 was located in close vicinity of R1 profile, though it represented a site where neutralization succeeded. Therefore, pH was ~7, and high contents of TOC and TN (up to 8% and 0.65% respectively) occurred in the topsoil of profile R2, whereas the subsoil was acidic (pH 3.9) and poor in TOC and TN. Profile R3 was characterized by high pH (7.2–7.6) throughout the profile, high contents of TOC and TN (up to 4.8% and 0.41% respectively) in the topsoil as well as high concentrations of trace elements (e.g. Pb, Zn, Cu). Our analysis showed that the highest fungal diversity was noted in surface horizons. The study confirmed the distinction of surface horizon of profile R2 and the whole profile R3 in terms of fungal species. High fungal abundance and diversity in R2 and R3 soil profile suggests favourable changes in the mycobiota structure as a result of improvement of soil properties due to reclamation works.