Soil moisture evidence of self-restoration in coal mining subsidence area of Shendong Mining area: Cognition based on stable isotopes

Abstract

The Shendong mining area is the largest coal production base in China. However, the area is dry and water scarce, and the ecological environment is fragile. Large scale mining of shallow and thick coal seam in mining area may affect surface moisture and threaten surface ecological security. In order to understand the change of soil moisture in subsidence area. The evaporation loss rate of undisturbed and subsidence soil in mining area was estimated by using water stable isotope technique. The soil particle size and moisture of undisturbed and subsidence soil were compared. The results showed that the soil particle size did not change significantly in the subsidence area, but the continuity of soil structure changed. The evaporation loss rate of soil in subsidence area is about 15 % lower than that of undisturbed soil, and the soil moisture of soil in subsidence area is about 10 % higher than that of undisturbed soil. Further, the Craig-Gordon model is more accurate than the Rayleigh model in estimating the evaporation loss of soil moisture. Our work showed that the soil structure of coal mining subsidence area becomes much looser and the loose cover formed by the surface soil is the main reason for the reduction of soil moisture evaporation. The significant increase of soil moisture will be beneficial to plant recovery and growth, and lay a water foundation for ecological self-restoration in subsidence area. This study is helpful to understand the influence of coal mining subsidence on soil and surface hydrology in arid and semi-arid areas, and has important significance for optimizing and improving the ecological reclamation model of mining areas in western China.