Ecological restoration of coalmine spoils by establishing certain woody plantations in a dry tropical environment, India: A case study

摘要

This study focuses on the ecological aspects of the rehabilitation of coal mine spoil through dense plantations of selected woody species.On the basis of ecological and economic potential,four species were selected for plantations: Albizia lebbeck,A.procera,Tectona grandis and Dendrocalarnus strictus.The selected species are indigenous and possess varied ecological characteristics.Two species were short-statured legume trees (A.lebbeek,A.procera),one a slow growing timber tree (T.grandis) and the last a fast growing woody grass (D.strictus).The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of plantations on the restoration of biological fertility.The impact of plantations was measured up to 6 years of age for A.lebbeck,A.procera,and T.grandis and up to 5 years of age for D.strictus.Soil redevelopment was monitored as indicated by chemical characteristics such as nutrient concentrations,accumulation of organic C and total N,levels of mineral N and PO4--P,and rate of N-mineralization.Development of soil microbial biomass and levels of microbial nutrients were also determined.The result showed that redevelopment of soil biological fertility on mine spoil was strongly integrated with vegetation growth and nutrient cycling tended to become tighter with age of plantation indicated a positive pattern of ecological restoration by desirable plantations with increasing age.To understand the complete mechanism of restoration strategic and applied research is highly recommended.