Assessing the vegetation restoration potential on coal mine waste (Case study: Karmozd Savadkoh mines, Mazandaran province)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Master student, Department of Range Management, Facultyof Natural Resources, Sari AgriculturalSciences and Natural Resources University,

2 Associate Professor, Department of Range Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari AgriculturalSciences and Natural Resources University

3 Instructor, Department of Range Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

4 Assistant Professor,Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

Abstract

Introduction
Mining is traditionally regarded as the world’s oldest and the most important activity after agriculture. Despite being an important economic activity, mining causes substantial damage to the environment worldwide. The environmental impact of mining includes erosion, formation of sinkholes, dust, noise and water pollution, vegetation degradation, loss of local biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by chemicals from mining processes. Mine reclamation is the process of restoring land that has been mined to a natural or economically usable state. Establishment of a vegetation cover is essential to stabilize the bare area and to minimize the pollution problem. Mine restoration can aid in maintaining native wildlife populations while providing other valuable ecosystem services, such as erosion control, carbon sequestration, wood production, water-quality improvement, and watershed protection. Area under mining are often characterized by high bulk density, low pH, low nutrient availability, poor structure, low water holding capacity, and low biomass productivity. Basically, there are two approaches to reclamation or restoration of a disturbed site: (1) allowing spontaneous succession or (2) using technical reclamation with sowing or planting target species, accompanied by restoration or improvement of site conditions. There is also a third approach when spontaneous (natural) succession is reasonably directed with the aim to reach a target community. However, until now most restoration projects have relied on technical measures more than on spontaneous natural processes. Main technical methods include the use of mycorrhiza, remediation, fly ash, hydroseeding, top soil, and compost.
The main aim of mine restoration is the permanent establishment of vegetation and soil quality improvement in order to increase the ecosystem function. In the first step it is very important to identify the early successional species which can colonize on coal wastes. Spoil heaps after coal mining are an important component of the landscape in several parts of Alborz mountains, where lignite coal is mined deeply or in open-cast mining. Therefore, we studied the potential of plant establishment on spoil heaps and compared the natural vegetation recovery on these heaps with nearby rangelands.

Materials and methods
This study was carried out in Karmozd area in Savadkoh county, Mazandaran provice (52º57'38" to 52º58'12" E and 36º05'57" to 36º06'53" N). This area has been one of the most important mining areas in central Alborz mountains. The climate of the area is cold humid (536.5 mm annual rainfall, 10.9 ◦C annual average temperature). Three spoil heaps were selected regarding age and the amount of spoil. Spoil heap 1 was the oldest and biggest one while spoil heap 3 was the youngest. Vegetation was samples in all three heaps and the rangeland nearby. Sampling was done along transects using 138 plots of 1 m2. The cover (%) of each species was estimated in each plot. Data were transformed using ASIN(SQRT(x/100)) and then a combination of analysis of variance and t-test were performed for individual species response. Also, we compared the species diversity and richness indices among these sites.
Results and Discussion

A total of 43 species from 20 families were identified in study area. Gramineae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the most common plants. About 60% of species were perennials. In spoil heap 1 there were 35 species of which 22 species were unique (Table 1). Greater number of annuals and prennials were found in spoil heap 1. It seems that the seeds of 22 unique species were dispersed from surrounding area to spoil heap 1. The germination and establishment of new arrived seeds in spoil heap 1 is possible as this spoil heap is in the vicinity of river and also it had been longer existed than other heaps. The pioneer species in spoil heap 1 are those reported in other studies worldwide. There were 10 species common between spoil heaps and nearby rangelands. Alyssum linifolium, Artemisia scoparia, Bromus briziformis, Colutea persica, ،Hordeum vulgare and Rumex acetosella were found only in spoil heap 1 and spoil heap 2. Artemisia scoparia was the dominant species in rangeland. In spoil heap 1 the dominant species were Hordeum vulgare،Glaucium fimbrilligerum and Artemisia scoparia. The common species in spoil heap 2 were Glaucium fimbrilligerum, Melica persica and Artemisia scoparia while Kochia prostrata was the main dominant species in spoil heap 3. Greater EC was found in soil heap 3 and this is the main reason for the establishment of K. prostrata.
Spoil heap 3 significantly had the least species richness and diversity (Fig. 1). There was no significant differences among spoil heap 1, spoil heap 2 and rangeland regarding species diversity while species richness was significantly greater in rangeland than that in spoil heap 1 and spoil heap 2. The greater values of species richness and diversity indices were expected for rangeland as it has a thin layer of developed soil. The soil heap 3 is the youngest coal waste, so this can be the main reason for having less species richness and diversity indices.
The harsh environmental situation made this heap only suitable for K. prostrata establishment. Artemisia scoparia, Bromus briziformis and Stachys laxa significantly showed greater cover values in rangeland than that in spoil heaps. In contrast, greater cover (%) of Melica persica and Hordeum vulgare were found significantly in spoil heaps than that in rangeland. The greatest cover (%) of annuals was found in soil heap 1 and 2 while spoil heap 3 had the least cover (%) of annuals. The maximum and minimum cover (%) of perennials was found in rangeland and spoil heap 3, respectively.

Conclusion
Native species are recommended for long-term restoration of mine wastes as they have more potential for establishment. The establishment of early successional species is related to their seed dispersal from surrounding area. Thereafter, their potential for producing persistent seed bank is very important. The results of this study showed that there is a potential of early successional species to establish on coal wastes. The amount of natural colonization was different among spoil heaps and we found this was related to spoil heap area and age after abandonment.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

آذرنیوند، ح.، قربانی، م. و جنیدی جعفری، ح. 1386. «بررسی اثر کلرور سدیم بر جوانه‌‌زنی دو گونۀ مرتعی Artemisiavulgaris و Artemisia scoparia»، فصلنامۀ علمی- پژوهشی تحقیقات مرتع و بیابان ایران، سال چهاردهم، شمارۀ 3، صص 352-358.
اوشیب نتاج، م.، شکرچی، ح.، کشاورزی، م. و اکبرزاده، م. 1390. «مطالعۀ آت اکولوژی گونۀ مرتعی Lolium perenneL. در استان مازندران»، فصلنامۀ علمی- پژوهشی تحقیقات مرتع و بیابان ایران، سال هجدهم، شمارۀ 1، صص 90-106.
 
چراغی، م. و بلمکی، ب. 1386. «بررسی اثرات زیست‌محیطی معدن سرب و روی آهنگران بر منطقۀ حفاظت‌شده «لشگردر» استان همدان»، علوم و تکنولوژی محیط‌زیست، سال نهم، شمارة 3، صص 175-183.
ظریف کتابی، ح.، شاهمرادی، ا.، دشتی، م.، پاریاب، ا.، حسینی بمرود، غ. و زارع‌کیا، ص. 1389. «آت اکولوژی گونۀ Melica persica Kunth. در منطقۀ خراسان»، فصلنامۀ علمی- پژوهشی تحقیقات مرتع و بیابان ایران، سال هفدهم، شمارۀ 3، صص 421-430.
عشقی ملایری، ب.، عسگری نعمتیان، م.، کاظمینی، ف. و دهشیری، م. م. 1392. «مطالعة فلورستیک و تعیین شکل‌‌های زیستی گیاهان معدن آهن گلالی»، فصلنامۀ زیست‌شناسی گیاهی ایران، سال پنجم، شمارۀ 15، صص 45-58.
قلی‌‌پور، م.، مظاهری، س. ا.، رقیمی، م. و شمعانیان، غ. 1388. «بررسی ویژگی‌های ژئوشیمیایی و کانی‌شناسی زغال‌‌سنگ‌های حوزة زغالی کارمزد»، البرز مرکزی، استان مازندران، مجلۀ بلورشناسی و کانی‌شناسی ایران، سال هفدهم، شمارة 4، صص 655-670.
قلی‌‌پور، م.، مظاهری، س. ا.، رقیمی، م. و شمعانیان، غ. 1389. «نقش زهاب اسیدی معدن در تشکیل کانی‌‌های زیست‌محیطی در معادن زغال‌‌سنگ کارمزد»، البرز مرکزی، استان مازندران، مجلۀ بلورشناسی و کانی‌شناسی ایران، سال هجدهم، شمارة 3، صص 447-462.
قلی‌‌پور، م.، خواجه، م.، معلم، م.، علی‌پور، م.، میرزاعلی، ا. و بیک‌نژاد، د. 1390. «مطالعۀ کانی‌شناسی زیست‌محیطی و هیدروژئوشیمی در باطله‌های کارخانۀ زغال‌شویی زیرآب»، استان مازندران، علوم محیطی، سال هشتم، شمارة 3، صص 21-34.
مصداقی، م. 1377. روش‌های آماری در تحقیقات علوم کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی، انتشارات دانشگاه علوم کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی گرگان، گرگان.
مصداقی، م. 1384. بوم‌‌شناسی گیاهی، انتشارات جهاد دانشگاهی، مشهد.
مظفریان، و. 1377. فرهنگ نام‌‌های گیاهان ایران، چاپ دوم، انتشارات فرهنگ معاصر، تهران.
 
Acar, R., and Dursun, S. 2011. Some features and important of forage kochia (Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad.) in natural areas of Konya. International Journal of Sustainable Water and Environmental Systems, 3: pp. 65-68.
 
Alday, J.G., Marrs, R.H., and Martinez-Ruiz, C. 2008. Hydroseeded and native species on coal reclamation in Mediterranean environments: short-term species responses. 6th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, September 8-12, Ghent, Belgium.
 
Alday, J.G., Marrs, R.H., and Martinez-Ruiz, C. 2011. Vegetation succession on reclaimed coal wastes in Spain: The influence of soil and environmental factors. Applied Vegetation Science, 14: pp. 84-94.
 
Baig, M.N. 1992. Natural revegetation of coal mine spoils in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and its significance for species selection in land restoration. Mountain Research and Development, 12: pp. 285-300.
Boruvka, L., Kozak, J., Muhlhanselova, M., Donatova, H., Nikodem, A., Nemecek, K., and Drabek, O. 2012. Effect of covering with natural topsoil as a reclamation measure on brown-coal mining dumpsites. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 113: pp. 118-123.
 
Bradshaw, A. 1997. Restoration of mined land-using natural processes. Ecological Engineering, 8: pp. 255-269.
 
Calvino, C.I., Martinez, S.G., and Downie, S.R. 2008. The evolutionary history of Eryngium: rapid radiations, long distance dispersals and hybridizations. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 46: pp. 1129-1150.
 
Cao, X. 2007. Regulating mine land reclamation in developing countries: the case of China. Land Use Policy, 24: pp. 472- 483.
 
Cornwell, S.M. 1971. Anthracite mining spoils in Pennsylvania 1. Spoil classification and plant cover studies. Journal of Applied Ecology, 8: pp. 401-409.
Durall, D.M., Parsons, W.F.J., and Parkinson, D. 1985. Decomposition of timothy (Phleum pratense) litter on a reclaimed surface coal mine in Alberta, Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany, 63: pp. 1586-1594.
 
Franzese, J., and Ghermandi, L. 2014. Early competition between the exotic herb Rumex acetosella and two native tussock grasses with different palatability and water stress tolerance. Journal of Arid Environments, 106: pp. 58-62.
 
Gaweda, M. 2009. Heavy metal content in common sorrel plants (Rumex acetosella L.) obtained from natural sites in Malopolska Province. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 18: pp. 213-218.
 
Hazarika, P., Talukdar, N.C., and Singh, Y.P. 2006. Natural colonization of plant species on coal mine spoils at tikak colliery, Assam. Tropical Ecology, 47: pp. 37-46.
Hodacova, D., and Prach, K. 2003. Spoil heaps from brown coal mining: technical reclamation versus spontaneous revegetation. Restoration Ecology, 11: pp. 1-7.
 
Juwarkar, A.A., and Jambhulkar, H.P. 2008. Phytoremediation of coal mine spoil dump through integrated biotechnological approach. Bioresource Technology, 99: pp. 4732-4741.
 
Kane, K.H. 2011. Effects of endophyte infection on drought stress tolerance of Lolium perenne accessions from the Mediterranean region. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 71: pp. 337-344.
 
Khalil, A., Hanich, L., Bannari, A., Zouhri, L., Pourret, O., and Hakkou, R. 2013. Assessment of soil contamination around an abandoned mine in semi-arid environment using geochemistry and geostatistics: Pre-work of geochemical process modeling with numerical models. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 125: pp. 117-129.
 
Knudson, J., Meiman, P., Brown, C., Beck, G., Paschke, M., and Redente, E. 2012. Canada Thistle (Cirsiumarvense) response to clipping and seeding of competitive grasses. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 3: pp. 1252-1259.
 
Lehmann, C., and Rebele, F. 2004. Evaluation of heavy metal tolerance in Calamagrostis epigejos and Elymus repens revealed copper tolerance in a copper smelter population of C. epigejos. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 51: pp. 199-213.
 
Li, X., Jiang, D., Zhou, Q., and Oshida, T. 2012. Comparison of seed germination of four Artemisia species (Asteraceae) in north eastern inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Arid Land, 4: pp. 36-42.
 
Li-ping, W., Kui-mei, Q., Shi-long, H., and Bo, F. 2009. Fertilizing reclamation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on coal mine complex substrate. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 1: pp. 1101-1106.
 
Martinez-Ruiz, C., and Fernandez-Santos, B. 2005. Natural revegetation on topsoiled mining-spoils according to the exposure. Acta Oecologica, 28: pp. 231-238.
 
Moreno-de las Heras, M., Nicolau, J.M., and Espigares, T. 2008. Vegetation succession in reclaimed coal-mining slopes in a Mediterranean-dry environment. Ecological Engineering, 34: pp. 168-178.
 
Naeth, M.A., and Wilkinson, S.R. 2013. Can we build better compost? Use of waste drywall to enhance plant growth on reclamation sites. Journal of Environmental Management, 129: pp. 503-509.
 
Orlovsky, N.S., Japakova, U.N., Shulgina, I. and Volis, S. 2011. Comparative study of seed germination and growth of Kochia prostrata and Kochia scoparia under salinity. Journal of Arid Environments, 75: pp. 532-537.
 
Pichtel, J., and Salt, C.A. 1998. Vegetative growth and trace metal accumulation on metalliferous waste. Journal of Environmental Quality, 27: pp. 618-624.
 
Prach, K., and Hobbs, R.J. 2008. Spontaneous succession versus technical reclamation in the restoration of disturbed sites. Restoration Ecology, 16: pp. 363-366.
 
Prach, K., Pysek, P., and Bastl, M. 2001. Spontaneous vegetation succession in human-disturbed habitats: A pattern across seres. Applied Vegetation Science, 4: pp. 83-88.
 
Puertas-Mejia, M.A., Ruiz-Diez, B., and Fernandez-Pascual, M. 2010. Effect of cadmium ion excess over cell structure and Functioning of Zea mays and Hordeum vulgare. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 38: pp. 285-291.
 
Ram, L.C., and Masto, R.E. 2010. An appraisal of the potential use of fly ash for reclaiming coal mine spoil. Journal of Environmental Management, 91: pp. 603- 617.
 
Rehounkova, K., and Prach, K. 2010. Spontaneous succession in gravel-sand pits: a potential for restoration. Restoration Ecology, 16: pp. 305-312.
 
Rodriguez, N., Amils, R., Jimenez-Ballesta, R., Rufo, L., and De La Fuente, V. 2007. Heavy metal content in Erica andevalensis: an endemic plant from the extreme acidic environment of Tinto River and its soils. Arid Land Research and Management, 21: pp. 51-67.
 
Roubickova, A., Mudrak, O., and Frouz, J. 2012. The effect of belowground herbivory by wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) on performance of Calamagrostis epigejos (L) Roth in post-mining sites. European Journal of Soil Biology, 50: pp. 51-55.
 
Singh, A. 2011. Vascular flora on coal mine spoils of Singrauli coalfield, India. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment, 3: pp. 309-318.
 
Singh, A.N., Raghubanshi, A.S., and Singh, J.S. 2002. Plantations as a tool for mine spoil restoration. Current Science, 82: pp. 1436-1441. 
 
Sokal, R.R., and Rohlf, F.J. 1995. Biometry. W.H. Freeman and company., New York, USA.
 
Stewart, B.R, and Daniels, W.L. 1992. Physical and chemical properties of coal refuse from Southwest Virginia. Journal of Environmental Quality, 21: pp. 635-642.
 
Trnkova, R., Rehounkova, K., and Prach, K. 2010. Spontaneous succession of vegetation on acidic bedrock in quarries in the Czech Republic. Preslia, 82: pp. 333-343.
 
Wong, M.H. 2003. Ecological restoration of mine degraded soils, with emphasis on metal contaminated soils. Chemosphere, 50: pp. 775-780.
 
Xia, H.P., and Cai, X.A. 2002. Ecological restoration technologies for mined lands: a review. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 13: pp. 1471-1477.
 
Zhang, B.T., Wang, D.L., and Yang, Y.F. 2002. Study on the biological characteristics and biomass dynamics of Artemisia scoparia. Grassland of China, 24: pp. 13-17.
 
Zobel, M., van der Maarel, E., and Dupre, C. 1998. Species pool: the concept, its determination and significance for community restoration. Applied Vegetation Science, 1: pp. 55-66.
Journal of Environmental Studies
Volume 41, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
January 2016
Pages 757-770

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics