Estimation of carbon sequestration in reclaimed coalmine degraded land dominated by Albizia lebbeck, Dalbergia sissoo and Bambusa arundinacea plantation: a case study from Jharia Coalfields, India

Abstract

Reclaimed mined lands provide an excellent opportunity to sequester carbon and combat global warming. Carbon sequestration on reclaimed sites depend on age of reclamation, composition of species, geomining conditions (soil characteristics) and prevailing climate. The aims of the present study were to calculate carbon (C)-stock of biomass of 4 years old plantation (dominated by Albizia lebbeck, Dalbergia sissoo and Bambusa arundinacea), understorey vegetation and litter, soil organic carbon in reclaimed minesoil (RMS) and compare with reference forest site. Allometric equation was used for the estimation of biomass C stock and found 13.0 Mg C ha -1 (A lebbeck 7.8 Mg C ha -1 , D sissoo 3.5 Mg C ha -1 and B. arundincea 1.2 Mg C ha -1 ), while stock of understorey vegetation was 0.98 Mg C ha -1 . In RMS, C stock was 16.3 Mg C ha -1 , out of which inorganic C contributed 1.7 g kg -1 (8 % of total soil C), Coal C 8.7 g kg -1(43 % of total soil C) and biogenic C 9.8 g kg -1 (49 % of total soil C). Total C stock in reclaimed site was calculated as 30.3 Mg C ha -1 (equivalent to 111 Mg CO 2 ha -1 ). The study concluded that (i) coal C is responsible for overestimation of C stock in RMS (ii) Maximun C stock stored in aboveground biomass component and (iii) reclaimed mined lands will take approximately 17 years to reach the level of C stock of reference forest site in dry tropical climate.

Effect of Fast-Growing Trees on Soil Properties and Carbon Storage in an Afforested Coal Mine Land (India)

“…The present study analyzed the effect of afforestation of mine-degraded land using fast-growing tree species and showed a significant impact on the soil properties after eight years of afforestation. As in other studies [43][44][45], we found a positive effect of afforestation of mine soils, but we also observed different potentials of fast-growing trees to reclaim mine-degraded land. Overburden materials (mine spoil) contain a greater amount of rocks that are regraded to some extent during technical reclamation.…”

Grass-Legume Seeding: A Sustainable Approach Towards Reclamation of Coalmine Degraded Lands in India

“…Moreover, the selections of exotic species are not considered to meet socio-economic requirement of the local community. In view of all such drawbacks an integrated approach was proposed which favored plantation by three-tier method [24]. The objective is to replicate natural forest with native species and biodiversity revival as existed prior to mining.…”

Improving the Efficiency of Forestry Measures for Carbon Storage by Reclamation and Phytomelioration of Lands Technogenically Contaminated with Toxic Tailing Wastes

“…The authors believe that the findings can be useful for understanding the ecosystem carbon dynamics after mining and the role of afforestation in carbon sequestration. R. Das et al [9] (2016) consider that reclaimed land (Jharia Coalfields, India) provides an excellent opportunity to sequester carbon and combat global warming. Carbon sequestration in reclamation sites depends on rock composition, geodetic conditions, soil characteristics and the prevailing climate.…”