To Establish a Healthy Forest: Restoration of the Forest Herb Layer on a Reclaimed Mine Site

The relationship between vegetation and selected soil characteristics in different monoculture forest types was investigated as part of a landscape restoration project after brown coal mining. Six forest types were selected: alder (Alnus sp.), spruce (Picea sp.), pine (Pinus sp.), larch (Larix sp.), long-term deciduous forest (Quercus robur, Tilia sp.), and forest created by spontaneous succession. These stands were classified into two age categories (younger and older). The soil attributes, C/N, TC, TN, pH, and A horizon depth were assessed. The observed species were categorized into functional groups by life history, life forms according to Raunkiær, and affinity to the forest environment. C/N ratio, humus thickness, and canopy cover were the main soil parameters affecting plant communities. The highest C/N values were recorded in Pinus and Larix stands, which were significantly different from deciduous and succession stands. The highest diversity index was noted in younger stands of Alnus and the lowest in younger stands of Picea. Intermediate values of the diversity index were achieved in successional stands at both age levels and in Larix and Alnus stands. The species belonging to a functional group was not an important factor in these habitat types. The species composition and vegetation change over time in the Alnus, long-life deciduous, and Larix stands show that these species are more suitable for forestry reclamation than spruce or pine. The study also emphasizes the great value of spontaneous succession areas as full-fledged alternatives to forestry reclamation.

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Growth, State and Productivity of Perennial Shrubs on Dumps of Iron-Ore Mine

Treschevskaya

Тихонова

Golyadkina

et al. 2023

Forestry Engineering Journal

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Various types of vegetation were tested on the dumps of the Kursk magnetic anomaly (KMA), composed of various rocks and their mixtures, with the improvement of forest growing conditions by land use and without this technique, including five types of shrubby species: sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens Lam.), golden currant (Ribes aureum Pursh.), tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica L.) and red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa L.). Growth indicators, safety and productivity of breeds were studied. Golden currant was one of the first to be tested, which turned out to be an unsuitable breed for creating protective plantings on dumps without measures to improve their forest growing conditions. On chalk-marl mixtures and quaternary loams, it completely fell out by the age of 12-15 years. Shrubs used in forest reclamation on two-component post-technogenic areas are characterized by different preservation. By the age of 43, the greatest preservation, equal to 50.5%, was noted in the sea buckthorn. It also has the highest growth rates. When choosing shrub species for forest reclamation, it is necessary to take into account their biological productivity, which increases the concentration of nutrients in the substrates and improves their physical properties. The sea buckthorn at the age of 9 has a large phytomass (2368 g), the heaviest leaf mass (396 g) and a total supply of phytomass (143.9 kg /ha) in the stand. The authors recommend using shrub species for laying preliminary crops at the initial stage of reclamation or introducing them into complex plantings in an amount of no more than 50%. Taking into account the soil-improving role of shrub species, it would be advisable to further introduce more durable tree species.

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To Establish a Healthy Forest: Restoration of the Forest Herb Layer on a Reclaimed Mine Site

Cited by 4 publications

References 39 publications

An overview of the impacts of coal mining and processing on soil: assessment, monitoring, and challenges in the Czech Republic

An overview of the impacts of coal mining and processing on soil: assessment, monitoring, and challenges in the Czech Republic

Reclaimed Mine Sites: Forests and Plant Diversity

Growth, State and Productivity of Perennial Shrubs on Dumps of Iron-Ore Mine

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