Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experiments on Ecological Restoration of Coal Mine Spoil using Native Trees in a Dry Tropical Environment, India: A Synthesis

New Forests volume 31, pages 25–39 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

A series of experiments was conducted on the rehabilitation of mine spoil in a dry tropical region of India for determining the suitability of tree species for plantation, growth performance of selected indigenous species in monoculture and impact of the plantations on the restoration of biological fertility of soil. All of the 17 indigenous species examined could grow in the mine spoil and the growth of a majority of them could be improved by amending the mine spoil with NPK fertilizer. Direct seeding showed greatest height of Zizyphus jujuba and Pongamia pinnata on flat surface, and of Azadirachta indica on slope. In terms of diameter, Syzygium cumini performed best on flat surface and Terminalia arjuna on slope. Total biomass in plantations of selected native tree species on mine spoil at 5-yr age varied from 7.2 to 74.7 t ha−1, being minimum for Shorea robusta and maximum for Dendrocalamus strictus. Total net production ranged from 3.5 (for Shorea robusta) to 32.0 t ha−1 yr−1 (for Dendrocalamus strictus), respectively. Microbial biomass in the redeveloping soil was lower compared to that in natural forest soil but immobilization of soil C in microbial biomass was greater in the mine spoil than in the natural forest. The study indicated that net primary production of the plantations was a function of the amount of foliage, soil C was a function of the amount of litter fall and biomass C was a function of soil C. Plantation of trees significantly accelerated the soil redevelopment process on the mine spoil.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • J.P.E. Anderson K.H. Domsch (1980) ArticleTitleQuantities of plant nutrients in the microbial biomass of selected soils Soil Sci. 130 211–216 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3cXmtF2lu7s%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A.N. Banerjee (1990) Techno-economics of environmental management in mining B.B. Dhar (Eds) Environmental Management of Mining Operations Ashish Publishing House New Delhi 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • S.S. Bargali S.P. Singh R.P. Singh (1992) ArticleTitleStructure and function of an age series of Eucalyptus plantations in Central Himalaya. I. Dry matter dynamics Ann. Bot. 69 405–411

    Google Scholar 

  • A.D. Bradshaw (1997) ArticleTitleRestoration of mined lands – using natural processes Ecol. Eng. 8 255–269 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0925-8574(97)00022-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Diaz-Ravina T. Carballas M.J. Acea (1988) ArticleTitleMicrobial biomass and metabolic activity in four acid soils Soil Biol. Biochem. 20 817–823 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1MXhtFels74%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A.P. Dobson A.D. Bradshaw A.G.M. Baker (1997) ArticleTitleHopes for the future: restoration ecology and conservation biology Science 277 515–522 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.277.5325.515 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXkvVektbo%3D Occurrence HandleA1997XM86700034

    Article  CAS  ISI  Google Scholar 

  • R.K. Dutta M. Agrawal (2002) ArticleTitleEffect of tree plantations on the soil characteristics and microbial activity of coal mine spoil land Trop. Ecol. 43 315–324 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXkt1akt7g%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faruqui O. 1972. Organic and mineral structure and productivity of plantation of Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak (Tectona grandis). Ph.D. thesis, BHU, Varanasi.

  • H.M. Helal D.R. Sauerbeck (1986) ArticleTitleEffect of plant roots on carbon metabolism of soil microbial biomass Z Pflanzenernahr. Bodenkd. 149 181–188 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28Xit1CitLs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M.L. Jackson (1958) Soil Chemical Analysis Prentice-Hall EnglewoodCliffs, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • D.S. Jenkinson J.M. Oades (1979) ArticleTitleA method for measuring adenosine triphosphate in soil Soil Biol. Biochem. 11 193–199 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE1MXitVaksrk%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A.K. Jha (1992) ArticleTitleEvaluation of coalmine spoil as a medium of plant growth in a dry tropical environmentIndia Indian Forest 118 909–916

    Google Scholar 

  • A.K. Jha J.S. Singh (1991) ArticleTitleSpoil characteristics and vegetation development of an age series of mine spoils in a dry tropical environment Vegetatio 97 63–76 Occurrence HandleA1991HE15700006

    ISI  Google Scholar 

  • A.K. Jha J.S. Singh (1992) ArticleTitleInfluence of microsites on redevelopment of vegetation on coalmine spoils in a dry tropical environment J. Environ. Manage. 36 95–116

    Google Scholar 

  • A.K. Jha J.S. Singh (1993) ArticleTitleGrowth performance of Growth performance of certain directly seeded plants on mine spoil in a dry tropical environmentIndia India Forest 119 920–927

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Jung (1969) ArticleTitleCycles biogeochemiques dans un ecosysteme de region tropical seche Acacia albida (Del.) sol ferrugineux tropical peu lessiue (Dior). (Note preliminair) Oecol. Plant. 4 195–210 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE38XksFSgtw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S.B. Karmacharya K.P. Singh (1992) ArticleTitleBiomass and net production of teak plantation in a dry tropical region in India For. Ecol. Manage. 55 233–247 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0378-1127(92)90103-G

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Merckx J.K. Martin (1987) ArticleTitleExtraction of microbial biomass components from rhizoshere soils Soil Biol. Biochem. 19 371–376 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0038-0717(87)90025-3 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2sXlsFegtLs%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moore P.D. and Chapman S.B. 1986. Chemical analysis. In: Methods in Plant Ecology. Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications, pp. 315–317.

  • P.G. Murphy A.E. Lugo (1986) ArticleTitleStructure and biomass of a subtropical dry forest in Puerto Rico Biotropica 18 89–96 Occurrence HandleA1986F875200001

    ISI  Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Oades D.S. Jenkinson (1979) ArticleTitleAdenosine triphosphate content of the soil microbial biomass Soil Biol. Biochem. 11 201–204 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE1MXitVaksbk%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Parrotta (1999) ArticleTitleProductivity, nutrient cycling, and succession in single- and mixed-species plantations of Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus robusta and Leucaena leucocephala in Puerto Rico Forest Ecol. Manage. 124 45–77

    Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Parrotta O.H. Knowles (2001) ArticleTitleRestoring tropical forests on lands mined for bauxite: Examples from the Brazilian Amazon Ecol. Eng. 17 219–239 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0925-8574(00)00141-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad A.S. 1995. Eco-friendly open pit mining - The NCL commitmentIn: Mining Environment. In: DharB.B. Dhar and Thakur D.N. (eds), Proceedings of the First World Mining Environment Congress, 1995. Oxford, New Delhi, IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltdpp. 307–327.

  • R.W. Ruess S.J. McNaughton (1987) ArticleTitleGrazing and the dynamics of nutrient and energy regulate microbial processes in the Serengeti grasslands Oikos 49 101–110 Occurrence HandleA1987H130000012

    ISI  Google Scholar 

  • K.S. Singh (1987) Prospects of development of large opencast mines in Singrauli Souvenir National Workshop on Ecodevelopment of Singrauli Coal Mines Area Rural EPCO Bhopal 33–40

    Google Scholar 

  • J.S. Singh A.K. Jha (1993) Restoration of degraded land: An overview J.S. Singh (Eds) Restoration of Degraded Land: Concepts and Strategies Rastogi Publications Meerut 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Singh A.K. Jha J.S. Singh (2000) ArticleTitleEffect of nutrient enrichment on native tropical trees planted on Singrauli Coalfields, India Rest. Ecol. 8 80–86

    Google Scholar 

  • A.N. Singh A.S. Raghubanshi J.S. Singh (2002) ArticleTitlePlantations as a tool for mine spoil restoration Curr. Sci. 82 1436–1441 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlvFyru78%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A.N. Singh A.S. Raghubanshi J.S. Singh (2004) ArticleTitleImpact of native tree plantations on mine spoil in a dry tropical environment Forest Ecol. Manage. 187 49–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalji Singh J.S. Singh (1991) ArticleTitleSpecies structuredry matter dynamics and carbon flux of a dry tropical forest in India Ann. Bot. 68 263–273

    Google Scholar 

  • P.K. Singh K.P. Singh (1998) ArticleTitleBiomass production in selected tree species raised on coal mine spoil in a dry tropical region in India Trop. Ecol. 39 289–292

    Google Scholar 

  • A.N. Singh J.S. Singh (1999) ArticleTitleBiomass, net primary production and impact of bamboo plantation on soil redevelopment in a dry tropical region For. Ecol. Manag. 119 195–207

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Singh J.S. Singh (2001) ArticleTitleComparative growth behaviour and leaf nutrient status of native trees planted on mine spoil with and without nutrient amendment Ann. Bot. 87 777–787 Occurrence Handle10.1006/anbo.2001.1414 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXjslChur0%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh J.S., Singh K.P. and Jha A.K. (eds) 1995. An Integrated Ecological Study on Revegetation of Mine Spoil: Concepts and Research Highlights. Report of a S&T project sponsored by the Ministry of Coal, Govt. of India. Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, VaranasiIndia.

  • Singh J.S., Singh K.P. and Jha A.K. 1996. An Integrated Ecological Study on Revegetation of Mine Spoil. Final Technical Report submitted to the Ministry of Coal. Government of IndiaNew Delhi.

  • V. Singh O.P. Toky (1995) ArticleTitleBiomass and net primary productivity in Leucaena, Acacia and Eucalyptusshort rotation, high density (‘energy’) plantations in arid India J. Arid Env. 31 301–309 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0140-1963(05)80034-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E.J. Singh P.S. Yadava (1994) ArticleTitleStructure and function of oak forest ecosystem of north-eastern India. I. Biomass dynamics and net primary production Oecol. Montana 3 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • S.C. Srivastava A.K. Jha J.S. Singh (1989) ArticleTitleChanges with time in soil biomass C, N and P of mine spoils in a dry tropical environment Can. J. Soil Sci. 69 849–855 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXpslCruw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.4141/cjss89-085

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava S.C. and Singh J.S. 1989. Effect of cultivation on microbial biomass C and N of dry tropical forest soil. Biol. Fert. Soil, pp. 343–348.

  • A.H. Taylor Q. Zisheng (1987) ArticleTitleCulm dynamics and dry matter production of bamboo in the Wolong and Tangjiahe giant Panda reserves, Sichuan, China J. Appl. Ecol. 24 419–433

    Google Scholar 

  • S.K. Tripathi K.P. Singh (1996) ArticleTitleCulm recruitmentdry matter dynamics and carbon flux in recently harvested and mature bamboo savannas in the Indian dry tropics Ecol. Res. 11 149–164

    Google Scholar 

  • E.D. Vance P.C. Brookes D.S. Jenkinson (1987) ArticleTitleAn extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass C Soil Biol. Biochem. 19 703–707 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXjs1KqsA%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T.T. Veblen F.M. Schlegel R. Escobar (1980) ArticleTitleDry matter production of two species of bamboo (Chusquea culeou and C. tenuiflora) in south central Chile J. Ecol. 68 397–404

    Google Scholar 

  • L.N. Vyas R.K. Garh L.N. Vyas (1977) ArticleTitleStand structure and aboveground biomass in dry deciduous forests of Aravalli Hills at Udaipur (Rajasthan), India Biologia (Bratislava) 32 265–270

    Google Scholar 

  • W.L. Webb W.K. Lauenroth S.R. Szarek R.S. Kinerson (1983) ArticleTitlePrimary production and abiotic controls in forests, grasslands and desert ecosystem in the United States Ecology 64 134–151 Occurrence HandleA1983QA56800015

    ISI  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, 221 005, Varanasi, India

    A. N. Singh & J. S. Singh

Authors
  1. A. N. Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. S. Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. S. Singh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Singh, A.N., Singh, J.S. Experiments on Ecological Restoration of Coal Mine Spoil using Native Trees in a Dry Tropical Environment, India: A Synthesis. New Forest 31, 25–39 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-004-6795-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-004-6795-4

Keywords

search

Navigation