![Open Access](https://i-scholar.in/lib/pkp/templates/images/icons/fulltextgreen.png)
![Restricted Access](https://i-scholar.in/lib/pkp/templates/images/icons/fulltextred.png)
Biological Properties of Selected Overburdens of Singrauli Coalfields
Coalfield mine overburden or abandoned mine sites is a major environmental concern. Overburden materials are nutrient-poor, loosely adhered particles of shale, stones, boulders and cobbles and are devoid of true soil character. Eco-restoration or natural transformation of overburden materials to soil for cultivation is a time taking process. In the present study, we focused on how the OB materials are different from nearby natural soil and explored the characterization of physical, chemical and biological properties of different aged overburden undergoing the process of eco-restoration. Further, we have analysed various microbial population, enzymatic activities and microbial respiration process in different aged overburdens vis-a-vis nearby soil. Microbial population was more in 16 year old overburden among different aged OB but less than nearby soil. Dehydrogenase, Urease activity showed an increasing trend with maturity age of overburden representing higher microbial population, while alkaline phosphatase activity is not following any trend. Soil microbial respiration was found to be increased with age of overburden. Carbon mineralization rate constant in all overburden lied in a narrow range (0.020-0.011) day-1 and it did not show any significant variation as compared to native forest soil (0.03 day-1). Mineralizable carbon was found more in native soil (7.95 mg C/kg of overburden) and 16 year old overburden (5.56 mg C/kg of overburden). Cumulative CO2 evolved was more in native forest soil (8.67 mg C/kg), and was comparable with 16 year old overburden (5.4 mg C/ kg). Microbial population, enzymatic activity and carbon mineralization can act as an indicator for analysing changes in overburden spoil properties due to ecorestoration.
Keywords
Enzymatic Activity, Microbial Population, Overburden, CO2 Flux.
User
Font Size
Information
- Almas, A. R., Bakken, L. R . and Mulder, J. 2004. Changes in tolerance of soil microbial communities in Zn and Cd contaminated soils. Soil Biol. Bioch., 36: 805-813.
- Brookes, P.C. 1995. The use of microbial parameters in monitoring soil pollution by heavy metals. Biology of Fertility and Soils, pp. 269-279.
- Chaoji, V. 2002. Environmental challenges and the future of Indian coal. J. Mines, Metals and Fuels, 11: 257-262.
- Chodak, M. and Niklinska, A.C. 2002. Effect of texture and tree species on microbial properties of mine soils. Applied Soil Ecology, 46: 268-275.
- Chonkar, P.K., Bhadraray, S., Para, A.K. and Purakayastha, T.J. 2007. Experiments in soil biology and biochemistry. Wetville publishing house, New Delhi.
- Cladwell, B.A. 2005. Enzyme activities as a component of soil biodiversity: a review. Pedobiologia, 49: 637-644.
- Cooper, J.M. and Warman, P.R. 1997. Effects of three fertility amendments on soil dehydrogenase activity, organic C and pH. Canadian Journal of Soil Sciences, 77: 281-283.
- Deka Boruah, H. P. 2006. North eastern coal and environment: An overview. Proc. on Characterization and Gainful Utilisation of NE Coal, Published by RRL, Jorhat, pp 28-33.
- Dick, R.P.1997. Soil enzyme activities as an integrative indicator of soil health. In: biological indicators of soil health. Cab International Wellingford, pp. 121-156.
- Dkhar, M. S. and Mishra, R.R. 1985. Dehydrogenase and urease activities in maize (Zea mays L.) field soils. Plant and Soil Biology, 70: 327-333.
- Dobson, A.P., Bradshow, A.D. and Baker, A. J. M. 1997. Hopes for the future: restoration ecology and conservation biology, Sci., 277: 515-522.
- Garcia, C., Hernandez ,T., Costa, F., Ceccanti, B. and Masciandaro, G. 1993. The dehydrogenase activity of soil as an ecological marker in processes of perturbed system regeneration. In: Gallardo-Lancho, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of the XI International Symposium of Environmental Biogeochemistry, 89-100.
- Ghose, M. K. 2004. Effect of opencast mining on soil fertility. J. Sci. Indust. Res., 63: 1006-1009.
- Gogoi, J., Pathak, N., Dowrah, J. and Deka Boruah, H. P. 2007. In situ selection of tree species in environmental restoration of opencast coalmine wasteland. Proceedings of Int. Sem. on MPT, Allied Publisher, pp. 678-681.
- Insam, H., Mitchell, C.C. and Dormaar, J.F. 1991. Relationship of soil microbial biomass and activity with fertilization practice and crop yield of three actisols. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 23(5): 459-464.
- Juwarkar, A.A. and Singh, S.K. 2007. Utilization of municipal solid waste as an amendment for reclamation of coal mine spoil dump. Int. J. Environmental Technology and Management, 7(3-4): 407-420.
- Kramer, S. and Green, D.M. 2000. Acid and alkaline phosphatase dynamics and their relationship to soil microclimate in semiarid woodland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 32: 179-188.
- Maharana, J. K. and Patel, A. K. 2013. Microbial communities and enzyme kinetics used as index of reclamation in a chronosequence coal mine overburden spoil. Int J Pharm Bio Sci., 4(4): (B) 1171-1186.
- Masciandaro, G., Ceccanti, B. and Ronchi, V. 2000. Kinetics parameters of dehydrogenase in the assessment of the response of soil to vermicompost and inorganic fertilizers. Biology, Fertility and Soils, 32(6): 479-483.
- Matson, P. A., Parton, W. J., Powere, A. G . and Swift, M. J. 1997. Agricultural intensification and ecosystem properties. Sci., 277: 504-509.
- Monson, R.K., Lipson, D.L . and Burns, S.P. 2006. Winter forest soil respiration controlled by climate and microbial community composition. Nature, 439: 711-714
- Mukhopadhyay, S. and Maiti, S.K. 2011. Status of soil microbial biomass in reclaimed mine degraded land and non-mining areas - A review. Indian Journal of Environmental Protection, 31(8): 642-657.
- Mummey, D., Stahl, P.D. and Buyer, J. 2002. Microbial markers as an indicator of ecosystem recovery following mine reclamation. Applied Soil Ecology, 21: 251-259.
- Ohya, H., Komai, Y., Yamaguch, I. M. 1985. Zinc effects on soil microflora and glucose metabolites in soil amended with 14C glucose, Biology and Fertility of Soils, 1: 117-122.
- Raju, K. S. and Hassan, M. 2003. Role of Indian Bureau of Mines in protection of environment in the minerals sector. J. Mines, Metals and Fuels, 51(6): 196-200.
- Sinsabaugh, R.L. and LInkins, A.E. 1990. Enzymatic and chemical analysis of particulate organic matter from a Boreal river. Freshwater Biol., 23: 301-309.
- Sourkova, M., Frouz, J., Fettweis, U., Bens O., Huttl, R.F. and Santruckova. 2005. Soil development and properties of microbial biomass succession in reclaimed post mining sites near Sokolov (Czech Republic) and near Cottbus (Germany). Geoderma, 129: 73-80.
- Visser, S., Zak, J. and Parkinson, D. 1979. Effects of surface mining on soil microbial communities and processes. In: Ecology and Coal Resource Development, Wali M.K. (ed), Pregamon press, New York, 2: 643-651.
- Witkamp, M. 1966. Rate of CO2 evolution from the forest floor. Ecology, 47: 492-494.
- Xiao-feng, X.U., Chang-chun, Song, Xia, Song and Xin-shan, Song. 2004. Carbon mineralization and the related enzyme activity of soil in wetland. Ecology and Environment, 13(1): 40-42.
![](https://i-scholar.in/public/site/images/abstractview.png)
Abstract Views: 223
![](https://i-scholar.in/public/site/images/pdfview.png)
PDF Views: 0