Effects of groundwater level changes on soil characteristics and vegetation response in arid and semiarid coal mining areas

• Published in: Environmental geochemistry and health Vol. 46; no. 11; p. 441
• Main Authors: Wang, Pingshun, Dong, Shaogang, Zang, Xuchao, Yang, Xuedong, Ji, Yaxin, Li, Lu, Han, Xuemin, Hou, Fulai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquifers; Arid zones; Atmospheric precipitations; Biodegradation; China; Coal; Coal mines; Coal Mining; Correlation analysis; Depth; Desert Climate; Desertification; Drainage basins; Drainage systems; Drought; Drought resistance; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological effects; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental degradation; Environmental Health; Environmental impact; Environmental management; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental protection; Fertilizers; Geochemistry; Geology; Groundwater; Groundwater - chemistry; Groundwater levels; Groundwater table; Hydrogeology; Lake shores; Lakes; Moisture content; Organic matter; Organic soils; Original Paper; Plants; Plants (botany); Potassium; Precipitation; Public Health; Resource management; Salinization; Semi arid areas; Semiarid lands; Soil - chemistry; Soil characteristics; Soil conductivity; Soil degradation; Soil organic matter; Soil properties; Soil salinization; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil structure; Soil water; Species richness; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Terrestrial Pollution; Vegetation; Vegetation index; Water content; Water depth; Water resources; Water resources management; Water table; China; Groundwater-soil-vegetation system; Ecological evolution; Soil salinization; Coal mine area; Groundwater; Soil vegetation characteristics
• ISSN: 0269-4042; 1573-2983; 1573-2983
• DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-02222-w

Coal mining in arid and semiarid regions often leads to numerous ecological and environmental problems, such as aquifer depletion, lake shrinkage, vegetation degradation, and surface desertification. The drainage from coal mining activities is a major driving force in the evolution of the groundwater-soil-vegetation system. In order to explore the effect of groundwater level fluctuation on soil properties and the response mechanism of surface vegetation in coal mining areas, this study is based on hydrogeological and ecological vegetation investigations in the Bojianghaizi Basin, and soil and vegetation samples are collected in the areas with different groundwater levels, and soil and vegetation indexes are analyzed with the aid of methods such as numerical statistics, linear regression, and correlation analysis with the aid of the Origin software. The results show that there is a significant negative correlation between groundwater table (GWT) and soil water content (SWC), soil conductivity, soil organic matter (SOM), soil available nitrogen (SAN), and soil available potassium (SAK). Mining activities have led to the destruction of the soil structure, greatly reducing its ability to retain water and fertilizer. The contents of SWC, SOM, and SAN in the mining area are significantly reduced, which are at least 49.73%, 47.56% and 59.90% lower than those around the mining area. On the northern and southern sides of the lake, serious soil salinization exists in the lakeshore zone where the depth to the water table is <0.5 m, and the water required for the growth of vegetation here mainly comes from the groundwater, so there are only a few water-loving and saline-resistant plants; when the depth to the water table is 0.5–7 m, the growth of surface vegetation is influenced by the double impacts of the water table and atmospheric precipitation with a high degree of species richness; when the depth to the water table is >7 m, the surface vegetation is only dependent on the limited atmospheric precipitation for water. When the depth of groundwater is >7 m, the surface vegetation only relies on limited atmospheric precipitation for water, and drought-tolerant plants mainly grow in these areas. This study not only provides a scientific basis for the sustainable development and environmental protection of similar mines in the world, but also has important significance in guiding the ecological management and rational utilization of water resources in coal mine areas. What is more, This study provides valuable insights into sustainable water resource management in arid and semi-arid regions, crucial for mitigating the ecological impacts of coal mining activities.