Analysis of the Restoration Effect of Soil Seed Bank on Waste Mining Land

Abstract

Abstract Aims Many studies have analyzed the reasons why it is difficult to plant plants in local mining areas, revealing the restoration effect of artificial replanting measures in abandoned mining areas. It is remains unclear if this restoration effect will continue or only be reflected within 1–2 years after repair. Methods This study used continuous 10 years of field monitoring to answer this question by analyzing the restoration effect of seed supplementation on abandoned mining areas. Results (1) In the second year after seed-supplement, the plant growth indicators (vegetation coverage, vegetation height, plant density, aboveground biomass) and plant species diversity (species richness, Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, and Pielou) under the commercial grass seed treatment (mode A) and the soil seed bank treatment (mode B) are significantly higher than that of the CK (P < 0.01). (2) In the 7th year after seed-supplement, the above indicators of plant growth in mode B are respectively significantly higher than those in mode A in sequence. In mode B, in soil layer of 0 ~ 10 cm, 10 ~ 20 cm, 20 ~ 30 cm, 30 ~ 40 cm and 40 ~ 50 cm, the soil-stone ratio are respectively 2.53, 11.31, 22.37, 21.77 and 11.19 times higher than that of the CK; And the soil bulk density are respectively decreased by 40.15%, 20.09%, 25.58% and 10.20% compared with the CK. (3) There is a significant positive correlation between plant growth and soil-stone ratio (P < 0.01). Conclusions It is not ideal of actual restore effect when commercial seeds are used in compared to soil seed bank.