Siddharth Singh

Coal mining activities change plant community structure due to air pollution and soil degradation

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of coal mining activities on the community structures of woody and herbaceous plants. The response of individual plants of community to defilement caused by coal mining was also assessed. Air monitoring, soil physico-chemical and phytosociological analyses were carried around Jharia coalfield (JCF) and Raniganj coalfield. The importance value index of sensitive species minified and those of tolerant species enhanced with increasing pollution load and altered soil quality around coal mining areas. Although the species richness of woody and herbaceous plants decreased with higher pollution load, a large number of species acclimatized to the stress caused by the coal mining activities. Woody plant community at JCF was more affected by coal mining than herbaceous community. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that structure of herbaceous community was mainly driven by soil total organic carbon, soil nitrogen, whereas woody layer community was influenced by sulphur dioxide in ambient air, soil sulphate and soil phosphorus. The changes in species diversity observed at mining areas indicated an increase in the proportion of resistant herbs and grasses showing a tendency towards a definite selection strategy of ecosystem in response to air pollution and altered soil characteristics.

Assessment of Seasonal and Site Specific Variations in Soil Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties around Opencast Coal Mines

Coal mining activities adversely affect the soil quality around open cast coal mines. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the seasonal and site specific variations in physical, chemical and biological properties of soil collected at different distances from mining areas in Jharia coal field, India. Sites near coal mines showed significantlyhigherbulk density, soil temperature, electrical conductivity, sulphate and heavy metalcontentsand significantly lower water holding capacity, porosity, moisture content, soil pH, total nitrogen and available phosphorus contents in soil compared to distant sites throughout the year. However,biological properties showed site specific as well as seasonal pattern. Soil microbial biomass C andN, microbialbiomass C/N ratio and soil respiration were highest during rainy and lowest during summer season with minimum values in soil near coal mining areas. Soil quality index showed significant influence of heavy metal contents on biological properties of soil.

Soil Quality of Agricultural Fields in the Vicinity of Selected Mining Areas of Raniganj Coalfield India

The study was conducted to evaluate the soil quality and impact of coal mining operations on different physicochemical parameters of soils of paddy fields, located in the vicinity of Raniganj coalfield, India. During the entire study period, bulk density of soil ranges from 1.2 to 1.4 gm/cc, pH varies from 5.2 to 7.4, while electric conductivity fluctuated between 120 – 527 μs /cm, organic carbon content and organic matter varied from 0.29 to 2.05%, 0.5% to 3.5% respectively. The average values of available nitrogen and phosphorus was 94.2 and 5.9kg/ha. Statistical analysis of the data showed positive co-relation of organic carbon with parameters like pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, available phosphorus and available nitrogen. Bray Curtis similarity analysis shows that there is a similarity of 96.7% between Site VIII and II and 93.68% between site VI and V.

Effects of Coal Mining Activities on Soil Properties with Special Reference to Heavy Metals

Soil physico-chemical properties and concentrations of heavy metals in the soils around Jharia coalfield in Jharkhand state of India were determined to quantify the levels of contamination in the area. The extensive coal mining in the area altered physico-chemical properties of the soil. Sites near coal mining areas were heavily contaminated with all the measured heavy metals. The average concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd and Cr were higher compared to the critical soil concentrations. At the sites near coal mining areas, Mn, Cu and Ni were near the toxic limits of the respective metals. Soil pollution assessment was carried out using enrichment factor, geo-accumulation index and pollution load index. Higher enrichment factor for Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cd indicated significant inputs from mining activities in the soil. The geo-accumulation index values revealed that Cu, Pb and Ni are significantly accumulated in the study area. The pollution load index derived from contamination factor indicated that the sites near coal mining areas are most polluted. Multivariate statistical analyses, principal component and cluster analyses suggested that Ni, Cu and Pb were derived from anthropogenic sources, particularly coal mining activities and vehicular transport.