The use of coal gangue as a planting substrate in arid mining areas

IF 3.5 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Global Ecology and Conservation Pub Date : 2024-11-24 DOI:10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03328

Yuanbo Lu , Chunwu Song , Cheng Yan , Zhengzhong Jin , Yajuan Li , Chengyun Lai , Danhua Wang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Coal gangue, which is the primary solid waste generated during coal production and washing processes, poses significant risks to the ecological environment and social safety. This study investigated the effective use of this material as a novel component in planting substrates to improve the physicochemical characteristics of arid sandstone soil in mining areas. The goal was to use this modified substrate for the restoration of vegetation, which at the same time would allow an effective utilization of coal gangue and its removal from mining areas. Using an L16 (4^3) orthogonal experimental design, systematically investigated the effects of three factors, i.e., coal gangue, a water-retaining agent, and bentonite, applied at various levels on soil nutrient characteristics and plant growth indicators in order to optimize the formula for the planting substrate. The addition of 1500 g of coal gangue significantly increased the contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available nitrogen, and available potassium in the substrate (p < 0.05). This enhancement promoted the growth of Kochia prostrata. With the addition of 0.4 % water-retaining agent, the available nitrogen content in the substrate increased significantly (p < 0.05). However, conditions were more favorable for seed germination and plant survival when this agent was not added. Moreover, the addition of 4 % bentonite resulted in a significant increase in the height of Kochia prostrata (p < 0.05). The comprehensive analysis using the orthogonal experimental model indicated that the optimal coal gangue to sandstone soil ratio for vegetation growth was 375:1125 g, with the water-retaining agent and bentonite added at mass fractions of 0.1 % and 2 %, respectively. This ratio significantly enhanced the nutritional composition of the planting substrate, promoting the germination and growth of Kochia prostrata. These findings provide a scientific basis for vegetation restoration in arid sandstone substrates in mining areas.

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将煤矸石用作干旱矿区的种植基质

煤矸石是煤炭生产和洗选过程中产生的主要固体废弃物，对生态环境和社会安全构成重大威胁。本研究调查了如何有效利用这种材料作为种植基质的新型成分，以改善矿区干旱砂岩土壤的物理化学特性。目的是利用这种改良基质恢复植被，同时有效利用煤矸石并将其从采矿区清除。通过 L16（4^3）正交实验设计，系统地研究了煤矸石、保水剂和膨润土这三个因素在不同水平上的应用对土壤养分特征和植物生长指标的影响，以优化种植基质的配方。添加 1500 克煤矸石能显著提高基质中有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、可利用氮和可利用钾的含量（p < 0.05）。这种提高促进了 Kochia prostrata 的生长。添加 0.4 % 的保水剂后，基质中的可用氮含量显著增加（p < 0.05）。然而，不添加保水剂时，种子发芽和植物存活的条件更为有利。此外，添加 4% 膨润土后，Kochia prostrata 的高度明显增加（p < 0.05）。利用正交实验模型进行的综合分析表明，植被生长的最佳煤矸石与砂岩土壤比例为 375:1125 g，其中保水剂和膨润土的添加质量分数分别为 0.1 % 和 2 %。这一比例大大提高了种植基质的营养成分，促进了 Kochia prostrata 的发芽和生长。这些发现为矿区干旱砂岩基质的植被恢复提供了科学依据。

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来源期刊

Global Ecology and Conservation Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

5.00%

发文量

346

审稿时长

83 days

期刊介绍： Global Ecology and Conservation is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal covering all sub-disciplines of ecological and conservation science: from theory to practice, from molecules to ecosystems, from regional to global. The fields covered include: organismal, population, community, and ecosystem ecology; physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology; and conservation science.