Fungal community dynamics in mining-affected soils: the role of soil particle modification.

Human activities have a profound impact on both the physical and chemical properties of soil, which, in turn, transform soil microbial ecosystems. Nonetheless, there is limited research on how opencast coal mining influences soil characteristics and microbial communities, particularly in the extreme climate of Xinjiang, China. Here, we investigated the rhizosphere soil of Haloxylon ammodendron at varying distances (500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 m) from the boundary of the Hongshaquan opencast coal mine in Xinjiang to explore the effects of mining on soil properties and microbial communities. The study revealed significant alterations in soil properties with increasing distance from the coal mine, including changes in particle size distribution, soil organic carbon (SOC), amorphous iron (Feo), and available potassium (AK). A notable positive correlation was observed between Feo and clay content, as well as between SOC and Feo. Additionally, the fungal community structure varied across different soil layers due to mining activities, with the complexity of fungal networks showing a decreasing trend as the distance from the mine increased. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) further indicated that changes in distance and soil depth from the mine affected the clay content, leading to alterations in Feo. These changes subsequently impacted fungal diversity through modifications in SOC. In conclusion, coal mining activities directly influenced soil clay content, triggering a cascade of changes in other soil properties, ultimately altering fungal diversity. This study offered new insights into the ecological restoration efforts required for regions affected by opencast coal mining.