ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Plant and Tree Roots Decomposition
on Soil Nutrients in an Abandoned Pyrite Mining
Area in China
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School of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China
Submission date: 2022-03-19
Final revision date: 2022-05-18
Acceptance date: 2022-05-25
Online publication date: 2022-08-04
Publication date: 2022-09-28
Corresponding author
Hong Jiang
Guizhou University of Chinese Medicine, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(5):4681-4690
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ABSTRACT
The study aims to explore the effect of fine root decomposition on soil nutrients in pyrite mining
areas and provide a basis for plant selection in the vegetation restoration process in mines. With the
decomposition bag method, the root decomposition characteristics of three typical plants (Castanea
mollissima (C. mollissima), Betula luminifera (B. luminifera) and Symplocos tetragona (S. tetragona))
in Guizhou Dafang Pyrite Mining Area and their effects on soil nutrients. The loss rates of fine
root decomposition of the three plants decreased according to the following order: S. tetragona>
B. luminifera>C. mollissima. After a year of decomposition, the mass loss rates of the three plants
were respectively 76.00%, 66.28% and 59.36%. Among the three plants, S. tetragona had the faster
rate of fine root decomposition. Organic carbon presented a significant positive correlation with total
nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen (P<0.05). Root activities of S. tetragona and C. mollissima could increase
nitrate nitrogen content. Therefore, in abandoned mining areas with a single nutrient source, the plant
configuration of S. tetragona and C. mollissima as well as some native herbaceous plants (such as
Lolium perenne L., Cynodondactylon (Linn.) Pers. and Agrostisstolonifera Roth.) are more conducive to
the accumulation of nutrients and ecological restoration. At the same time, heavy metal elements in soil
may affect nutrient changes during fine root decomposition.