Development of Soil Substitutes for the Sustainable Land Reclamation of Coal Mine-Affected Areas

The main purpose of this paper was to outline a novel approach for the use industrial by-products generated in coal mines and coal-fired power plants as components artificial soils. Several combustion by-products, mine waste organic materials were tested at laboratory scale reclamation areas degraded by mining activity. role soils land rehabilitation high acidic heap. results revealed that amounts matter (14.87–25.01%) nutrients soil substitutes sufficient support plant growth, i.e., N (0.37–0.51%), P (0.23–0.47%), K (1.78–3.17%), Ca (4.93–8.39%) Mg (1.16–1.71%). A phytotoxicity test using white mustard (Sinapis alba) seeds under conditions showed good germination (56–66%) three did not contain fly ash from biomass combustion, compared reference (84%). relationships established aqueous leachate parameters vs. Sinapis alba negative correlations with electrical conductivity (r = −0.88), SO42− −0.91) Cl− −0.70) ions; two latter ones responsible salinity which hampered process substitutes. Moreover, quite similar obtained between trace elements substitutes: Fe −0.69), Cd −0.72), Cu −0.80), Pb −0.78) Zn −0.74). However, significant leachates shown only Ni concentration −0.73). relevance these effect on early growth S. discussed detail confirmed Principal Component Analysis (PCA). study proved physicochemical characteristic recycled wastes exhibited their potential usefulness affected such heaps.