Potential for carbon sequestration in reclaimed mine soil on reforested surface mining areas in Poland

Reclaimed mine soils (RMS) which develop on post-mining sites play significant role in Carbon sequestration in new ecosystems, especially in local range on areas disturbed by human activity. This study presents the potential for Carbon sequestration in RMS developing on 3 post surface mining areas in Poland (Central Europe) reforested with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L). Research was conducted on waste heaps and quarry which accompany open cast lignite, sulfur, and sand mining. Control plots were arranged in managed pine forests on natural sites in the surrounding area. The results shows high Carbon accumulation in RMS, estimated on 16.77 Mg·ha in poor (oligotrofic) soils on Quaternary sands on sand quarry and up to 65.03 Mg·ha on external waste heap after Sulfur surface mining exploitation on Quaternary sands mixed with Tertiary clays. These results were very similar to natural forest soils on control plots. Potential rate of Carbon sequestration in RMS was estimated on 0.73 (on the poorest sandy soils on quarry) to 2.17 Mg·ha·yr (on potentially abundant sandy-clayish soils on Sulfur waste heap), and 5.26 Mg·ha·yr (on Tertiary sands substrate soils on lignite mining waste heap). In conslusion the average Carbon accumulation in RMS was estimated on 41 Mg·ha and Carbon sequestration rate was 1.45 Mg· ha·yr. According to the result of this study and range of post-mining areas reclaimed to forestry in Poland (ca 15000 ha) total Carbon accumulation in RMS was estimated on 615 × 10 Mg and potential Carbon sequestration rate in new ecosystems on 21.75 × 10 Mg·ha·yr. However, the main factors affecting Carbon sequestration and protection in RMS under tree stand were substrate, percentage of clay and silt sized fraction, in order to formulate guidelines for sustainable management of post-mining ecosystem, further study must be continue for better understanding.