• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.109 no.4
• /
• pp.382-389
• /
• 2020

Soil properties in opencast mines are a key factor in reclamation (revegetation) of mining areas. In this study we determined the soil physical and chemical properties of kaolinite tailings, reclaimed areas, and adjacent natural red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) forests in kaolinite opencast mines in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. Six sites were chosen for collection of soil samples to determine soil physical and chemical properties at a soil depth of 10 cm. Soil bulk density was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the kaolinite tailings (1.51 g·cm-3) than in the reclaimed areas (1.19 g·cm-3) and red pine forests (0.93 g·cm-3), whereas air phase in the kaolinite tailings (14.2%) was significantly lower than in the red pine forests (32.6%). Clay content in the red pine forests was significantly higher than in the reclaimed areas (18.7%) or kaolinite tailings (14.8%), whereas soil structural stability index was significantly lower in the reclaimed areas (1.61%) and kaolinite tailings (0.87%) than in the red pine forests (7.75%). Soil pH was significantly higher in the kaolinite tailings (pH 6.68) and reclaimed areas (pH 6.27) than in the red pine forests (pH 5.31). Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen were significantly higher in the red pine forests (C: 36.03 mg·g-1; N: 2.08 mg·g-1) than in the reclaimed areas (C: 5.00 mg·g-1; N: 0.31 mg·g-1) than in the kaolinite tailings (C: 2.12 mg·g-1; N: 0.07 mg g-1). The amount of available phosphorus was not significantly different among the three treatments. The concentration of exchangeable potassium was significantly lower in the kaolinite tailings (0.08 cmolc·kg-1) than in the reclaimed areas (0.21 cmolc·kg-1) and red pine forests (0.30 cmolc·kg-1). These results indicate that, because of high soil bulk density and low soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium in kaolinite tailings and reclaimed mining areas, soil nutrient management is needed in order to reclaim the vegetation in these type of areas.