Nutrient uptake efficiency and stoichiometry for different plant functional groups on spoil heap after hard coal mining in Upper Silesia, Poland.

Various plant functional groups (PFGs) used in the reclamation of post-mining heaps may differ in their nutrient uptake efficiency and thus in their effect on the ecosystem development. The effect of PFGs may be additionally modified by the applied reclamation measures such as e.g. topsoiling. In this study we compared the nutrient uptake efficiencies and plant stoichiometry for two PFGs (grasses and forbs) growing on the sites reclaimed by applying topsoil (TS) and unreclaimed sites on carboniferous bare rock (BR) in hard coal spoil heap in Upper Silesia (southern Poland). Basic soil parameters, including pH, texture, soil organic carbon, and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), were measured, and the aboveground plant biomass and nutrient content in plant tissue were determined. Forbs were characterized by a larger biomass and higher nutrient concentrations (except for P) than grasses. The TS treatment supported higher concentrations of N and P in plant tissues but not to the level ensuring more significant primary biomass production. The nutrient concentration and elemental stoichiometry in plant tissue indicated that N was the primary limiting element. However, the major growth limitation for N-fixing forbs was from P. Forbs were much more efficient in nutrient uptake than grasses, independent of the reclamation treatment. Therefore, they stimulate nutrient cycling in the restored ecosystems more than grasses.

Structural differences of cell walls in earlywood and latewood of Pinus sylvestris and their contribution to biomass recalcitrance.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is an evergreen coniferous tree with wide distribution and good growth performance in a range of habitats. Therefore, wood from P. sylvestris is produced in many managed forests and is frequently used in industry. Despite the importance of pine wood, we still do not fully understand its molecular structure what limits improvements in its processing. One of the basic features leading to variation in wood properties is the presence of earlywood and latewood which form annual growth rings. Here, we characterise biochemical traits that differentiate cell walls of earlywood and latewood in Scots pine. We discover that latewood is less recalcitrant to enzymatic digestion, with galactoglucomannan showing particularly pronounced difference in accessibility. Interestingly, characterisation of lignin reveals a higher proportion of coniferaldehydes in pine latewood and suggests the presence of a different linkage landscape in this wood type. With complementary analysis of wood polysaccharides this enabled us to propose the first detailed molecular model of earlywood and latewood and to conclude that the variation in lignin structure is likely the main determinant of differences in recalcitrance observed between the two wood types in pine. Our discoveries lay the foundation for improvements in industrial processes that use pine wood since we show clear pathways for increasing the efficiency of enzymatic processing of this renewable material. Our work will help guide future breeding of pine trees with desired timber properties and can help link molecular structure of softwood cell walls to function of the different types of xylem in conifers.

Adaptation of Betula pendula Roth., Pinus sylvestris L., and Larix decidua Mill. to environmental stress caused by tailings waste highly contaminated by trace elements.

The seedlings of some tree species can successfully develop in areas polluted by heavy metals. Research on such species is important in order to explore the possibility of introducing tree species for the permanent biological stabilization and reclamation of post-flotation tailings, especially after the final recycling of trace metals, but where concentrations remain much higher than in natural soils. To better understand the adaptation and reaction of Betula pendula Roth., Pinus sylvestris L., and Larix decidua Mill. seedlings to heavy metals pollution caused by tailings waste highly contaminated by trace elements: 1) the relationships between the concentration of heavy metals in the soil substrate, the efficiency of heavy metal ions accumulation in plant organs, and the biometric parameters of the seedlings; and 2) the threshold content of heavy metals in the roots above which the plant physiological response is triggered was determined. We assume that there are certain limit concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and fine roots, which depend on the tree species and beyond which the plant responds strongly to stressThe obtained results showed that Betula is a suitable species for the phytostabilization of post-flotation tailings due to its rapid growth rate and production of root biomass. The accumulation of metals in Betula roots was found to be much greater than in Pinus and Larix. Despite the high concentrations of heavy metals in the prepared substrates, there was only a slight transfer of these elements to the aboveground parts of the plant. At high soil concentrations, the heavy metals adversely affected the cellular and physiological processes of plants. In plants growing in such conditions, the activity of the antioxidant system depended both on the species and organ of the plant, as well as on the type and metal concentration.

Effect of warming on ground vegetation in Carpathian Norway spruce stands, exemplified by European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) nutrient stoichiometry.

Despite its small share of total forest biomass, ground vegetation plays an important role in biogeochemical cycles, being able to modify carbon (C) and nutrients fluxes. Global climate warming may affect plant nutrient uptake and the carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) stoichiometry, the release of nutrients from the soil and soil organic matter, as well as significantly influence the tree stand nutrient supply. In this context, the response of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst) stands' ground vegetation to warming is uncertain. An open-top chamber soil-warming simulation, lasting two growing seasons, was conducted in a spruce forest. At the end of each of the two growing seasons, before leaf senescence, European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) aboveground biomass (leaves and stems) and mineral topsoil samples were collected from the plots. The C, N, P, micronutrient, and macronutrient concentrations were estimated in the samples. Warming caused significant decreases in C, N, and P in the soil. Warming also decreased the C:P and N:P stoichiometric ratios in the soil and increased the C:P ratio in plant stems. Significant increase in foliar C and decrease in foliar P in warmed plots were observed. The most evident effect was reduction of N and P in the soil, which directly affected the plant C:P and soil N:P stoichiometry. Our results show that warming has caused a significant decrease in the content of some nutrients in the aboveground plant tissues of blueberries. Given that N is a limiting factor of ecosystems productivity, its reduction in the soil caused by warming may be a serious threat to proper nutrient uptake and cause disruption of biogeochemical cycles. The decrease in nutrient content in aboveground tissues due to warming can result in disruptions to physiological processes.

Biomonitoring of Mercury Contamination in Poland Based on Its Concentration in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Foliage.

This work evaluates current mercury (Hg) contamination in Poland, represented by the Hg concentrations in Scots pine foliage. Samples were collected over 295 investigation plots in monitoring grids throughout Poland, from pines aged between 12 and 147 years. Analyses were conducted with consideration of bioclimatic factors and soil properties. Concentrations in the pine foliage did not exceed the values characteristic of an ecosystem unaffected by industrial pollution, ranging from 0.0032 to 0.0252 mg kg-1 dry mass. However, pine stands located in western and central Poland, and in the northwest near the Baltic Sea, exhibited higher Hg concentrations in foliage than in eastern regions. Hg content in foliage depends on the mean temperature of the driest quarter, as well as on Hg content in soils. This indicates that the periods of drought observed in recent years in Poland may affect Hg concentrations in pine foliage.

Sequestration of Mercury in Soils under Scots Pine and Silver Fir Stands Located in the Proximity to a Roadway.

Forest soils are the main source of mercury (Hg) in stream water. Stocks of Hg in forest soils are related to several factors, including forest species composition. In this study, the potential source of Hg pollution was a relatively new roadway traversing forested areas. We compared Hg accumulation in soils of two coniferous species: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). The experimental plots were located near the S7 expressway in Central Poland. The stands differed in the length of time they had been exposed to Hg, because different parts of the roadway were built and opened to traffic at different times. We analyzed 480 soil samples from organic horizons (O) and the top 10 cm of mineral soil (A) sampled from six plots. The overall average Hg concentrations (irrespective of forest stand, n = 240) was 0.225 mg kg-1 in the O horizons and 0.075 mg kg-1 in the mineral horizons. The Hg concentration in the O horizons was more than three times greater in fir stands than that in pine stands. The average Hg:C ratios in the O and A horizons were 1.0 and 2.3 mg Hg kg-1 C, respectively. Our data does not clearly show the effect of road on Hg accumulation near the road. The concentrations of Hg in investigated soils adjacent to the roadway were only slightly higher than ranges reported for unpolluted areas, and no clearly affected by the vicinity of roadway. In contrast to the other reports, our data indicate a significant impact of tree species on Hg concentrations in both the O and A horizons. Moreover, the average Hg:C ratio was strongly dependent on the tree species.

The impact of alder litter on chemistry of Technosols developed from lignite combustion waste and natural sandy substrate: a laboratory experiment.

Alders, as an N-fixing species, are widely used as a phytomelioration species at post-industrial sites. The paper presents the effects of litter decomposition of different alder species-black alder, gray alder, and green alder-on changes to the soil solution chemistry of Technosols developed from two types of substrates: lignite combustion waste and sandy substrates from a former sand quarry. Under controlled conditions, the 13-week experiment investigated pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and the chemical parameters-dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved nitrogen (DON), and macroelements S, Ca, Mg, K, and Na content-of filtrates in composites consisting of substrate and litter from alder species was investigated. Alder litter accelerated nutrient leaching processes from soil substrates and had the greatest impact on sandy substrates because fast leaching was possible at low absorption capacity characteristics. Higher leaching rates in sandy substrates were also observed, especially in the cases of DOC, DON, K, and P, in comparison to combustion waste substrates. In the first phase of the experiment in sandy soil substrates, the dominant process is the leaching of DOC from dead organic matter, while in the case of combustion waste, calcium leaching prevails in the first phase. Among the investigated species, black alder had the greatest impact on the chemistry of substrates and solutions, and the dynamic of these processes has a different path at various substrates.

Spatial distribution of soil bulk density and its relationship with slope and vegetation allocation model in rehabilitation of dumping site in loess open-pit mine area.

Studies of soil bulk density (BD) spatial variations of land reclaimed after mining have become a focus of land reclamation and ecological restoration research. However, there have been few studies on the relationship among the reconstructed BD, terrain conditions, and vegetation growth. We examined the southern dumping site of the Pingshuo Antaibao open-pit coal mine located in a loess area in China. Field sampling data, digital elevation models (DEMs), and high-definition images were obtained, and indoor testing, geostatistics, and inverse distance weighting (IDW) were applied. This paper aims to analyze the spatial distribution law of the reconstructed BD and focus on its relationship with slope and vegetation allocation models. We demonstrated that (1) BD increased with soil depth and varied moderately within each layer. (2) The BD variation amplitude of the top 0-20-cm soil layer in both the east-west and south-north directions was small and more similar in the east-west direction than in the south-north direction, which was affected by herbaceous root systems. In the next four layers from 20 to 60 cm, the variation in BD in the east-west direction was far larger than that in the south-north direction, which was affected by vegetation classification. (3) On the whole, BD decreased with increasing slope, but when the slope was between 0° and 21°, BD exhibited a specific change law. (4) From the perspective of vegetation classification, the orders of magnitude of BD in the 0-20-cm and 20-60-cm layers differed. Overall, BD in areas vegetated with Korshinsk Peashrub was the lowest, and BD was moderate in areas with mixed vegetation, while BD was the highest in areas without vegetation or only vegetated with Black Locust. The mixed grass-bush-tree or bush-tree mode attained the best effect in regulating BD. These results can improve the basic principles of land reclamation in mining areas and provide a basis for further optimizing land reclamation technology in practice.

Concentration of trace elements in forest soil affected by former timber depot.

Certain parts of global forests show elevated concentrations of trace elements as a result of industry processes, places such as wood depots and plant protection products, which together degrade the forest environment. This paper examines a timber depot that used wood preservatives in World War II located in the Warcino Forest Inspectorate (Poland). It presents monitory findings on the degree to which the upper soil layer in the depot area has been contaminated by wood preservatives. Within two forest divisions, a network of soil extraction points was established, distinguished into three separate categories that demarcate the degrees of vegetation coverage and growth of the common pine. These were Area A (area with a pine stand that is several dozen years-old), Area B (areas with a pine stand that is approximately a dozen years-old) and Area C (areas without a pine stand). The Cu concentration in the surface categories was respectively 141.03/187.54/834.43 mg·kg-1. Above 600% in Cu concentration was noted in category C in comparison to category A. It was found that the content of most elements (B, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn) did not exceed the permissible values according to the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment on soil quality standards; however, in the case of Cu, the limit values established for forest and agricultural soils were exceeded, with the highest Cu contents found in the 'C' category. The results obtained confirm that the wood protection chemicals, such as copper sulphate, affected the long-term pollution of forest soils.

The current state of environmental pollution with sulfur dioxide (SO2) in Poland based on sulfur concentration in Scots pine needles.

The current air pollution by SO2 due to anthropogenic pressure in Poland was assessed based on sulfur concentrations in pine needles (Pinus sylvestris L.). On 308 monitoring sample plots located in pine stands distributed across Poland, measurements were conducted in mineral soil layers (0-10 cm, 10-40 cm, 40-100 cm) and in the soil organic layer (+5-0 cm). Samples of Scots pine foliage (current-year needles) were then collected, and the sulfur concentration in these needles was determined. Based on these data, a map of the spatial variability of sulfur concentrations in pine needles was drawn. The mean sulfur concentration in the pine needles was 854.8 mg kg-1 in dry mass. Higher SO2 emissions were noted in regions influenced by industry, such as the Upper Silesia and regions under strong urban pressure. Sulfur concentrations in Scots pine needles were related to the stands' degrees of defoliation. A comparison of the current sulfur concentrations in pine needles from biomonitoring in 2015-2016 with those from previous biomonitoring (in 1983-1985, by Dmuchowski and Bytnerowicz (1995) showed that air quality has improved and SO2 emissions have decreased.

Tree species affects the concentration of total mercury (Hg) in forest soils: Evidence from a forest soil inventory in Poland.

This study was performed to test the hypothesis that tree species significantly affects mercury (Hg) sequestration in forest soils. We analyzed the effect of seven dominant tree species (Scots pine, black alder, Norway spruce, silver birch, deciduous oak, silver fir, and European beech on the concentrations and pools of Hg in a range of forest soils in Poland. We set up 277 sample plots representing dominant tree species in Poland. Soil samples were taken and analyzed for total Hg content, soil texture, and soil C and nitrogen (N) content. Concentrations of total Hg in forest soil (organic and mineral horizons) varied by several orders of magnitude as a result of natural variations in organic matter, sand content, and altitude. Spatial analysis revealed that maximum concentrations (mg kg-1) and stocks (mg m-2) of Hg were related to mountain stands at higher elevations with loamy soils and greater accumulation of soil organic matter. The stocks of Hg in the investigated soil profiles increased in the order of: pine (12 mg m-2) ≈ birch (15 mg m-2) < oak (21 mg m-2) ≈ alder (24 mg m-2) < beech (45 mg m-2) ≈ spruce (50 mg m-2) < fir (66 mg m-2). Simple analysis of variance suggested an important effect of dominant tree species on Hg concentrations and stocks in entire soil profiles, but multiple regression analysis showed that dominant tree species had a significant effect on accumulation of Hg in soil, but only in the organic horizon; in mineral soil the Hg was content was related to C content, soil texture and altitude. The organic horizon had greater accumulation of Hg under coniferous tree species (Scots pine, silver fir and Norway spruce) and European beech when compared with deciduous oak, black alder, and silver birch.

Restoration of Vegetation in Relation to Soil Properties of Spoil Heap Heavily Contaminated with Heavy Metals.

The main objectives of our study were to evaluate soil contamination on a zinc-lead spoil heap in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region in southern Poland using pollution indices, and to investigate the relation between soil properties and the natural succession of vegetation. Organic carbon and nitrogen, pH, soil texture, base cations, and heavy metal content were analyzed in soil samples at depths of 0-15 cm below the organic horizon over a regular grid of 14 sampling plots. The contents of Zn, Pb, and Cd exceeded by several times the acceptable thresholds. Measurements of soil enzyme activity were used to evaluate the progress of vegetation development in relation to soil chemical properties. The results indicate that heavy metals had a significant impact on soil enzyme activity and the development of vegetation cover. High contents of Pb and Cd reduced enzyme activity, while this activity increased with increasing amounts of soil organic matter. Further, the accumulative capacities of heavy metals in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and aboveground biomass of bladder campion (Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke) were examined. A high accumulation of Zn, Pb, and Cd in the aboveground tissues of S. vulgaris indicated an unusual tolerance of this species to heavy metals and the possibility of using this species in phytoremediation of post-industrial sites.

Reclamation of coal mine spoil and its effect on Technosol quality and carbon sequestration: a case study from India.

A field study was carried out to assess the impact of revegetation on Technosol quality in the post-mining sites (Central Coalfield Limited, India). The study evaluated community structure, biodiversity, Technosol quality, and carbon (C) dynamics in the post-mining ecosystem (PME). The multivariate statistical tool was used to identify the key soil properties, and soil quality was evaluated by using Technosol quality index (TQI). One unreclaimed site (0 years) and four chronosequences revegetated coal mine sites (3, 7, 10, and 15 years) were studied and compared with an undisturbed forest as a reference site. Plant biodiversity indices [Shannon index of diversity (2.42) and Pielou's evenness (0.97) and Patric richness (12)] were highest in 15-year-old revegetated sites. Soil physicochemical and biological properties were recovered with the revegetation age. Soil organic C (SOC) stock significantly increased from 0.75 Mg C ha-1 in 3 years to 7.60 Mg C ha-1 after 15 years of revegetation in top 15 cm of soils. Ecosystem C pool increased at a rate of 5.38 Mg C ha-1 year-1. Soil CO2 flux was significantly increased from 0.27 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1 in unreclaimed sites to 3.19 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1 in 15-year-old revegetated site. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that dehydrogenase activity (DHA), available nitrogen (N), and silt content were the key soil parameters that were affected by reclamation. A 15-year-old Technosol had a greater TQI (0.78) compared to the control forest soils (0.64) that indicated the suitability of revegetation to recuperate soil quality in mining-degraded land and to increase C sequestration potential.

Reclamation of a lignite combustion waste disposal site with alders (Alnus sp.): assessment of tree growth and nutrient status within 10 years of the experiment.

Combustion wastes are characterised by extremely low N contents. Therefore, introduction of nitrogen-fixing species at the first stage of their biological reclamation is required. This paper presents an assessment of the growth parameters of alders (Alnus sp.) 10 years after their introduction to a disposal site of lignite combustion waste in Central Poland. Black (Alnus glutinosa) and grey alders (Alnus incana) were planted directly in the combustion waste. The soil amendment included three variants: control with pure combustion waste, admixture of lignite culm and addition of acid sand. Both alder species displayed good growth parameters comparable to those of alders in natural habitats. However, black alder had better growth parameters, such as stand density index (SDI), diameter at breast height (DBH) and height (H) than grey alder. The lignite amendment exerted a positive effect on tree growth, reflected in a higher SDI and H, whereas the acid sand amendment did not affect any of the growth parameters of the studied alder species. Despite the good growth parameters, the measured N:P and N:K ratios in the alder leaves largely differed from the optimal values indicating insufficient P and K supply at the combustion waste disposal site. This may pose a threat to further development of the introduced tree plantings. The introduction of alders along with the lignite addition into the planting holes seems to be a successful method of combustion waste revegetation.

Chemistry of Sulfur-Contaminated Soil Substrate from a Former Frasch Extraction Method Sulfur Mine Leachate with Various Forms of Litter in a Controlled Experiment.

The impact of tree litter on soil chemistry leachate and sulfurous substrates of mine soils from former Jeziórko sulfur mine was investigated. Composites were used: soil substrate (less contaminated at mean 5090 mg kg-1 S or high contaminated at 42,500 mg kg-1 S) + birch or pine litter and control substrate (no litter). The composites were rinsed with distilled water over 12 weeks. In the obtained leachate, pH, EC, dissolved organic carbon, N, Ca, Mg, Al, and S were determined. Physicochemical parameters of the substrates and their basal respiration rate were determined. Rinsing and litter application lowered sulfur concentration in high contamination substrates. Pine litter application decreased EC and increased pH of the low-contaminated substrate. The substrate pH remained at low phytotoxic level (i.e., below 3.0), resulting in the low biological activity of the composites. Birch litter application increased leaching of N and Mg, indicating the possibility of an intensification of soil-forming processes in contaminated sites.

Vegetation development and nutrients supply of trees in habitats with high sulfur concentration in reclaimed former sulfur mines Jeziórko (Southern Poland).

The paper presents an assessment of vegetation (composition and cover-abundance), nutrient supply, and especially sulfur accumulation in the trees foliage (birch and pine) used in reforestation and wood small-reed (Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth) appearing in succession on reclaimed areas of the former Jeziórko sulfur mine (southern Poland, Tarnobrzeg region). In researched area, three categories of vegetation cover were determined: category D-degraded and unsuccessfully reforested plots, and two categories with successful reforestation: P-pine and B-birch stands. On each category, four study plots (4-6 areas each, depends on site category) were established. Soil and vegetation samplings (current year and 2-year-old pine needles, birch leaves, and wood small-reed foliage) were collected on the subplots established in regular grid square (10 × 10 m) in each category. Basic soil properties and nutrient content in soils and vegetation were analyzed. Trees grew well in areas where neutralization and reclamation treatments were carried out properly and showed a good supply of nutrients (exception of phosphorus and nitrogen), while on category D, only herbaceous vegetation with low cover-abundance and dominated by wood small-reed were noted. Linear correlations between the soil and trees nutrients content occurred, while the correlations between the soil and wood small-reed did not occur. Wood small-reed did not display increased sulfur uptake which may indicate a strategy of blocking pollutant uptake from the soil and may be recommended as a species resistant to sulfurous soils.

Spatial distribution and concentration of sulfur in relation to vegetation cover and soil properties on a reclaimed sulfur mine site (Southern Poland).

This work aims to assess the spatial distribution and concentration of sulfur in the topsoil layer and to determine the relationships between sulfur concentration, soil pH, soil electrical conductivity, and plant cover at the reforested site of the former sulfur mine (Southern Poland). Soil samples were collected from 0 to 20 cm (topsoil) from a total of 86 sampling points in a regular square grid with sides of 150 m. Plant cover was assayed in circular plots with an area of 100 m2, divided into a woody plant layer and herbaceous plant layer. Soil properties such as particle size distribution, pH in KCl and H2O, soil electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (NT), and total sulfur (ST) were determined. The degree of soil contamination with sulfur was assessed based on the guidelines of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG), Poland. The results indicate that remediation and application of lime were not fully effective in spatial variation, because 33 points with sulfur contamination above 500 mg kg-1 were observed. These spots occurred irregularly in the topsoil horizons. This high sulfur concentration in the soil did not result in severe acidification (below 4.5) in all cases, most likely due to neutralization from the application of high doses of flotation lime. High vegetative cover occurred at some points with high soil sulfur concentrations, with two points having S concentration above 40,000 mg kg-1 and tree cover about 60%. Numerous points with high soil EC above 1500 µS cm-1 as well as limited vegetation and high soil sulfur concentrations, however, indicate that the reclamation to forest is still not completely successful.

Simulation of Birch and Pine Litter Influence on Early Stage of Reclaimed Soil Formation Process under Controlled Conditions.

The impact of litter decomposition on chemical substrate properties and element leaching during early soil formation in afforested post-mine sites and the influence of different tree species are key issues in new ecosystem development. Scots pine ( L.) and common birch ( Roth) are important pioneering species used in afforestation of post-mine sites in central and eastern Europe. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of litter decomposition of these species on the chemical properties of mine soil substrates. The impact of litter decomposition on soil properties was tested on quaternary and neogene substrates with different textures (sands, loams, and mixtures of clays and sands) in a controlled incubation experiment using PVC columns. Simulation of precipitation and leaching was undertaken for 10 wk at a temperature of 16°C with distilled water (200 mL wk) through cylinders with litter, substrate + litter, and control substrate (no litter). Filtrated water solution was collected once a week for laboratory analysis, and the concentrations of dissolved organic C, total N, K, Ca, Mg, and P were determined. The study results indicate a stronger impact of the common birch on the chemical properties of reclaimed mine soils compared with pine. After the experiment, birch litter caused significant changes in pH in quaternary sands, concentration of P in quaternary loams (Ql) and mixtures of neogene clays and quaternary sands (QsNc), exchangeable Ca in QsNc, and Mg in Ql and QsNc compared with pine litter. Birch, in comparison to pine, may affect the intensity of early-stage soil-forming processes by increasing nutrient availability and transport into the soil profile, which may affect the development of soil microbial communities. This process results in different soil properties under the two tree species.

Linking heavy metal bioavailability (Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb) in Scots pine needles to soil properties in reclaimed mine areas.

This work deals with bioaccumulation of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd in foliage of Scots pine, grown on mine soils. Regression models were used to describe relationships between pine elements bioavailability and biological (dehydrogenase activity) and physico-chemical properties of mine soils developed at different parental rocks. Concentration of trace elements in post-mine ecosystems did not differ from data for Scots pine on natural sites. We conclude that, in this part of Europe in afforested areas affected by hard coal, sand, lignite and sulphur mining, there is no risk of trace element concentrations in mine soils. An exception was in the case of Cd in soils on sand quarry and hard coal spoil heap located in the Upper Silesia region, which was more due to industrial pressure and pollutant deposition than the original Cd concentration in parental rocks.

Scots pine needles macronutrient (N, P, K, CA, MG, and S) supply at different reclaimed mine soil substrates--as an indicator of the stability of developed forest ecosystems.

A main objective of restoration and afforestation at post-mining sites is establishing a long-term sustainable ecosystem which depends on adaptations of tree species and which in turn depends on the soil nutrient flux. The nutrient concentration (nitrogen (N), P, K, Ca, Mg, and sulfur (S)) of Scots pine needles was investigated in reclaimed mine soils (RMS) located at the following post-mining sites: a sand mine pit, spoil heap from a lignite mine, spoil heap from a S mine, and a carbonaceous spoil heap from an underground coal mine. The control plots were arranged on natural forest sites adjacent to the post-mining sites. A higher level of foliar nutrients was noted in the carbonaceous RMS, while lower levels were found in RMS on the spoil heap following lignite mining. The characteristics of the substrate were found to exert greater effect than mineral fertilization (performed at the onset of reclamation) on the tree stand characteristics, needle length and foliar nutrient concentration. While the soils and trees were most deficient in N, negative symptoms have not been noted to this date in tree stands at reclaimed mine sites. Trophic ratings were recommended based on statistical correlations and groupings between N and P contents in needles and needles length (mean length of 300 needles) while nutrient ratings were recommended from statistical differences and groupings of the RMS substrates.