20–30, and 30–40 cm of the technogenic soil of parcels I and II and of the zonal soil
(chernozem typically) unaffected by mining. Soil samples were chemically analyzed
(humus, total N, etc.), enzymatic (urease activity) and microbiological (respiration –
CO 2 production and nitrification capacity). For plots II, the soil samples were taken
from the central area or examined separately from those in the peripheral area of
these parcels. Alfalfa production in plots I and II has also been recorded. All of the
parameters mentioned above showed a downward trend depending on the depth
from which soil samples were collected.
The urease activity, respiration, and nitrification capacity in the 0–40 cm layer of
the technogenic soil had much higher average values in plots I than in parcels II. At
the same time, the average values obtained in the soil of the parcels I were similar to
those recorded in the zonal soil. From here, it can be deduced that redeposition of dry
soil surface is a more biologically favorable method than its redeposition in a wet
state.
Within plots II, large differences between the central and the peripheral areas
were not highlighted. It has also been established that urease activity and nitrification
capacity in the soil of parcels I and II correlated significantly with the total N content;
the urease activity in the technogenic soil also correlated significantly with the
production of M. sativa. The dehydrogenase, catalase, and invertase activities were
compared to nipple tailings or calcareous clay (pH in H 2 O ¼ 7.7–8.3), leveling for
agricultural recultivation in the northern area of Fe mining and adjacent soils.
In soils, activities decreased or decreased with depth (0–70 or 0–80 cm), while in
the tailings dumps, they were approximately the same in the 0–20 and 50–80 cm
layers. In the 0–20 cm layer, each activity was several times lower in the heaps than
in soils. In the 50–80 cm layer, the differences between heaps and soils were high in
their dehydrogenase activity, but not so pronounced in their catalase and invertase
activities (Wang et al. 2014).
In another study, similar results (i.e., very low and high enzyme activities) were
obtained in different profiles of dumps and soils, except for a landfill profile that
exhibited relatively high dehydrogenase and catalase activity. In the sterile waste
dumps in the southern area of the Fe exploitation, the recultivation plots were
installed. Some plots have been recultivated with Onobrychis viciifolia and others
with a D. glomerata. After 3 years of recultivation, the soil material in these parcels
was analyzed enzymatically.
For comparison, the 0–15 cm layer of an adjacent native soil (rendzine) and the
same layer of the soil stock in a parcel that was not recultivated were also analyzed.
The results show that recultivation has led to increased enzyme activities in tailings
dumps during their transformation into technogenic soils. The potential dehydrogenase activity increased to a lesser extent than phosphatase activity. This activity has
reached values similar to those found in native soil. Both activities were higher in the
sparse plot than in the recultivated field. In each case, the 0–20 cm layer was more
active than the 20–40 cm (Joniec et al. 2019).
In Fe mining, very low values of dehydrogenase, catalase, and invertase activities
were found in the 0–20 and 50–80 cm layers of three leveling heap profiles for
recultivation. In November 1985, this year being the 9th year of an experiment of
122
M. Butu et al.
(chernozem typically) unaffected by mining. Soil samples were chemically analyzed
(humus, total N, etc.), enzymatic (urease activity) and microbiological (respiration –
CO 2 production and nitrification capacity). For plots II, the soil samples were taken
from the central area or examined separately from those in the peripheral area of
these parcels. Alfalfa production in plots I and II has also been recorded. All of the
parameters mentioned above showed a downward trend depending on the depth
from which soil samples were collected.
The urease activity, respiration, and nitrification capacity in the 0–40 cm layer of
the technogenic soil had much higher average values in plots I than in parcels II. At
the same time, the average values obtained in the soil of the parcels I were similar to
those recorded in the zonal soil. From here, it can be deduced that redeposition of dry
soil surface is a more biologically favorable method than its redeposition in a wet
state.
Within plots II, large differences between the central and the peripheral areas
were not highlighted. It has also been established that urease activity and nitrification
capacity in the soil of parcels I and II correlated significantly with the total N content;
the urease activity in the technogenic soil also correlated significantly with the
production of M. sativa. The dehydrogenase, catalase, and invertase activities were
compared to nipple tailings or calcareous clay (pH in H 2 O ¼ 7.7–8.3), leveling for
agricultural recultivation in the northern area of Fe mining and adjacent soils.
In soils, activities decreased or decreased with depth (0–70 or 0–80 cm), while in
the tailings dumps, they were approximately the same in the 0–20 and 50–80 cm
layers. In the 0–20 cm layer, each activity was several times lower in the heaps than
in soils. In the 50–80 cm layer, the differences between heaps and soils were high in
their dehydrogenase activity, but not so pronounced in their catalase and invertase
activities (Wang et al. 2014).
In another study, similar results (i.e., very low and high enzyme activities) were
obtained in different profiles of dumps and soils, except for a landfill profile that
exhibited relatively high dehydrogenase and catalase activity. In the sterile waste
dumps in the southern area of the Fe exploitation, the recultivation plots were
installed. Some plots have been recultivated with Onobrychis viciifolia and others
with a D. glomerata. After 3 years of recultivation, the soil material in these parcels
was analyzed enzymatically.
For comparison, the 0–15 cm layer of an adjacent native soil (rendzine) and the
same layer of the soil stock in a parcel that was not recultivated were also analyzed.
The results show that recultivation has led to increased enzyme activities in tailings
dumps during their transformation into technogenic soils. The potential dehydrogenase activity increased to a lesser extent than phosphatase activity. This activity has
reached values similar to those found in native soil. Both activities were higher in the
sparse plot than in the recultivated field. In each case, the 0–20 cm layer was more
active than the 20–40 cm (Joniec et al. 2019).
In Fe mining, very low values of dehydrogenase, catalase, and invertase activities
were found in the 0–20 and 50–80 cm layers of three leveling heap profiles for
recultivation. In November 1985, this year being the 9th year of an experiment of
122
M. Butu et al.