Soil community catabolic profiles for a semiarid reclaimed surface coalmine

Recovery of soil health offers insights into the mechanisms underpinning the stability of remediated ecosystems. Indirect assessment of enzymatic activity potential using substrate induced respiration (SIR), is commonly used to evaluate changes in soil microbial activity profiles, with their links to environmental and management factors. In this study, community level physiological profiling (CLPP) was employed to assess the impact of time on surface coal mine soil remediation. When compared with an adjoining control site, analysis of CLPP parameters offer useful insights and prospective tools for assessing soil health, following mining and remediation activities.

Automated summary

The recovery of soil health provides insights into the mechanisms that stabilize remediated ecosystems. Substrate induced respiration (SIR), which assesses enzymatic activity potential, is commonly used to evaluate changes in soil microbial activity profiles and their links to environmental and management factors. This study employed community level physiological profiling (CLPP) to assess the impact of time on the remediation of surface coal mine soil. Compared to a control site, analysis of CLPP parameters offers useful insights and potential tools for assessing soil health following mining and remediation activities.