Analysis of Spatial Variability and Influencing Factors of Soil Nutrients in Western China: A Case Study of the Daliuta Mining Area

Linli Long, Ying Liu, Xiaoyang Chen, Junting Guo, Xinhui Li, Yangnan Guo, Xuyang Zhang and Shaogang Lei
Additional contact information
Linli Long: State Key Laboratory of Water Resource Protection and Utilization in Coal Mining, China Energy Investment, Beijing 102209, China
Ying Liu: State Key Laboratory of Water Resource Protection and Utilization in Coal Mining, China Energy Investment, Beijing 102209, China
Xiaoyang Chen: School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
Junting Guo: State Key Laboratory of Water Resource Protection and Utilization in Coal Mining, China Energy Investment, Beijing 102209, China
Xinhui Li: Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Mine Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Yangnan Guo: Shenhua Shendong Coal Group Co., Ltd., Technology Research Institute, Shenmu 719315, China
Xuyang Zhang: School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
Shaogang Lei: Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Mine Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: An understanding of the spatial variation and influence factors of soil nutrients in mining areas can provide a reference for land reclamation and ecological restoration. Daliuta was used as the study area. The spatial variability of soil nutrients was analyzed using traditional statistics and geostatistics. The effects of topography, mining history, and soil erosion were discussed. The results indicate that the soil pH of the Daliuta mining area is slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, and the soil organic matter, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium belonged to the five levels (very low), six (extremely low), five (extremely low), and four (moderately low), respectively. The soil water and salt content indicated that the soil environment in the mining area is arid and has normal levels of salinity. The organic matter, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and soil salt varied moderately, and the pH did not change much, while the soil water varied strongly. The organic matter, pH, and soil salinity are moderately spatially autocorrelated, and the available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and soil water are weakly spatially autocorrelated. Each nutrient index had a certain spatial trend effect. The slope, aspect, elevation, and topographic wetness index are the primary topographic factors that control the spatial distribution of soil nutrients. The organic matter, pH, and soil salinity are moderately spatially autocorrelated, and the available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and soil water are weakly spatially autocorrelated. Each nutrient index had a certain spatial trend effect. The slope, aspect, elevation, and topographic wetness index are the primary topographic factors that control the spatial distribution of soil nutrients. Soil erosion and mining history are also important factors that lead to the spatial variation of soil nutrients.

Keywords: Daliuta mining area; soil nutrients; geostatistical analysis; spatial variation; influence factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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