Environmental Engineering Reference
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etation dynamics (Ahulu et al.
2005
; Bannari
et al.
1995
; Gemma and Koske
1990
; Han et al.
2007
), postglacial (Jampponen et al.
2002
),
coastal (Püschel et al.
2007a
), and others
successions (Miller
1979
; Pezzani et al.
2006
).
These investigations have established that the
mycorrhizal incidence fostered the nutrient
acquisition in plants establishing vegetation
succession on nutrient-poor substrates
(Lambers et al.
2008
; Heijden et al.
1998
,
2003
;
Pezzani et al.
2006
; Püschel et al.
2007b
).
It is of undoubted interest to compare the
patterns obtained in natural conditions with the
paterns, which manifest themselves in artifi cially
(technological) formed habitats, characterized
often by extreme or adverse physical and chemical
properties of substrates (soils). The signifi cance
of mycorrhizal research in man-made habitats in
particular on the overburden of different mines
is not new (Chibrik et al.
1980
; Chibrik and
Salamatova
1985
; Cornelissen et al.
2001
; Cuenca
et al.
1998
; Daft and Nicolson
1974
; Davies and
Call
1990
; Dutta and Agrawal
2001
; Eleusenova
and Selivanov
1973
; Glebova
1992
; Glazyrina
et al.
2007
). However, special analysis of dynam-
ics of plants' interaction with mycorrhizal fungi
during vegetation development in man-made
habitats is also of considerable importance
(Juwarkar and Jambhulkar
2008
; Tian et al.
2009
). Therefore, the objective of this research
article is to investigate the patterns of change in
the ratio of different mycorrhizal plants over a
period of three decades and accelerated over-
growth of coal mine overdump in the subzone of
the dry steppes of Kazakhstan.
1
Introduction
Due to emerging economies, consumption of
coal is increasing largely all over the world.
Worldwide, 40 % of electricity generation is
based on coal-based super thermal power plants.
Coal is effectively exploited not only in Russia,
but also in other parts of the world. The environ-
mental impacts of coal mine overburden, pollution
monitoring of abandoned coal mines, and recla-
mation are some of the emerging areas of
research. Coal mine overdump leachates will
adversely affect the biodiversity and environ-
ment (Bian et al.
2009
). Further, large tracts of
land are required to dispose of coal mine waste
which ultimately pollutes the environment
(Ghose and Majee
2000
). All these negative
impacts of mining waste can have long-lasting
environmental and socioeconomic conse-
quences, and restoration is a subject of environ-
mental concern (Brenner
1984
; Glazyrina et al.
2007
; Glebova
1992
; Weng et al.
2012
). Coal
mine spoils and overdumps, therefore, have to be
properly managed to ensure the long-term stabil-
ity of disposal facilities and to prevent or mini-
mize air, water, and soil pollution (Anonymous
1998
; Bell et al.
2001
; Bian et al.
2009
; Dutta
and Agrawal
2001
; Fresquez et al.
1987
; Ghose
and Majee
2000
; Vorobeychik et al.
1994
; Xu
et al.
2005
). Due to low water retention and low
fertility, coal mine overdumps do not support
plant growth. However, mycotrophy is a benefi -
cial biotic interaction and improves soil structure
and promotes plant growth. Mycorrhizal fungi
are the main component of the soil microbiota in
most ecosystems, and a majority of the terrestrial
plants are associated with some kind of mycor-
rhizal fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)
being the most common group (Betekhtina and
Veselkin
2011
; Call and Davies
1988
; Chibrik
et al.
1980
; Chibrik and Salamatova
1985
). In
this symbiotic association, host plants provide
the fungi with carbohydrates and in return
receive mineral nutrients.
In the last few decades, there has been a
great surge and progress in studying the role of
mycorrhizal symbiosis in the processes of veg-
2
Materials and Methods
2.1
Site Description
Data obtained during observations on the east
dump of the overburden rocks of Fedorovsky
open-pit mine (Central Kazakhstan, Karaganda,
49°50
E) were analyzed (Fig.
1
). The
climate is continental with hot summer and
cold small snowy winters (Agroclimatic facility
Karagandy region 1976). The average annual
′
N, 72°51
′
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