Subsoil graining as a differentiating factor of plant communities occurring on Carboniferous gangue dumps

Abstract

The study attempts to show the diversity of vegetation of Carboniferous waste dumps with a predominant proportion of grasses and herbaceous plants, as well as recognition of soil grain preferences with biomass arising in patches of vegetation dominated by various species of grass and herbaceous plants. The floristic composition of the communities is based mainly on the dominance of one species or co-dominance of native herbaceous species i.e.: Chamaenerion palustre, Daucus carota, Centaurea stoebe, Lotus corniculatus, Tussilago farfara, Melilotus alba or aliens: Erigeron annuus, Matricaria maritima subsp. Inodora, Solidago gigantea and grass species, i.e. Calamagrostis epigejos, Solidago gigantea, Poa compressa, Festuca arundinacea, Festuca rubra, Phragmites australis. In individual communities from 23 to 55 species of plants were recorded. The most diverse species include communities with high coverage of such species as: Poa compressa (H’ – 1.89), Daucus carota (H’ – 1.82), Festua arundinacea (H’ – 1.45), Calamagrostis epigejos (H’ – 1.42), while the smallest variety is characterized by the community with the participation of Phragmites australis (H’ – 0.91). Analysis of the grain size of the subsoil on the Carboniferous waste dumps showed a relationship between the dominant species and the granulometric composition as well as the content of organic matter in the subsoil.

Keywords

• coal mine spoil heap
• granulometry
• biomass
• herbaceous plants
• grasses