Research Article | Published: 01 March 1999

Physical properties of lime stone mine soil restored for forest land use

T. H. Masoodi and P. Soni

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 22 | Issue: 1 | Page No. 30-36 | 1999
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-1999-30U15Y | Cite this article

Abstract

The evolution of some physical properties was studied at various stages of development on restored soils developed from spoil materials of the open cast limestone mine in Dehra Dun (UP, India). The properties of the reconstructed mine soils were compared with the unmined reference soils so as to assess their rejuvenation in physical fertility. In the rooting zone (0-25) cm the physical properties were generally less favourable in mine soils than reference soils. Mine soils had higher bulk density and coarse fragments and lower porosity, clay content and water holding capacity than reference soils at a comparable depth. Despite being on the lower side of normal scale, the recovery in terms of these physical properties was extraordinary with respect to bulk density (10%), porosity (15%) and water holding capacity (60%). The particle size distribution also improved indicating that mineral weathering is the dominant process at the early stages of edaphogenesis on mine distrubed soils.

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How to cite

Masoodi, T.H. and Soni, P., 1999. Physical properties of lime stone mine soil restored for forest land use. Indian Journal of Forestry, 22(1), pp.30-36. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-1999-30U15Y

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 March 1999

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