Factors causing spatial heterogeneity in soil properties, plant cover, and soil fauna in a non-reclaimed post-mining site

This study explored processes responsible for environmental heterogeneity at a man-made post-mining landscape formed by heaping of homogeneous overburden in longitudinal “waves”. Soil chemistry (pH; conductivity; total C; total, available, and water-soluble P; and available K, Na, and Ca), the distribution of woody and herbaceous plants, litter quantity, and the distribution of soil fauna were studied along a100-m transect. Heterogeneity between waves was very low, and only available P and biomass of herbaceous plants differed among waves. In contrast, all investigated parameters except of total and available P and fauna density differed among position inside waves. Woody plants were more numerous on the wave tops and slopes than on the bottoms. Distribution of shrubs between waves affect between-waves distribution of other parameters, namely soil C_ox, as waves with more shrubs have larger litter input and more soil carbon.