Impact of Typical Coal Mining on Soil and Vegetation in Shigetai Mine of Yulin

During July and August 2022, soil samples were collected in coal mining habitats including barrow, crack zone and subsidence trought in Shigetai Mine of Shenmu, Shaanxi province, and investigations were implemented on vegetation in the same sites. The results showed that compared with the control (mining area), the soil physical properties of barrow, crack zone and subsidence trought showed degradation trend, with a decrease in soil moisture content and hardness, and an increase in electrical conductivity and bulk density. The soil moisture content in barrow and crack zone had significant difference with that in the control (P<0.05). The content of soil organic matter and nutrient in coal mining habitats was significantly lower than that in the control (P<0.05). Compared with the control, catalase in barrow, crack zone and subsidence trought decreased by 59.77%, 43.68% and 51.72%, and alkaline phosphatase by 3.77%, 32.83% and 28.78%. Compared with the control, the number of vegetation species, arbor density, herb and shrub coverage and biomass of vegetation in barrow, crack zone and subsidence trought was significantly lower (P<0.05). The number of species, arbor density, herb and shrub coverage and biomass in the subsidence trought decreased by 45.59%, 25.69%, 35.66% and 55.79%. Principal component analysis indicated that the comprehensive evaluation of subsidence trought was the lowest, only 1.639.