In order to explore the influence of different vegetation restoration patterns on soil fertility in the coal mine dump of ecotone between agriculture and pasture

five vegetation types

Prunus armeniaca+Alfafa(A1)

Poplar+Alfafa (A2)

Poplar + Seabuckthorn (A3)

Poplar +Elymus nutans+Alfafa (A4)

Abandoned land (CK)

were selected as research samples in Heidaigou Opencast Coal Mine. We mainly analyzed soil basic chemical properties

enzymes activities and microbial biomass with the method of their relations using correlation analysis and path analysis hoping to uncover the driving factors of the differences between soil microbial biomass under different vegetation restoration. The effect of different vegetation restoration on soil quality of Opencast Coal Mine was evaluated by soil reclaimation index (RI). The results showed that:(1) Compared with the abandoned land (CK)

soil organic matter

alkali solution nitrogen content

soil microbial biomass and soil enzymes activities were significantly increased(p<0.05)

but soil pH had no obvious change and no significant difference (p>0.05) under different vegetation restoration. Soil organic matter

alkali solution nitrogen content

soil microbial biomass and soil enzymes activities decreased from 0-10 cm to 10-20 cm soil layer. (2) The content of soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were significantly correlated with enzymes activities and organic matter content. Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were sensitive to the changes of soil organic matter content and enzymes activities which could be used as microbial indicators for changes in soil quality. (3) The soil recovery index in 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm layers under different vegetation restoration were A3 > A2 > A4 > A1 and A3 > A2 > A1 > A4 respectively. Therefore

the reclamation mode of Poplar + Seabuckthorn (A3) and Poplar + alfalfa (A2) improved the soil quality of the coal mine dump.