Scientific study on biodiversity and physico-chemical ananlysis of top soil of coal mining area in Jharkhand

Abstract

Soil is a system, in which continuous interface between minerals and microorganisms control the physico-chemical and biological properties of ecosystem. Anthropogenic actions such as mining activities have resulted in radical alternations in their geochemical cycles and often lead to land degradation. For this purpose the present study was conducted on physico-chemical analysis and microbial diversity of top soil and water collected from the coal mining area. Physico-chemical analysis of soil indicates that the soil is slightly basic in nature. The bulk density and specific gravity of the soil samples were found to be very low, indicating that the soil is rich in organic matter which is essential for the growth of the plants. The chloride content of soil is low in range between 0.006 to 0.021 mg/g, whereas the phosphorus content is in the range of 0.025 to 0.005 mg/g which is found to be low from the normal range. The sulphur content ranges from 0.067 to 0.01 mg/g. Five bacterial isolates (Aeromonas spp., Corynebacterium spp., Neisseria spp., Staphylococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp.) and one fungal species (Aspergillus spp.) were identified from the top soil and water samples of the study area. Biochemical tests were performed and from the obtained results, presence of diverse group of microorganisms was confirmed in soil samples that also suggest presence of essential macro and micro nutrients for the growth of plants as well microorganisms in soil. Along with microbial diversity floral diversity of mining area was also studied and finally mitigation measures has been suggested for the preservation of floral diversity, the loss of which was assessed for mining activity to be carried out.