Sustainability, Vol. 16, Pages 8126: The Impact of Waste Application on the Reclamation and Biological Life of Degraded Soils

Sustainability, Vol. 16, Pages 8126: The Impact of Waste Application on the Reclamation and Biological Life of Degraded Soils

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su16188126

Authors: Marta Bik-Małodzińska

This work concerns the assessment of soil reclamation and its impact on biological life in areas destroyed by the sulfur industry in Jeziórko. Sulfur extraction using the borehole method causes enormous destruction to the soil environment. Among the many forms of degradation, the most pronounced are the chemical transformations of the environment and the disturbances in water relations in large areas, which could theoretically impact areas not within the direct range of the mining plant. This work aimed to assess the condition of biological life in soil reclaimed with waste in areas devastated by the sulfur industry in Jeziórko. The reclamation of these soils was difficult but necessary due to the complete disappearance of biological life. Appropriate actions were taken to restore and improve the properties of the soil, which resulted in an improvement in their production capacity. Reclamation was carried out, among other techniques, by deacidifying the soil using post-flotation lime and fertilizing the soil with municipal sewage sludge and post-use mineral wool. Studies have shown an improvement in many soil properties, such as its physical, water, chemical, and biological properties. The implemented reclamation methods significantly influenced, among other things, the density and water properties of the degraded soil. The soil reclaimed with mineral wool and sewage sludge recorded the highest density and water capacity. Applying mineral wool to the degraded soil influenced the changes in the analyzed physical and water properties. The obtained research results also show the beneficial effect of mineral wool and sewage sludge on the increase in organic carbon content. In the soil treated with these substances, the organic carbon content ranged from 13.60 g·kg−1 to 14.30 g·kg−1. It is shown that reclamation has had a considerable impact on and is essential for biological life in Jeziórko.