Xu Ruiping, Li Junying, Li Xinju, Song Wen
College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271000, China.
National Engineering Research Center for the Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Taian, 271000, China.
Environ Geochem Health. 2025 Jun 3;47(7):245. doi: 10.1007/s10653-025-02554-1.
In high groundwater level mining areas, coal mining has led to severe surface subsidence, which not only alters soil physicochemical properties but also destabilizes microbial communities, ultimately impairing ecosystem functions. This study explores the impact of mining-induced subsidence on soil microbial communities in regions with high groundwater and aims to uncover the mechanisms driving these shifts. We collected surface, middle, and deep soil samples from the subsidence areas of both the deep (T1) and shallow (T2) coal seams of the No. 3 Coal Mine in Jining, Shandong province, along with their respective control areas (W1 and W2). The physicochemical properties and microbial community composition of these samples were analyzed. The results indicated that coal mining subsidence significantly alters soil properties and reshaped microbial community structures. Compared to non-subsidence areas, soil nutrient content in subsidence areas decreased by 7.96-43.95%, while soil pH (pH) decreased by 6.33%. In contrast, soil water content (SWC) and bulk density (BD) increased by approximately 12.63 and 6.04%, respectively. Concurrently, microbial community richness and diversity declined by 16.41 and 6.65%, respectively. Despite this decline, the relative abundance of certain microbial taxa, including Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Myxococcota, was higher in subsidence areas. Structural equation modeling further revealed that coal mining subsidence, in conjunction with soil physicochemical properties, accounted for 51-72% of the observed variation in microbial communities. Among the measured factors, soil available potassium (AK) had a significant direct influence on microbial communities, whereas SWC emerged as the most influential indirect factor. These findings provide critical insights into the ecological consequences of coal mining subsidence in high groundwater level areas and offer valuable guidance for land reclamation and soil ecological restoration efforts.
在高地下水位矿区，煤炭开采导致了严重的地表沉陷，这不仅改变了土壤的物理化学性质，还破坏了微生物群落的稳定性，最终损害了生态系统功能。本研究探讨了开采引起的沉陷对高地下水位地区土壤微生物群落的影响，并旨在揭示驱动这些变化的机制。我们从山东省济宁市三号煤矿深部（T1）和浅部（T2）煤层的沉陷区及其各自的对照区（W1和W2）采集了表层、中层和深层土壤样本。对这些样本的物理化学性质和微生物群落组成进行了分析。结果表明，煤炭开采沉陷显著改变了土壤性质并重塑了微生物群落结构。与非沉陷区相比，沉陷区土壤养分含量下降了7.96 - 43.95%，而土壤pH值下降了6.33%。相比之下，土壤含水量（SWC）和容重（BD）分别增加了约12.63%和6.04%。同时，微生物群落丰富度和多样性分别下降了16.41%和6.65%。尽管有所下降，但包括放线菌门、绿弯菌门和粘球菌门在内的某些微生物类群在沉陷区的相对丰度较高。结构方程模型进一步表明，煤炭开采沉陷与土壤物理化学性质共同解释了微生物群落中51 - 72%的观测变异。在测量的因素中，土壤有效钾（AK）对微生物群落有显著的直接影响，而土壤含水量是最具影响力的间接因素。这些发现为高地下水位地区煤炭开采沉陷的生态后果提供了关键见解，并为土地复垦和土壤生态恢复工作提供了有价值的指导。
