Impact of NPK fertilization in agricultural reclamation on the transformation of Technosols in post mining area: a case study from the Konin open-pit brown coal mine, central Poland

Abstract

The study assessed the effect of long-term, diversifi ed NPK fertilization and cereal monoculture on the physical and water properties of post-mining Technosols. The research was carried out in 2022 at an experimental plot established in 1978. A fi eld experiment was established on the internal heap of the Pątnów KWB Konin (Brown Coal Mine Konin). In the research area, since the beginning of the experiment to the present day, an annual cereal crop rotation has been cultivated (winter rye alternating with winter wheat). In 1988, the area was divided into three experimental sections that received different rates of NPK fertilization. The study area consisted of three plots -marked in the paper as: 0 NPK, 1 NPK, 2 NPK. In each section the morphology of three soil profi les were described. From each genetic horizon, samples with a disturbed and intact structure were collected. The results of the analyzes were treated as repetitions and statistically processed. The collected material was used to analyze the basic physical, water and chemical soil properties. The tested soils were classifi ed as Spolic Technosols (Pantocalcaric, Katodensic, Pantoloamic, Ochric). Mineral fertilization improved the physical and water properties in the surface horizons, but no effect was observed on subsoil properties. Fertilization with a single NPK application was found to be effective and additional applications were considered superfl uous.