Browsing by Author "Resham Dwivedi"

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Biological properties of selected overburdens of Singrauli coalfields
(Technoscience Publications, 2016) Priyal Pandey; Mahendra Kumar Verma; Raj Mukhopadhyay; Nirmal De; Resham Dwivedi; N.C. Karmakar; Sumit Pandey; Rakesh Kumar Singh
Coalfield mine overburden or abandoned mine sites is a major environmental concern. Overburden materials are nutrient-poor, loosely adhered particles of shale, stones, boulders and cobbles and are devoid of true soil character. Eco-restoration or natural transformation of overburden materials to soil for cultivation is a time taking process. In the present study, we focused on how the OB materials are different from nearby natural soil and explored the characterization of physical, chemical and biological properties of different aged overburden undergoing the process of eco-restoration. Further, we have analysed various microbial population, enzymatic activities and microbial respiration process in different aged overburdens vis-a-vis nearby soil. Microbial population was more in 16 year old overburden among different aged OB but less than nearby soil. Dehydrogenase, Urease activity showed an increasing trend with maturity age of overburden representing higher microbial population, while alkaline phosphatase activity is not following any trend. Soil microbial respiration was found to be increased with age of overburden. Carbon mineralization rate constant in all overburden lied in a narrow range (0.020-0.011) day-1 and it did not show any significant variation as compared to native forest soil (0.03 day-1). Mineralizable carbon was found more in native soil (7.95 mg C/kg of overburden) and 16 year old overburden (5.56 mg C/kg of overburden). Cumulative CO2 evolved was more in native forest soil (8.67 mg C/kg), and was comparable with 16 year old overburden (5.4 mg C/kg). Microbial population, enzymatic activity and carbon mineralization can act as an indicator for analysing changes in overburden spoil properties due to ecorestoration.
Chemical characterization of selected overburdens of Singrauli coalfields
(Enviro Media, 2016) Mahendra Kumar Verma; Priyal Pandey; Raj Mukhopadhyay; Nirmal De; Resham Dwivedi; N.C. Karmakar; V.K. Bajaj
Mining particularly opencast mining contribute over 81% of total coal production in India. Opencast mining releases huge amount of mining wastes to the upper part of the land surface as overburden dump materials. Overburden materials are nutrient-poor, loosely adhered particles of shale, stones, boulders and cobbles and are devoid of true soil character. A brief idea of chemical properties of overburden is necessary to carry out successful eco restoration. In the present study overburden dumps of different ages under Singrauli coalfields were collected and characterized for various chemical properties. Chemical characteristics such as pH, Electrical conductivity, Organic carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and micronutrient were analyzed. The overburden samples collected from the coal mining areas had pH in acidic range (6.1-6.7) while native forest has neutral pH (7.4). Organic carbon was found minimum in fresh overburden (0.11%) and increased with age of overburden (0.34 %) in 15 year old overburden. Available nitrogen and available phosphorus were deficient in overburden samples as compared to native forest soil. Iron, Zinc and Copper were found to be in permissible limit in overburden samples and native forest soil. Manganese was found to be deficient in overburden samples and native forest soil. Nickel was found within permissible limits in different aged overburden as well as in soil. Present study revealed that overburden samples were poor in nutrients but proper management with plantation of suitable plant species could be helpful in improving availability of essential nutrients in overburdens. Copyright © EM International.