Volume 20, Issue 1 (4-2026)
مرتع 2026, 20(1): 0-0 |
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Abditazik S, Sepehri A, Farzam M, sadat azimi M. The impact of mining activities on biological and chemical properties of the soil of pastures adjacent to the West Asia Cement Factory in Torbat-e Jam. مرتع 2026; 20 (1)
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1294-en.html
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1294-en.html
Abstract: (25 Views)
Abstract
Background: Today, water, soil, and air pollution due to human industrial activities have seriously threatened nature. The cement production industry and the exploitation of related mines is one of these environmental pollutants. The destruction of natural ecosystems, the destruction of pastures, forests, and fields, as well as the threat to the quality of water sources and underground water tables, endangering the lives of plant and animal species, especially medicinal plants, and threatening the activities of agriculture and animal husbandry and in general the destruction of favorable living conditions for residents of the region are among the negative consequences of unlimited activities and cement factories and mines related to it. Therefore, the current research aimed to study some chemical and biological properties of soil was carried out in the destroyed lands around the Torbet-e Jam cement factory due to mining.
Methodology: This research was conducted in 2022 in the range of pastures and mined areas adjacent to the Torbat-e Jam cement factoryin Khorasan Razavi Province. Four destroyed sites due to mining were considered, including Mountain Fall, Warizeh Sangi, road building, and the area affected by marl mining, which was compared with a control area. In each region, five sites and in each site three random transect ranges (45 transects in total) were established. Along the transects, plots of one square meter were established at 10 meters intervals from each other. In all the sites, to check the chemical properties, biological activities, and macro elements of the soil, sampling was done from two depths of zero to 20 cm and 20 to 40 cm.
Results: The results indicated that the amount of potassium in soil at the depth of 20 to 40 cm was significantly higher by 4.86% compared to the depth of zero to 20 cm and the electrical conductivity of the soil at the depth of 20 to 40 cm was significantly lower by 3.37% compared to the depth of zero to 20 cm. The activity of soil microorganisms (including mycorrhizal fungi and aerobic and anaerobic bacteria) in the control area was significantly higher than in the mined areas. The amount of soil organic matter and phosphorus decreased significantly with the mining activities compared to the control area. In the present research, soil pH fluctuation was very small and it was less than one. Nevertheless, the highest pH of the soil was found in the area of Warizeh Sangi at both depth of zero to 20 and 20 to 40 cm and the area of road building at a depth of 20 to 40 cm and in these areas, the pH of the soil went towards alkalinity. The lowest soil pH was observed in the control area at a depth of 20 to 40 cm. So that, the soil pH in this area and sampling depth of 20 to 40 cm was less than 7.4.
Conclusion: Based on findings of the present research, the effect of sampling depth on the studied traits was not noticeable. However, most of the examined traits were influenced by the studied places. So, the amount of soil microorganisms in the control area was significantly higher than in the mined areas. Also, the amount of soil organic matter and phosphorus decreased significantly compared to the control area by manipulating natural resources and carrying out mining activities. Therefore, it is suggested that soil reclamation operations be carried out in mined areas and laws should be established so that the miners and the activists of the working area such as cement factories, after using the mines, revival those areas.
Background: Today, water, soil, and air pollution due to human industrial activities have seriously threatened nature. The cement production industry and the exploitation of related mines is one of these environmental pollutants. The destruction of natural ecosystems, the destruction of pastures, forests, and fields, as well as the threat to the quality of water sources and underground water tables, endangering the lives of plant and animal species, especially medicinal plants, and threatening the activities of agriculture and animal husbandry and in general the destruction of favorable living conditions for residents of the region are among the negative consequences of unlimited activities and cement factories and mines related to it. Therefore, the current research aimed to study some chemical and biological properties of soil was carried out in the destroyed lands around the Torbet-e Jam cement factory due to mining.
Methodology: This research was conducted in 2022 in the range of pastures and mined areas adjacent to the Torbat-e Jam cement factoryin Khorasan Razavi Province. Four destroyed sites due to mining were considered, including Mountain Fall, Warizeh Sangi, road building, and the area affected by marl mining, which was compared with a control area. In each region, five sites and in each site three random transect ranges (45 transects in total) were established. Along the transects, plots of one square meter were established at 10 meters intervals from each other. In all the sites, to check the chemical properties, biological activities, and macro elements of the soil, sampling was done from two depths of zero to 20 cm and 20 to 40 cm.
Results: The results indicated that the amount of potassium in soil at the depth of 20 to 40 cm was significantly higher by 4.86% compared to the depth of zero to 20 cm and the electrical conductivity of the soil at the depth of 20 to 40 cm was significantly lower by 3.37% compared to the depth of zero to 20 cm. The activity of soil microorganisms (including mycorrhizal fungi and aerobic and anaerobic bacteria) in the control area was significantly higher than in the mined areas. The amount of soil organic matter and phosphorus decreased significantly with the mining activities compared to the control area. In the present research, soil pH fluctuation was very small and it was less than one. Nevertheless, the highest pH of the soil was found in the area of Warizeh Sangi at both depth of zero to 20 and 20 to 40 cm and the area of road building at a depth of 20 to 40 cm and in these areas, the pH of the soil went towards alkalinity. The lowest soil pH was observed in the control area at a depth of 20 to 40 cm. So that, the soil pH in this area and sampling depth of 20 to 40 cm was less than 7.4.
Conclusion: Based on findings of the present research, the effect of sampling depth on the studied traits was not noticeable. However, most of the examined traits were influenced by the studied places. So, the amount of soil microorganisms in the control area was significantly higher than in the mined areas. Also, the amount of soil organic matter and phosphorus decreased significantly compared to the control area by manipulating natural resources and carrying out mining activities. Therefore, it is suggested that soil reclamation operations be carried out in mined areas and laws should be established so that the miners and the activists of the working area such as cement factories, after using the mines, revival those areas.
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2024/10/28 | Accepted: 2025/08/5 | Published: 2026/04/4
Received: 2024/10/28 | Accepted: 2025/08/5 | Published: 2026/04/4
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