PHYSICAL AND WATER PROPERTIES OF SOILS DEVELOPING FROM POST-MINING MATERIALS OF KONIN BROWN COAL MINE

The presented study discusses physical and water properties of soils developing in the course of the past 35 years from post-mining land of Konin Brown Coal Mine (KWB Konin) as a result of diversified agricultural utilization. Experiments were carried out on an experimental field of the Department of Soil Science and Recultivation situated on the Patnow (central Poland) dumping ground established by Bender in 1978. Experimental samples were collected from three different systems of utilization. The following properties were determined in these samples: total carbon, specific density, bulk density, porosity (total, drainage and differential), maximal hygroscopic water, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil water potential and readily and total available water. The research results presented in this study corroborate the important role of lucerne in influencing physical and water properties of soils developing on post-mining land. This is probably determined by the biology of this plant which possesses a strong, well-branched root system.