STORAGE CAPACITY OF ORGANIC CARBON IN THE RECLAIMED POST-MINING TECHNOSOLS

Soil is a huge reservoir of carbon, which is both organically and chemically bounded. Sequestration ability of soil amounting to 0.9 +/- 0.3 Pg C.y(-1) represents significant item in carbon balance. Reclamation activities aimed at soil creating contributes to the carbon binding in the form of complex compounds. This work characterizes fluctuations of organic carbon in post-lignite-mining sites located in Leknica (Poland, Lubuskie Province) after afforestation with Pinus sylvestris. The results present the situation 25 years after the reclamation field experiment commencement. Satisfactory effect in growth and development of pine forest was accomplished by liming and NPK application. After 25 years of the experiment start point, the litter deposition gained 2.5-4.0 cm and the initial humic horizon, lying directly beneath reached 4.0-6.5 cm. An average carbon accumulation in surface litter amounted to 2.86 kg.m(-2) and in initial humic horizons to 0.68 kg.m(-2). This indicates an average sequestration of 130 Mg CO2 per 1 ha of reclaimed area.