Impact of Coal Mining on Soil Health and Restoration Strategies: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

This review comprehensively evaluates the impact of coal mining on soil health, focusing on the physical, chemical, and biological transformations occurring in mining-affected regions. Based on the synthesis of over sixty peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024, it highlights that open-cast mining operations in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, as well as comparable sites in China, Australia, and the United States, have led to severe soil degradation through topsoil loss, acidification, compaction, and contamination by heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic. These alterations result in significant reductions in soil organic carbon, nutrient availability, and microbial activity, ultimately impairing soil fertility and ecosystem productivity. The review also examines the effectiveness of various reclamation and restoration practices, including topsoil replacement, phytoremediation, biochar amendment, and microbial inoculation, which have demonstrated measurable improvements in soil structure and biological recovery when properly managed. It concludes that the restoration of mining-affected soils requires an integrated and long-term approach combining scientific innovation, policy enforcement, and community participation to ensure sustainable land rehabilitation and ecological resilience.