Evaluation of Soil and Forest Reclamation at a Reclaimed Polish Sulfur Mine Site.

The aims of this study were to assess the spatial distribution and concentration of sulfur in topsoil and its relationships with pH, soil electrical conductivity (EC), and plant cover on a reforested former sulfur mine site. The research was conducted on reclaimed and reforested mining areas of the former Jeziórko Sulfur Mine, located near Tarnobrzeg, Poland, site of one of the largest sulfur deposits in the world. A total of 86 sampling points were selected in a square grid of 150 × 150 m cells at the study site. Soil samples were collected from the 0 to 20 cm layer. At each sampling point plant cover was assayed in an area of 100 m² and sub-divided into vegetation layers A (woody plants) and C (herbaceous plants). Total soil sulfur concentration (S_T) ranged from below the detection limit to 45,740 mg kg^–1. The most contaminated spots are concentrated mainly in the northern and central parts of the area and make up 26% of the sites. Natural levels of sulfur concentration were located mostly in the western and eastern parts of the facility and represent only 35% of the area of the former mine. Soil sulfur content was significantly correlated to soil EC. Significant correlations between sulfur concentrations, pH, and vegetation cover were not observed. We concluded that forest reclamation at this site was mostly effective, but about 30% of the area is still characterized by spots with high or very high sulfur contamination.