Effects of vegetation on runoff and soil erosion on reclaimed land in an opencast coal-mine dump in a loess area

Vegetation reconstruction on opencast coal-mine dumps is an effective way to reduce runoff and soil erosion and is a key to restoring ecosystems in ecologically sensitive regions. To investigate the effects of vegetation on runoff and erosion, a field experiment involving eight erosion plots was conducted on a dump at the Antaibao opencast coal mine in, Shanxi Province. The plots were divided into two location groups, platforms and slopes. Each plot was planted with a typical vegetation pattern. The volumes of runoff and soil erosion during each rainfall event were recorded during the rainy season. The results showed that plots on the platforms experienced a larger volume of runoff than plots on the slopes, while the slope plots generated a larger value of soil erosion than the platform plots. Vegetation restoration has different impacts on runoff and soil erosion. A plot covered with 1-year-old Robinia pseudoacacia and Hippophae rhamnoides was most effective in terms of soil conservation; the plots covered with 5-year-old mixed legume plants and 5-year-old mixed grass-shrub-arbor forest were most effective overall in preventing both runoff and soil erosion. Over the long term, vegetation can increase soil organic matter, improve soil physical properties and soil anti-erodibility, and reduce runoff and erosion to a safe level. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for land reclamation and soil and water conservation in vulnerable ecological mining regions of a loess plateau.