UNDERGROUND COAL MINE SUBSIDENCE IMPACTS FOREST ECOSYSTE

The impact of underground coal mine subsidence in forest soil ecosystems of Singareni Coalfields area was studied with respect to physico-chemical characteristics, inorganic nutrients (plant available nutrients), fine root biomass, net nitrification and net nitrogen (N) -mineralization rates. Soil quality of the studied forest was slightly acidic in nature (6.78-6.80). The forest soil texture with respect to course sand content, was higher in fresh subsided site as compared to old subsided site, while the fine textured soil was maximum in old subsided site. Subsidence caused increased of 34.3%, 9.82% in soil moisture and water holding capacity (WHC) compared to unsubsided sites. After subsidence, organic carbon (OC), total N (TN) and phosphorus (TP) was found to increase by 41.7%, 0.45%, and 5.6% in subsided site, respectivel