Distribution characteristics of available trace elements in soil from a reclaimed land in a mining area of north Shaanxi, China

Through field and laboratory tests we studied the temporal and spatial variation in the soil content of four available trace elements :copper(Cu), iron(Fe), manganese(Mn) and zinc (Zn), to analyze their distribution characteristics in reclaimed mining land under different reclamation conditions. The available trace elements content varied considerably with different land reclamation patterns. Extended reclamation time was helpful for the recovery of the available trace element content in the soil, and after more than eight years of soil reclamation, the content of available trace elements was closer to or greater than that in soil under natural conditions. Various treatment measures significantly influenced the content and distribution of available trace elements in the soil, and reasonable artificial treatments, including covering the soil and growing shrubs and herbaceous plants, increased the content of available trace elements.