The landscape recomposition with soil layer and the introduction of plants have been used as an alternative to minimize the environmental impact caused by coal mining. The main concern for this practice is the low avaibility of soil from surface horizons and economic viability, consequently it is basic to determine the minimum soil layer thickness to be disposed on the reject. An experiment was carried out with addition of soil (Paleudult) layers with different thickness disposed on the surface of coal rejects, and in subsurface positions, and soil mixed with rejects, concerning effects on biomass yield of white clover (Trifolium repens L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and oat (Avena strigosa L.) as well as on soil microbial abundance. It was established that a soil layer of 10cm thickness was the minimum necessary for clover and oat growth. Toxic concentrations of heavy metals in plants were not detected. However, soil microbial population represented by bacteria, fungi and actinomyces showed a lower density due to the high acidity that ocurred mainly in subsurface layers.
plant growth; nutrient uptake; heavy metals
