Development of carbon, nitrogen and phosphate stocks of reclaimed coal mine soil within 8Â years after forestation with Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) Dc.

•Soil development and SOC, N and P stocks increased after 1-8 years of revegetation.•SOC, N and P stock showed a 68%, 61% and 34% recovery compared to reference forest soil.•Top layer contains more than half of the nutrient stocks compared to lower depths.•SOC increases at a rate of 2.6 Mg C ha− 1 y− 1.•Prosopis juliflora is suitable for coal mine reclamation.

Coal mine degraded land looses large amounts of soil nutrients during surface mining. However, the magnitude of the change in soil properties can be offset with afforestation. A chronosequence study of 1 to 8 years old reclaimed mine soils (RMS) in Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), India was carried out to assess the development of soil properties and nutrients stocks. Samples from three depths (0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm) were collected at 8 different reclaimed sites afforested since 1 to 8 years and their soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P) stocks were quantified and the vertical distribution of these elements was studied. With time, bulk density, fine earth fraction (< 2 mm), soil water holding capacity and nutrient content improved due to afforestation. The total stock ranged between 2020-45,400 kg C ha− 1, 38-444 kg N ha− 1 and 0.50-7.14 kg P ha− 1 in 0-60 cm depth and was significantly different between the ages of afforestation and the reference forest sites. Among the different soil depths, the top layer (0-20 cm) exhibited more than half of the nutrient stocks. Changes in soil properties may be associated with the development of vegetation cover over time. After 8 years of afforestation SOC and N stocks recovered by 60% of those measured in reference forest sites. The findings of this chronosequence represent a significant recovery of nutrient stocks during the early phases of reclamation.