Disturbance mechanism of coal mining subsidence to typical plants in a semiarid area using O–J–I–P chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis

Abstract

The response of individual plants to coal mining subsidence disturbance reflects the micro-ecological mechanism implied in the macro-response, which is the basis of studying the rule of vegetation disturbance of large-scale coal mining. In this study, O–J–I–P chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis was used to diagnose the disturbance mechanism of typical individual plants by coal mining subsidence in a semiarid area. The results showed that the groundwater level and soil water content decreased due to the disturbance of coal mining subsidence and the plant growth was affected by drought stress. The rapid chlorophyll fluorescence induction curve of leaves was deformed, the stomatal limitation increased, and the photosynthetic electron transfer was inhibited. Stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, and transpiration rate decreased significantly. The spatial heterogeneity of soil water content after mining subsidence is the main reason for the differing degree of plant drought stress in different subsidence areas.