Reclamation of coal mine subsidence area in loess hilly and gully regions

This study aimed to investigate the reclamation pattern for mining subsidence area in Loess Hilly and Gully region according to land damage degree to achieve the goal of ecological restoration, which is of a significance in management and protection of cultivated land. Based on the MSAS software environment, combining with the mining design and observed parameter, we forecasted subsidence damage of first mining area in slope coal mine. The total area affected by mining was up to 16.54 km2, which dominated by grassland and cultivated land. In these damaged cultivated areas, there were 3.70 km2 of wild damage, 2.41 km2 of moderate damage and 0.17 km2 of severe damage. Therefore, in terms of the natural landscape pattern in the study area, it was suggested to take the fissure filling and the land leveling reclamation measures in the mild damaged arable land. Additionally, slop will be changed into terrace in accordance with the principle of contiguous focus on damaged cultivated land of 4.63 km2 in total. This reclaimed project would increase cultivated land area by 0.40 km2 and decrease the soil and water loss by 49 000 t/a. It is concluded that the reclamation pattern proposed in the study is an effective and significant way for restoring cultivated land and controlling soil and water loss in mining subsidence area.