Comparison between biomass and water absorbing capacity of mosses on limestone and lateritic in Laowanchang Lateritic Gold Deposit

Perennial and devastating mining make a mass of limestone exposed to the earth surface and the eco-environment degraded seriously on Laowanchang gold deposit. After analyzing the biomass and saturated water absorbing capacity of the dominant mosses which are collected from limestone and lateritic gold sites in Laowanchang gold deposit, we have come to the conclusion that, on limestone, Didymodon vinealis (Brid.) Zander, Timmiella diminuta (C.Muell.) P.C.Chen, Tortula yunnanensis P.C.Chen, Didymodon rigidulus Hedw.and Anomobryum gemmigerum Broth. are dominant mosses, with a biomass of 859, 364, 292, 228 and 215g/m2, respectively, and their saturated water absorbing capacity are up to 1 780, 9 170, 1 530, 2 980, 2 120 g/m2, respectively. On ateritic gold sites, Didymodon vinealis Com., Pogonatum neesii Dozy , Didymodon rigidulus Hedw., Microdus brasiliensis (Dub.) Thér. and Anomobryum gemmigerum Broth. are dominant mosses ,with a biomass of 854, 596, 333, 158, 134 g/m2, respectively, and their saturated water absorbing capacity are up to 3 070, 10 020, 1 440, 1 710, 4 130g/m2, respectively. These results show that Didymodon vinealis (Brid.) Zander which owns the largest biomass is the mian preducer on limestone and lateritic gold sites, and its saturated water absorbing capacity is very high too. According to the analysis, it is found that the saturated water absorbing capacity is related to the biomass significantly, which means that the mosses, having large biomass, are able to absorb large quantity of water. Especially, Didymodon vinealis are of important realistic significance to the desertification control in limestone areas and the soil and water conservation in this mine.