摘要：The coal overburden dumps are devoid of essential nutrients and excess in heavy metals due to the weathering of exposed parent rock, which cause leaching of heavy metals. Due to the presence of excess heavy metals root growth is also affected and further affects the biomass. Pot experiments were conducted to see the effect of the heavy metals on the root growth and biomass after one year of planted species of tree and grasses on coal overburden dump top material. Results shows that the root growth and biomass of planted tree and grasses species strict to the availability of heavy metals found in pure dump top material and found more where soil is mixed with dump top material and maximum in pure soil. This proves that the soil mixed with the dump top material neutralizes the heavy metals effects up to certain extent. Further in the pure soil the root growth and biomass were found highest due to availability of heavy metals within the desirable limit.
