Impact of Stone Mining on the Agricultural Sectors and Suggestive Rehabilitation Measures

Mining is an obligatory facet of industrialization and civilization, which devastates the ecosystem services. Surface mining causes significant disturbances to the vegetation, hydrological relations, soil biological systems, soil-plant stability, and soil organic pool. The dust particles generated through mining and stone crushing pose severe impact on the environment. These particles are the potential phytotoxic pollutants that can lead to the significant destruction of the ecosystem. The flora of the mining area is greatly impacted by mining and related activities, which also alter crop plant development and yield. As a result, the native vegetation is totally removed from the stone mining area. The dust particles spread across the surrounding areas and have an impact on the plants, soil, and other natural resources. Plant life can be supported by soil, which is a mixture of organic and mineral substances. It is the primary source of organic and inorganic materials that can sustain the plant life. Mining directly influences the mineral availability and soil microbial activities, which ultimately has a negative impact on plant growth and productivity. Mining forms a thin layer of deposition over the adjacent agricultural fields and vegetation, which affects the photosynthetic activity of plants and eventually their growth and development. Hence, a detailed review is essential to report the impact of stone mining on agriculture. The aim of this chapter is to explore the effect of stone mining on the agricultural sector including crop production and plantation crops. This chapter is focused on the possible alternatives for rehabilitation of the mining sites with alternate crops, cropping systems, and vegetation. It will help producers, researchers, academicians, and policymakers to achieve the “Sustainable Development Goals” in India under the theme of the United Nations.