Positive effects of no-till reseeding with Asteraceae plants on the remediation of arsenic-contaminated mining areas: Tolerance evaluation, community reconstruction, and soil health impacts.

Asteraceae plants are widely used in landscaping and phytoremediation, but their effects on arsenic (As)-contaminated soils remain unclear. No-till reseeding offers a simple, low-cost ecological restoration method. This study innovatively applied no-till reseeding with Asteraceae plants in severely (LP, 351.39 mg kg^-1) and extremely severely (HP, 994.80 mg kg^-1) As-contaminated mining soils, using natural growth plots (LN) as controls, while incorporating a novel "remediation-tourism" model. Results showed that reseeding significantly improved soil quality: raising pH to 7.17 in LP and increasing available nitrogen and potassium by 15.74 % and 16.44 %, respectively. Cosmos bipinnatus achieved the greatest height (112.44 cm in LP), while Zinnia elegans produced the highest biomass (23.52 g/plant). Membership function analysis ranked As tolerance as: Zinnia violacea > Cosmos bipinnatus > Tagetes erecta > Cosmos sulphurephus. Plant community indices (Margalef's, Shannon-Wiener, and Pielou's Evenness) increased significantly by 0.49-2.95 times in LP and 1.11-2.67 times in HP versus LN. The introduced Asteraceae species, along with native As-tolerant plants (Bidens Pilosa, Ageratum conyzoides, and Pennisetum alopecuroides), formed an ideal vegetation restoration community. Correlation analysis indicated that soil physicochemical properties were the primary factors affecting plant community richness and diversity. Additionally, our research drew upon the vegetation landscape of the local mountain off-road vehicle park base. The remediation-tourism model, inspired by local off-road park landscapes, demonstrated dual environmental and economic benefits. This study establishes Asteraceae no-till reseeding as a scalable, cost-effective solution for As-contaminated mining areas. The findings provide actionable guidelines for policymakers and restoration practitioners, with potential applications in mining belt rehabilitations.