Organic Amendments and Earthworm Addition Improve Properties of Nonacidic Mine Tailings
In many mined areas, lack of topsoil limits conversion of disturbed landscapes to former or other productive uses. We examined the use of biosolids (10 or 20% by dry mass), with or without sawdust, pulp sludge, and the contribution of an earthworm species (Dendrobaena veneta) to improve the properti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/395964 |
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| author | P. M. Rutherford J. M. Arocena |
| author_facet | P. M. Rutherford J. M. Arocena |
| author_sort | P. M. Rutherford |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In many mined areas, lack of topsoil limits conversion of disturbed landscapes to former or other productive uses. We examined the use of biosolids (10 or 20% by dry mass), with or without sawdust, pulp sludge, and the contribution of an earthworm species (Dendrobaena veneta) to improve the properties of nonacidic mine tailings. Pulp sludge more rapidly immobilized excessive NH4 + concentrations from biosolids early in the study; however, total mineral N concentrations were similar in pulp sludge and sawdust treatments by week 29. Although NO3 −-N concentrations were generally greater in treatments with earthworms, these trends were not statistically significant (P>0.05). In general, Bray P concentrations were greater in the presence of earthworms. Soil thin sections showed that earthworms mixed organic residues into elongated spherical units within mine tailings. Organic residues in combination with earthworm addition may improve the chemical and microstructural properties of non-acidic mine tailings, producing a substrate conducive for plant establishment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-300715378e1d476dbea4dcc431eca84e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-7667 1687-7675 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-300715378e1d476dbea4dcc431eca84e2025-02-03T06:12:43ZengWileyApplied and Environmental Soil Science1687-76671687-76752012-01-01201210.1155/2012/395964395964Organic Amendments and Earthworm Addition Improve Properties of Nonacidic Mine TailingsP. M. Rutherford0J. M. Arocena1Environmental Science and Engineering Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, CanadaEnvironmental Science and Engineering Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, CanadaIn many mined areas, lack of topsoil limits conversion of disturbed landscapes to former or other productive uses. We examined the use of biosolids (10 or 20% by dry mass), with or without sawdust, pulp sludge, and the contribution of an earthworm species (Dendrobaena veneta) to improve the properties of nonacidic mine tailings. Pulp sludge more rapidly immobilized excessive NH4 + concentrations from biosolids early in the study; however, total mineral N concentrations were similar in pulp sludge and sawdust treatments by week 29. Although NO3 −-N concentrations were generally greater in treatments with earthworms, these trends were not statistically significant (P>0.05). In general, Bray P concentrations were greater in the presence of earthworms. Soil thin sections showed that earthworms mixed organic residues into elongated spherical units within mine tailings. Organic residues in combination with earthworm addition may improve the chemical and microstructural properties of non-acidic mine tailings, producing a substrate conducive for plant establishment.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/395964 |
| spellingShingle | P. M. Rutherford J. M. Arocena Organic Amendments and Earthworm Addition Improve Properties of Nonacidic Mine Tailings Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| title | Organic Amendments and Earthworm Addition Improve Properties of Nonacidic Mine Tailings |
| title_full | Organic Amendments and Earthworm Addition Improve Properties of Nonacidic Mine Tailings |
| title_fullStr | Organic Amendments and Earthworm Addition Improve Properties of Nonacidic Mine Tailings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Organic Amendments and Earthworm Addition Improve Properties of Nonacidic Mine Tailings |
| title_short | Organic Amendments and Earthworm Addition Improve Properties of Nonacidic Mine Tailings |
| title_sort | organic amendments and earthworm addition improve properties of nonacidic mine tailings |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/395964 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pmrutherford organicamendmentsandearthwormadditionimprovepropertiesofnonacidicminetailings AT jmarocena organicamendmentsandearthwormadditionimprovepropertiesofnonacidicminetailings |