FG Bodenschutz und Rekultivierung
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BTU
The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of short rotation alley cropping systems (SRACS) to improve the soil fertility of marginal post-mining sites in Brandenburg, Germany. Therefore, we annually investigated the crop alleys (AC) and black locust hedgerows (ABL) of a SRACS field trail under initial soil conditions to identify the short-term effects of tree planting on the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its degree of stabilization by density fractionation. We detected a significant increase in SOC and hot-water-extractable organic C (HWEOC) at ABL, which was mainly restricted to the uppermost soil layer (0–10 cm). After 6 years, the SOC and HWEOC accumulation rates at ABL were 0.6 Mg and 46 kg ha−1 year−1, which were higher than those in the AC. In addition, comparatively high stocks of approximately 4.6 Mg OC and 182 kg HWEOC ha−1 were stored in the ABL litter layer. Density fractionation of the 0–3 cm soil layer at ABL revealed that the majority of the total SOC (47%) was stored in the free particulate organic matter fraction, which was more than twice that of the AC. At the same time, a higher and steadily increasing amount of SOC was stored in the occluded particulate organic matter fraction at ABL, which indicated a high efficiency for SOC stabilization. Overall, our findings support the suitability of black locust trees for increasing the soil fertility of the reclaimed mining substrate and, consequently, the high potential for SRACS to serve as an effective recultivation measure at marginal sites.
Background: Occurrences in land use, human activities and climate change have both direct and indirect influences on the environment. Of interest for this study is mining; a common activity in developing countries such as Nigeria which is endowed with over 34 solid minerals. The gold mining sites in the Southwest region of the country is predominantly by Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM). Though the benefits are known, its induced consequences are enormous. To understand its extent of floristic diversity, identification of functional plants and plant species surviving on the mined sites (despite its characterized mining and alteration level); this study compared the floristic composition of an abandoned mining site (Site 1), an active mining site (Site 2) and an undisturbed vegetation sites (Control) of similar vegetation zone.
Results: A total of 54, 28 and 37 species belonging to 31, 20 and 23 families were found on Site 1, Site 2 and the control site, respectively. It shows that the floristic composition of all the sites has been altered due to its past intense agricultural colonization and human activities, but severe on Site 1 and 2 due to mining. Lots of the identified species are functional species and stand as ecological indicators. Species such as Acanthus montanus and Icacina richantha found on the Control sites are native and significance but species such as Capsicum frutescens and Crassocephalum crepidioides on Site 2 are due to human inference while most species on Site 1 shows both original and altered floristic composition (e.g. Adenia venenata and Grewia flavescens).
Conclusions: Apart from the on-going farming activities, ASM activities such as pollution, deforestation and exposure of the forest soils to direct sunlight has greatly stressed and disturbed the floristic composition, species richness,
life form patterns, of the mined sites as well as introduction of non-native plant species. It is therefore necessary to develop effective approaches and policies to curb these illegal ASM activities, empower the community (especially
youths), stabilize the economy and establish sustainable development strategies with adequate reclamation measures.
Based on recent mining rates and the exhaustion of global phosphorus (P) reserves, there is a need to mobilize P already stored in soils, and its recovery from secondary resources such as Ca- and Fe-phosphates is important. The Ca-phosphate hydroxyapatite forms a good fertilizer source, while vivianite is formed in waterlogged soils and sediments. During sludge treatment, the formation of vivianite has been identified, being mainly Fe-phosphate. Long-term P release from both hydroxyapatite and vivianite was studied using different inorganic (CaCl2 and CaSO4) and organic (citric and humic acid) reagents during batch experiments. Reagents CaCl2 and CaSO4 represent the soil solution, while citric and humic acids as organic constituents affect P availability in the rhizosphere and during the process of humification. Additionally, the flow-through reactor (FTR) technique with an infinite sink was used to study the long-term P release kinetics. The cumulative P release was higher by organic acids than by inorganic compounds. The cumulative P release rates were higher in the FTR with CaCl2 as compared to the batch technique. The infinite sink application caused a continuously high concentration gradient between the solid and liquid phases, leading to higher desorption rates as compared to the batch technique. The predominant amount of the total P released over time was available for a short term. While inorganic anion exchange occurred at easily available binding sites, organic acids affected the more heavily available binding sites, which could be embedded within the mineral structure. The results showed that organic compounds, especially citric acid, play a superior role as compared to the inorganic constituents of the soil solution during the recovery of already stored P from the tertiary phosphates vivianite and hydroxyapatite.