Amendment of Gold Mine Tailings with Modified Humic Substances to Promote Soil Development and Plant Growth

Organization
Resource Type
Authors
Carl Szczerski
Resource Date:
2007
Page Length
169

To promote the establishment of vegetation, modified humic substances were added to gold mine tailings in rates of 2 g C kg-1, 3 g C kg-1 and 4 g C kg-1 tailings as an amendment.  Growth chamber and field studies were conducted to determine the effect of modified humic substances on soil chemical and physical properties.  The physiological response of Brassíca juncea, Festuca pratensis, Festuca rubra, Poa pratensìs, Medicago sativa, Agropyron trachycaulum and Agropyron elongatum was also investigated.  Humic substances increased the tailings macro aggregation. Conductivity of the tailings increased from slightly saline to moderately/highly saline following amendment addition while pH of the tailings remained unchanged. Application of modified humic substances in mine tailings led to variable growth responses with only M. sativa exhibiting any growth stimulation.  Brassica juncea,
A. elongatum and F. rubra exhibited no effect of amendment on their growth while
A. trachycalum and, F. pratensis both showed an inhibitory effect.