Zh. Ye et al., Vegetation response to lime and manure compost amendments on acid lead/zinc mine tailings: A greenhouse study, RESTOR ECOL, 8(3), 2000, pp. 289-295
Land disturbed by mining in China is a serious problem and lead/zinc (Pb/Zn
) mine tailings constitute the majority of the metal mine tailings produced
in Guangdaong Province, China. A greenhouse study was therefore conducted
to evaluate the effects of lime (40, 80, 120, and 160 t/ha) and manure comp
ost (50 and 100 t/ha) amendment on the revegetation of the Pb/Zn mine taili
ngs using Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) and Agropyron elongatum (tall wh
eatgrass). The results showed that a combination of lime and manure compost
amendment together with deionized water leachating was able to increase pH
, reduce electrical conductivity and diethylenetraminepentaacetic acid (DTP
A)-extractable concentrations of Zn and Pb in tailings. Using greater than
or equal to 80 t/ha lime amendment with the supplement of fertilizer or man
ure compost was able to effectively improve germination of both C. dactylon
and A. elongatum. The highest dry weight yields were obtained in tailings
receiving greater than or equal to 80 t lime/ha and 100 t manure compost/ha
for both plant species. Plant tissue analysis showed that lime amendment a
t 120-160 t/ha reduced Zn accumulation in both shoot and root of C. dactylo
n. However, this trend was not observed for Pb.