Yang et al. (2016) Revegetation of extremely acid mine soils based on aided phytostabilization: A case study from southern China

Identification

• Journal: The Science of The Total Environment
• Year: 2016
• Date: 2016-04-21
• Authors: Sheng-Xiang Yang, Bin Liao, Zhihui Yang, Liyuan Chai, Jintian Li
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.208

Research Groups

• School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China
• College of Bio-resources and Environmental Science and Hunan Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Control and Remediation of Heavy Metal Pollution from Mn–Zn Mining, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Manganese–Zinc–Vanadium Industrial Technology (the 2011 Plan of Hunan Province), Jishou University, Jishou 416000, PR China
• State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China

Short Summary

This study successfully demonstrated aided phytostabilization using ameliorants and acid-tolerant plants to revegetate an extremely acidic (pH < 3) polymetallic pyritic mine waste heap in southern China, achieving significant soil amelioration and vegetation establishment within two years.

Objective

• To establish a self-sustaining vegetation cover on an extremely acid (pH < 3) polymetallic pyritic mine waste heap in southern China using a combination of ameliorants (lime and chicken manure) and five acid-tolerant plant species, and to evaluate its effectiveness in preventing soil acidification and enhancing soil quality.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: A polymetallic pyritic mine waste heap in southern China.
• Temporal Scale: Two-year remediation program, with significant vegetation cover development observed within six months.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None explicitly mentioned; this was an experimental field study.
• Data sources: Field observations and measurements of soil properties (e.g., pH, acid neutralization capacity, net acid-generating potential, organic matter, nutrient elements) and plant growth/cover.

Main Results

• The combined application of ameliorants (lime and chicken manure) and five acid-tolerant plant species effectively established a vegetation cover on extremely acidic (pH < 3) mine soil.
• The net acid-generating potential of the mine soil steadily decreased over the two-year period.
• Soil pH and acid neutralization capacity gradually increased over time.
• All five acid-tolerant plant species successfully colonized the acidic, metal-contaminated soil and developed a good vegetation cover within six months.
• Subsequent vegetation development enhanced organic matter accumulation and nutrient element status in the mine soil.
• Aided phytostabilization was identified as a practical and effective restoration strategy for extremely acid metalliferous soils.

Contributions

• This study provides a successful and rare case report of phytostabilization for extremely acidic (pH < 3) mine soils with high acidification potential, addressing a significant gap in existing literature.
• It demonstrates the long-term effectiveness (two years) of aided phytostabilization in preventing acidification, improving soil quality, and establishing a self-sustaining vegetation cover in highly challenging mine environments.

Funding

• Collaborative Innovation Center of Manganese–Zinc–Vanadium Industrial Technology (the 2011 Plan of Hunan Province)

Citation

@article{Yang2016Revegetation,
  author = {Yang, Sheng-Xiang and Liao, Bin and Yang, Zhihui and Chai, Liyuan and Li, Jintian},
  title = {Revegetation of extremely acid mine soils based on aided phytostabilization: A case study from southern China},
  journal = {The Science of The Total Environment},
  year = {2016},
  doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.208},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.208}
}