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The addition of mine waste rock to topsoil improves microsite potential and seedling emergence from broadcast seeds in an arid environment

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Abstract

Aims

This study investigated the effect of method of blending and spreading topsoil-waste rock (as dictated by waste dump position), rock addition, topsoil source and seed burial on seedling emergence from seeds broadcast onto mine restoration sites.

Methods

Seed of 10 species were surface sown onto a waste rock dump plateau with six cover treatments spread by loose tipping; three topsoil source treatments (sand dunes, sandplains and stony hills) x two waste rock treatments (topsoil mixed and without waste rock).

Results

Emergence was greater on the waste dump plateau than slopes, where very few seedlings emerged. On the waste dump plateau, the addition of rock to topsoil increased seedling emergence >2.5-fold. Soil surface temperatures were cooler and water content at a depth of 2 cm was higher in topsoil mixed with rock than without rock.

Conclusions

Higher seedling emergence with the addition of rock to topsoil was due to the creation of microsites where sub-soil moisture was retained for longer durations. Lack of emergence on waste dump slopes was attributed to relatively low surface roughness that reflected operational issues associated with different methods of spreading and mixing topsoil with rock on plateau versus on slopes.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Deanna Rokich provided support for part of the research period. Staff at Newcrest Mining Limited provided administrative and logistical support. Research was funded in part by Newcrest Mining Limited. PG was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award. KWD is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Mine Site Restoration (Project Number ICI150100041).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia

    Peter J. Golos & Lucy E. Commander

  2. Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 2 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, Western Australia, 6005, Australia

    Peter J. Golos & Lucy E. Commander

  3. Centre for Mine Site Restoration, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia

    Kingsley W. Dixon

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  1. Peter J. Golos
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  2. Lucy E. Commander
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Correspondence to Peter J. Golos.

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Golos, P.J., Commander, L.E. & Dixon, K.W. The addition of mine waste rock to topsoil improves microsite potential and seedling emergence from broadcast seeds in an arid environment. Plant Soil 440, 71–84 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04060-7

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