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Changes in the Phytoavailability of Nutrients in Mine Soils after Planting Trees and Amending with Wastes

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of planting trees (Pinus pinaster or Eucalyptus globulus) and amending with wastes (sewage sludges and paper mill residues) on the nutrient content of mine soils and under field conditions. The studied soils were located in a settling pond and a mine tailing within a former copper mine. The soil samples were analyzed for several physico-chemical characteristics and the concentration of nutrients. The untreated settling pond soil had levels of N and K adequate only for the growth of eucalyptuses and pines, and moreover, the concentration of Ca and P were undetectable. The untreated mine tailing soil presented the same condition, also with adequate levels of Ca and Mg for eucalyptuses and pines. Planting these trees increased the concentration of Mg in the settling pond up to adequate levels only for such trees. Amending with wastes increased the phytoavailable concentration of all nutrients up to adequate levels for most plant species. In conclusion, it is recommended to amend mine soils with wastes rich in nutrients and re-amend after some time because they raise them up to adequate levels for most plants but are depleted over time. It is possible to increase the concentration of all nutrients in mine soils by adding organic wastes, even to values adequate for most plant species.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science through project CGL2009-07843 and a Ramón y Cajal contract awarded to F.A. Vega and by the University of Vigo through a predoctoral fellowship awarded to V. Asensio. We also thank the anonymous reviewer for their comments, which helped to improve the quality of this article.

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  1. Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, As Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain

    V. Asensio, F. A. Vega & E. F. Covelo

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  1. V. Asensio
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  2. F. A. Vega
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  3. E. F. Covelo
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Correspondence to V. Asensio.

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Asensio, V., Vega, F.A. & Covelo, E.F. Changes in the Phytoavailability of Nutrients in Mine Soils after Planting Trees and Amending with Wastes. Water Air Soil Pollut 225, 1995 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-014-1995-9

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