A Chronosequence of Vegetation and Minesoil Development on a Texas Lignite Surface Mine

Skousen, Jeff; Call, Christopher A.; Knight, R. W.

doi:10.21000/jasmr88020079

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The 10 waste rock surfaces that were 6 yr or less in age had paste conductivity values of between 1.7 and 10 dS/m with a mean conductivity of 4.1 ± 1.7 dS/m. As has been noted in other studies, the high salinity inhibits vegetation establishment on most young waste rock surfaces (Skousen et al, 1988; Nawrot et al, 1988; Wali, 1999). The youngest site that supported 10% or more cover is 20 yr old, and none of the surfaces that were 6 yr or younger support more than 1% cover or more than three species.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 69%

“…Many investigators have examined the influence of one or more of these variables on volunteer revegetation on waste rock surfaces, but almost all of these studies have focused on coal spoils (Glenn‐Lewin, 1979; Jonescu, 1979; Schafer and Nielsen, 1979; Hedin, 1988; Skousen et al, 1988, 1994; Pietsch, 1996; Kost et al, 1998; Wali, 1999). Many of these previous studies were also located in the eastern or midwestern United States and so may not be directly applicable to the semiarid climates of mining sites in the western United States.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Volunteer Revegetation of Waste Rock Surfaces at the Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

Borden

Black²

2005

J of Env Quality

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Voluntary recolonization of sulfide-bearing waste rock dumps by native vegetation is inhibited by the harsh chemical and physical conditions. The success of volunteer vegetation on the waste rock surfaces at the Bingham Canyon (Utah) porphyry copper deposit is most strongly dependent on the soil pH and salinity, and to a lesser extent on physical characteristics such as compaction and distance from seed source. Vegetation cover and richness both decline below a paste pH of about 6 and above a paste conductivity of about 0.7 dS/m (for a 1:1 soil to water mixture). No significant vegetation establishment occurs below a soil pH of about 4.5. Young sulfide-bearing waste rock surfaces at Bingham Canyon have high salinity, but as reactive pyrite is depleted and salts are flushed from the soil, the salinity eventually declines, allowing volunteer native vegetation to become established on surfaces with a circumneutral pH. Under natural conditions, the pH of older acidic weathered surfaces will recover very slowly, but it can be rapidly raised by adding relatively small amounts of limestone because there are few intact reactive sulfides. For uncompacted waste rock surfaces with favorable chemical conditions, less than 90% gravel content, and that are located near a native seed source, the arithmetic mean volunteer vegetation cover was 56 +/- 24% and the mean species richness was 17 +/- 5. These data indicate that with adequate surface preparation and limestone addition, direct planting of older, acidic, but low salinity waste rock surfaces can greatly accelerate natural revegetation.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 69%

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confidence: 99%

Volunteer Revegetation of Waste Rock Surfaces at the Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

Borden

Black²

2005

J of Env Quality

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“…Skousen et al (1988) have studied the colonization of lignite mine sites from one to fifty years since abandonment in the Post Oak (Quercus stellata) savannah area of east-central Texas. Woody plants colonized as early as five years after mining, but shrub and tree cover did not become substantial until twenty to thirty years post-mining.…”

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The Roles of Colonization and Succession in the Reclamation of Mine Sites

Winterhalder¹

1993

ASMR

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It is of advantage to the reclamationist to have some conceptual understanding of natural succession, and even more important to have a practical knowledge of the climax vegetation and natural successional processes in the region where he or she works. Factors that can limit succession on reclaimed land include lack of appro!)riate seed source unsuitable soil conditions, and climatic or microclimatic factors. The use of natural success10nal processes is' not incompatible with a certain amount of management, and measures that can be. used to initiate or enhance succession include the use of physical site stabilization or a nurse crop, an enhanC<:d nanve seed source, ".r the use of minimal soil amelioration. An understanding of seed ecology, patch dynamics and the role of s01l microoorganisms are also invaluable to the reclamationist The extensive literarure on colonization and succession, both on untreated and treated wastes of various types and in various climates, is reviewed. The concept of successionThe concept of ecological succession has been at the heart of ecological thinking since the time of Clements (1916Clements ( , 1936. According to Clementsian thinking, succession is an autogenic process, in which vegetation develops on a formerly bare substrate as a sequence of plant communities, each one altering the environment such that it favours the one that follows, culminating in a relatively steady-state -the climax. This concept of succession came to be known as "Relay Floristics" (RF). Egler (1954) introduced another concept of succession, which suggested that the species composition early in the successional process can have a great influence on the final composition. This concept, which would be especially applicable to secondary successions such as those following industrial disrurbance, was known as Initial Floristic Composition (IFC). A lesson on the importance of "initial composition" can be learned from the Mount St. Helen's eruption, where "late successional" species such as hemlock and true fir became established on the debris slide within a year (Dale, 1992). Similarly, Bellairs and Bell (1992) found that initial species composition largely determined vegetation development on sand-mined soils in Western Australia. (1977) presented two further models of succession, the "tolerance" model and the "inhibition" model. The tolerance model incorporates both the RF and the IFC approaches, since it proposes that vegetational change is the result of the superior success of the species best able to make use of the available resources. These species will normally include both "pioneers" and species already established.In the context of revegetation, the tolerance model is likely to include a third component -the species sown or planted by the rec.lamationist. The model is particularly relevant m the case of revegetated land, in view of the use of fertilizers as a tool in implementing revegetation and in managing revegetated land. A plant community is the result of the interaction between the ec...

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A Chronosequence of Vegetation and Minesoil Development on a Texas Lignite Surface Mine

Cited by 2 publications

References 16 publications

Volunteer Revegetation of Waste Rock Surfaces at the Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

Volunteer Revegetation of Waste Rock Surfaces at the Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

The Roles of Colonization and Succession in the Reclamation of Mine Sites

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