Initial Vegetative Cover on Coarse Taconite Tailing Using Organic Amendments on Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range

Norland, Michael R.; Veith, David L.; Dewar, Steve W.

doi:10.21000/jasmr91010263

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…The analysis of coarse tailings document the inherent poor chemical characteristics that impact the establishment and growth of vegetation at Eveleth Mines. The pH of coarse tailings was 8.7, similar to the pH on adjacent USBM plots (Norland, Veith, and Dewar 1991). Coarse tailings did not contain high soluble salt concentrations, as shown by a low mean conductivity, that would impair plant growth.…”

Section: Coarse Tailingsmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…The low CEC and organic matter content of coarse tailings severely limits the ability of tailings to retain both available water and nutrients for plant growth. The levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in coarse tailings were low, as found on adjacent USBM plots (Norland, Veith, and Dewar 1991). The total concentration of potassium in tailings suggests that this macronutrient is at a high level.…”

Section: Coarse Tailingsmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Inorganic fertilizer was initially applied at 0, 224, and 448 kg ha·' of granular diarnmonium phosphate (18-46-0). The fertilizer rate 448 kg ha·' of 18-46-0 is routinely used in the revegetation of coarse tailings (Norland, Veith, and Dewar 1991). De-inking residue was obtained from a paper recycling facility in Illinois.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many darns and dikes constructed using coarse tailings have only attained a 40 percent to 60 percent plant cover after three years (Shetron and Duffeck 1970;Dewar 1987). In northeastern Minnesota, there are an estimated 10,125 ha of active tailings basins that will need to be reclaimed when the basins are no longer used (Norland et al 1991). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mineland Reclamation Using Office Waste Paper De-Inking Residue

McCarthy¹,

Geerts²,

Johnson³

et al. 1995

ASMR

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Pulp facilities which recycle office waste paper generate large amounts of waste by-products in the process of producing high-grade pulp. The paper-like residue, called de-inking residue, was evaluated for use in the revegetation of coarse taconite tailings in northeastern Minnesota. Minnesota Mineland Reclamation Rules specify that a 90 percent vegetative cover shall be established on tailings after three growing seasons; however, the 90 percent cover requirement on coarse tailings has not been consistently achieved using standard reclamation practices. Research plots were established in 1992 at the Eveleth Mines Fairlane Plant utilizing a randomized block design using five levels of de-inking residue, five levels of fertilization, and two plant mixes on 2.5-by 4.0-m plots. Lysirneters were installed to monitor changes in sub-surface water quality. Vegetative cover was measured at two sampling periods each in 1992 and 1993. Fertilization and de-inking residue amendments had significant effects on the vegetative cover of introduced and native plant species. Vegetative cover for introduced species increased from no cover to 49 percent at the end of the first growing season, to 90 percent at the end of the second growing season on tailings fertilized at the highest level and amended with residue at 22.4 kg ha· 1 • At the same fertilizer and de-inking residue rate, vegetative cover for native plants increased from no cover to 7 percent at the end of the first growing season, to 69 percent at the end of the second growing season.

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Section: Coarse Tailingsmentioning

confidence: 51%

Section: Coarse Tailingsmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Mineland Reclamation Using Office Waste Paper De-Inking Residue

McCarthy¹,

Geerts²,

Johnson³

et al. 1995

ASMR

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“…In a companion study (Melchert et al 1994), MSW compost was applied to a tailing site to examine impacts on water quality and runoff. In recent years other studies have been initiated by the MDNR and the U.S. Bureau of Mines, studying the usefulness of MSW compost as a soil amendment for revegetating coarse !aconite tailing (Norland et al 1991(Norland et al , 1992(Norland et al , 1993. The objective of this paper is to assess tree growth and trace metal concentrations in leaf tissue for trees planted in coarse tailing plots treated with four rates of MSW compost.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and Trace Metal Content of Poplars Planted on Tailing Treated with Municipal Solid Waste Compost

Dewar¹,

Norland²

1994

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Taconite tailing wastes in Minnesota are infertile and difficult to vegetate to meet mineland reclamation standards. Taconite tailing reclamation is a potential use for a municipal solid waste (MSW) compo~t product. MSW compost is rich in organic compounds, and its application to tailing is likely to improve fertility even though it may increase the level of potentially harmful trace metals. This study assesses tree growth and elemental tissue concentrations of Souixland poplar (Populus deltoides var. Souixland) planted in four 420-m 2 field plots. Plots were randomly treated with 0, 22.4, 44.8, or 89.6 Mg/ha of MSW compost. After compost application, all plots were fertilized, disced, seeded with a grass-legume µrixture, and planted with rooted cuttings of poplar at a 2 by 2.5 m spacing. After two growing seasons, tree growth was significantly greater where compost was applied. The average growth per live tree was highest in the 89.6 Mg/ha plot. Average tree height increased from 68.2 to 84.1 cm, a 23% increase over the control for the highest rate. Survival of trees; however, ranged from 84 to 98% for the high rate and control, respectively. Ground cover and biomass increased with increasing compost application rates. Analyses of the compost indicated that it met regulations for field application, including PCB's and trace metals. Soils analyses of the tailing after compost application showed higher levels of N, P, S, Zn, and Cu with increasing application rates. Analyses of poplar leaf tissue revealed slightly higher concentrations of P, Zn, Cu, and Cd for treatments receiving compost. Results suggest that applying compost to coarse tailing will increase the growth of ground cover and poplar trees without adversely affecting the environment.

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Vegetation Response to Organic Soil Amendments on Coarse Taconite Tailing

Norland¹,

Veith²,

Dewar³

1992

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Mine land reclamation rules in Minnesota require that tailing darns be constructed and vegetated to control wind and water erosion for dam stability, safety, and dust control. Coarse taconite tailing used in darn construction tends to resist vegetation stabilization due to several adverse edaphic factors that make it difficult to establish and maintain a diverse and productive vegetative cover that will meet State standards. The Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources-Division of Minerals, has implemented a series of experiments on coarse taconite tailing to study the effects of various organic residues on the establishment and maintenance of vegetative cover for site amelioration. At each of the tailing darn sites, changes that occurred in.vegetative cover (live vegetation and its litter) as a result of experimental treatment was monitored. At the Minntac site, the total cover (mean of all treatment combinations) on the experimental site was 41 % with cover ranging from zero to 100 %. The type of organic amendment used, the rate at which the organic residues were applied, and the level of fertilization each had a significant effect on cover. The total number of plant species found at the Minntac site, including seeded vegetation, was 18. At the Eveleth Mines site, the total cover on the experimental site was 55 % with cover ranging from zero to 100 %. The type of organic amendment used, the rate at which the organic residues were applied, and the level of fertilization each had a significant effect on cover. Additionally, there were significant interactions between each of the main effects. The total number of plant species found at the Eveleth Mines site, including seeded vegetation was 38.

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Initial Vegetative Cover on Coarse Taconite Tailing Using Organic Amendments on Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Mineland Reclamation Using Office Waste Paper De-Inking Residue

Mineland Reclamation Using Office Waste Paper De-Inking Residue

Growth and Trace Metal Content of Poplars Planted on Tailing Treated with Municipal Solid Waste Compost

Vegetation Response to Organic Soil Amendments on Coarse Taconite Tailing

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