Post Bauxite Mining Land Soil Characteristics and Its Effects on the Growth of Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barneby & J. W. Grimes and Albizia saman (Jacq.) Merr.

Abstract

The remediation of opencast bauxite mines in the natural forests of Indonesia is difficult. We have investigated and contrasted the chemical characteristics of soils from natural forests and mining sites and their effects on plant growth. The soil pH, total carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and available phosphorus (P) concentrations, cation exchange capacity, C/N ratio, and exchangeable K, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Ni concentrations were determined. Falcataria moluccana and Albizia saman were then grown in these soils for 15 weeks, and their shoot heights, shoot dry weights, and root dry weights determined. The post bauxite mining soils’ N, C, and available P concentrations and exchangeable Ca, Mg, and Na concentrations decreased by 75, 75.7, 15.7, 92, 100, and 52%, respectively, in comparison with the natural forest soils. The shoot and root dry weights of F. moluccana when grown in the post bauxite mining soils were also lower than those from the natural forest soils. However, there was no difference in the shoot and root dry weights of A. saman when grown in the two soil types. The results suggest that opencast mining decreases the soil fertility, which in turn inhibits the initial growth of tree seedlings, and reduces the carbon stock in the land.

The Impact of Nickel Mining on Soil Properties and Growth of Two Fast-Growing Tropical Trees Species

“…is indicates a greater decline in TN compared with gold mine tailings in Indonesia (91.3%) [23], an opencast bauxite mine in Bintan Island, Indonesia (75% reduction) [24], and International Journal of Forestry Research an opencast coal mine in India (53% reduction in TN) [25] and USA (53%-80% reduction) [26].…”

“…e decrease in CEC is greater compared to post-bauxite mining [24] and is lower compared to gold tailings [23], in which CEC can decrease by 30% and 76%, respectively. Some of the important micronutrients that are essential for plant growth are Ni and Fe.…”

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Inoculation on Growth of Tropical Tree Species under Nursery and Post-Opencast Bauxite Mining Field in Bintan Island, Indonesia

“…; total N, 0.4 g kg -1 ; available P, 11.30 mg P 2 O 5 kg -1 [22]. The soil substrate was prepared by mixing river sand with the soil (1:3, v/v) to increase drainage and porosity.…”

“…Opencast bauxite mining reduces soil fertility; total carbon (C), nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P) concentrations, and exchangeable sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations were reduced by 75.7%, 75%, 15.7%, 52%, 92%, and 100%, respectively, compared to the forest soils [22]. The use of beneficial soil microorganisms has been recommended to promote the successful restoration of the post-mining sites [23,24].…”

Assessment on the Suitability of Planting Non-Native Peatlands Species Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barneby & Grimes in Rewetted Peatlands

“…Therefore, the demand for it continues to increase, and marketing is relatively easy [16]. Moreover, sengon is also planted for forest rehabilitation and restoration because sengon is: (1) able to grow on a variety of soil types, including dry, moist and even acidic soils as long as the drainage is sufficient [17][18][19]; (2) easy to adapt to various environmental conditions because the roots associate with rhizobium bacteria to form nodules [20,21]; (3) a tolerant species that can grow on open land, and once sengon grow, it accelerates land cover [22][23][24]; and (4) able to improve environmental quality such as increasing soil fertility and improving water management [25][26][27].…”