Impact of fertilization on cover crops and microbial community on a bauxite‐mined soil undergoing reclamation

The reclamation of bauxite‐mined areas can be favored by the application of organic and/or chemical fertilization to restore the vegetation. Otherwise, the impact of fertilizations on soil microbiota or plant–microbe interactions as land reclamation progresses is less understood. To address this issue, we evaluated the impact of organic and chemical fertilization on plants and soil microbial community within the first 36 months of land reclamation in a bauxite‐mined site. The experiment was set up according to a split‐plot design in which the main plots received fertilizations [non‐fertilized control (NF), chemical fertilization (CF; NPK and rock phosphate), organic fertilization (OF; poultry litter), and CF+OF combined], and the subplots received cover crops [no cover crops (NC), grass (B; Brachiaria), legume (S, Stylosanthes), and B+S combined]. Cover crops biomass yield was assessed annually with five field campaigns per year. We used phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) to infer the impacts of mining and restoration practices on actinobacteria, Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and fungi. Accordingly, PLFAs were determined before bauxite mining (pre‐mining), six months after topsoil reconfiguration (post‐mining), and after 14 and 36 months following the application of the fertilizations and cover crops. PLFAs results indicated that in post‐mining, the living microbiota was significantly lower than in pre‐mining. Cover crops biomass yield was highest for B and B+S fertilized with CF+OF at 14 and 36 months. Both parametric and non‐parametric statistics showed a temporal variation in the response of living microbes to the treatments applied. After 14 months, living microbes showed greatest response to OF, while at 36 months their response was strongest in the treatments with highest plant biomass production (B and B+S). These results suggest that in the early stages of land reclamation, living microbial biomass benefit the most from organic fertilizers. As this initial boost decline, living microbes are more likely to thrive in areas undergoing reclamation where they can develop synergistic interactions with plants.     

酸雨淋溶条件下赤泥中重金属在土壤中的迁移特性及其潜在危害

为探讨在气候特征较特殊区域的赤泥堆场溃坝后,赤泥中重金属对土壤及地下水的影响,以我国普遍存在的联合法赤泥为研究对象开展土柱模拟实验。结果表明:赤泥经酸雨淋溶后,溶出的As、Cr、Cd、V、Mo 5种重金属主要累积在表层(0~20 cm)土壤中,平均浓度分别达到17.71、42.31、0.79、57.77、29.76 mg·kg-1,与原始浓度相比分别增加了5.83、1.36、2.21、2.34、1.89倍;Pb与Zn在0~60 cm深度土壤累积明显,平均浓度分别达到18.67、58.52 mg·kg-1,分别增加了8.76、3.86倍,Cu、Ni在土壤中含量有微量增加,累积现象不明显;赤泥经酸雨淋溶后,As、Ni酸可提取态平均占比较高,可迁移性强,Cu、Cr、Mo主要以可氧化态和可还原态存在,Pb、Zn、V主要以可还原态存在,具有较大的潜在迁移性;渗滤液中仅检出较低浓度的Mo、V、Pb、Cu,说明赤泥经酸雨淋溶后,溶出的重金属主要滞留在土壤中,对土壤造成较大的潜在危害。     

广西壮族自治区平果铝土矿区待复垦土地适宜性评价

以广西壮族自治区平果铝土矿区为研究对象,采用四层逐级分类指标划分待复垦土地评价单元类型,运用权重指数和法对矿区待复垦土地的适宜性进行预测性评价.评价结果表明,(1)无污染的4:1厚层顶板土十地表土平台的最佳适宜性用途为Ⅲ等旱地;(2)无污染的3:1厚层底板土+粉煤灰平台的最佳适宜性用途为Ⅱ等早地;(3)无污染的4:1薄层顶板土+地表土斜坡的的最佳适宜性用途为Ⅰ等园地;(4)无污染的3:1薄层底板土十粉煤灰斜坡的最佳适宜性用途为3等林地.该预测结果可为矿山企业制定复垦规划提供科学依据,有利于矿山企业节约复垦成本及平果铝土矿区土地资源的可持续开发与利用.     

Vermicompost and Gypsum Amendments Improve Aggregate Formation in Bauxite Residue

Improving aggregate formation and stability of bauxite residue is essential for the development of a soil on the residue. Effects of gypsum and vermicompost on related chemical and physical conditions of bauxite residue were studied in a laboratory incubation experiment. The addition of gypsum at 2% and 4% w/w reduced pH and exchangeable sodium percentage while increasing exchangeable calcium content. The addition of vermicompost reduced bulk density while significantly increasing porosity and total organic carbon. Vermicompost had a positive effect on the formation and stabilization of water‐stable aggregates in the residue, while gypsum was more beneficial to silt‐sized microaggregate flocculation. Amendments also enhanced the erosion resistance of bauxite residue. Furthermore, wet sieving using the modified Le Bissonnais' method revealed that in comparison with differential clay swelling and mechanical breakdown, slaking was the major disaggregation mechanism of residue aggregates. The combination of gypsum and vermicompost converted the residue from a sheet‐like structure to a granular macroaggregated structure while converting microaggregates from a grain to a granular or prismatic structure. The findings of this work suggest that application of gypsum and vermicompost to bauxite residue may directly influence aggregate size distribution and its micromorphology, resulting in the improvement of both aggregate stability and structure. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

模拟降雨条件下赤泥对土壤盐碱化的影响

为了解不同厚度赤泥在酸雨和雨水淋溶条件下对土壤盐碱化的影响,以山西某堆场赤泥为研究对象,采用土柱淋溶实验研究在模拟酸雨和雨水条件下,覆盖不同厚度赤泥对土壤pH、碱化度(ESP)以及电导率(EC)的影响。所用土壤为堆场附近背景土壤,其pH为8.68,有机质含量为25.66 g·kg-1,容重为1.20 g·cm-3,含水率为12.01%。结果表明:经淋溶后,土壤pH在表层0~10 cm深度显著升高,最大值达到10.18;在10~30 cm增加到8.67~9.12,与原始土壤相比升高较为明显;在30~60 cm深度没有明显变化。除覆盖5 cm厚赤泥经雨水淋溶组之外,其他实验组表层(0~10 cm)土壤ESP值均超过15.00%,土壤呈碱化状态;在10~40 cm深度土壤ESP增加到5.38%~14.70%范围,有碱化趋势,对40 cm以下深度土壤碱化影响较小。所有实验组中土壤EC值仅略有增加,对土壤盐化影响不明显。赤泥中钠、钾、镁、钙具有较强的迁移性,淋出液中最大浓度分别为125.86、2.23、57.13、209.07 mg·L-1,可能会对地下水造成潜在影响。在实验条件下,赤泥对土壤碱化影响较为明显,且碱化影响随覆盖赤泥厚度增加而增大,酸雨淋溶比雨水淋溶影响更为严重。     

Microwave roasting pretreatment of high-sulfur bauxite

To increase desulfurization efficiency of oxidizing roasting in muffle furnace, microwave is used to roast the high-sulfur bauxite. The influences of roasting temperature and time on sulfur content are investigated, and the final phases are recognized by XRD analysis. The results show sulfur content is less than 0.7% after being roasted at 400 ℃ for 2 min. If it’s roasted at higher temperature for longer time, like 550 ℃ for 10 min, the sulfur content decreases to 0.23%. Sulfide ion can be dissociated by microwave and diffuses to the surface to form sulfur dioxide. This process will accelerate dissociation further so as to increase desulfurization efficiency.     

Physico‐chemical changes in bauxite residue following application of spent mushroom compost and gypsum

Physical properties exhibited by unvegetated mine wastes pose limitations to vegetation establishment and growth. In an attempt to promote vegetation cover on bauxite residue, a field trial was established to determine the effect of spent mushroom compost (SMC) and gypsum amendment on enhancing the physical properties of the residue. SMC was incorporated at rates of 0, 60, 80 and 120 t ha⁻¹ with gypsum at 0, 40 and 90 t ha⁻¹ and Holcus lanatus sown at a rate of 80 kg ha⁻¹. The addition of SMC and gypsum was beneficial in improving the physical properties of the residue and promoting growth. Principally increasing organic content of the residue decreased bulk density and particle density whilst improving substrate porosity. Residue pH, EC and sodicity of the residue were also affected by the amendments, which positively impacted on microaggregate stability and preventing clay dispersion. Pearson correlations demonstrate that the most significant parameters in determining clay dispersion potential are the pH and the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) of the residue. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Growth and nutrition of Holcus lanatus in bauxite residue amended with combinations of spent mushroom compost and gypsum

Bauxite residues are very slow to naturally vegetate due to nutrient deficiency and high sodicity. In order to test the effectiveness of amendments at promoting revegetation, bauxite residue was amended with varying rates of compost to increase fertility (0, 60, 80 and 120 t ha⁻¹) and gypsum to reduce sodicity (0, 40 and 90 t ha⁻¹). Amended residue was sown with Holcus lanatus, a perennial grass. Following a 1‐year growth period, substrate properties, plant performance and plant nutrient uptake were assessed. Compost application substantially increased substrate N, P, K and Mn concentrations, while gypsum application greatly reduced sodicity and improved nutrient uptake for Mn and P. Compost amendment was essential for sustainable plant growth. Foliar deficiencies in N, P and Mg may persist with lower compost application rates, requiring the addition of supplemental fertiliser for healthy plant growth. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.