1
|
Golembiewski DA, Slothower BM, Bishop ER, Smith FS, Stumberg PM, Rideout-Hanzak S, Wester DB. Fracking pond restoration in the western Rio Grande Plains, Texas: Stockpiled topsoils may not be necessary, but seeding helps. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 346:118932. [PMID: 37703612 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Soil disturbances that accompany energy development can damage local habitats. Prior to oil and gas extraction, it is commonly recommended that topsoil stockpiles be created to aid future restoration. Our study area, a retired fracking pond in the western Rio Grande Plains, Texas, was restored in 2017 with stockpiled topsoil that was collected in 2013. We segregated the existing stockpile into three layers that were ∼1.5 m in thickness and distributed these layers, along with a non-amended control surface (consisting of former subsoil that made up the perimeter of the fracking pond), in strips over the restoration area. Each of the four surfaces was seeded with a mixture of (1) 13 native grasses, (2) 13 native grasses plus an annual warm-season grass cover crop, or (3) non-seeded. We monitored plant density and species composition two through five years post-restoration. The non-amended control surface had higher seeded grass density during the final 2 sampling periods; stockpiled surfaces seldom differed from each other. Previous year's competing plant density had little effect on restoration success. Providing supplemental seed initially increased seeded plant density but benefits diminished over time; adding a cover crop was not advantageous. Changes in community composition over time were similar on stockpile surfaces but more variable than observed on the control surface. Results suggest that stockpiling topsoil may not be necessary, but that supplemental seeding was beneficial, to restoration success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dustin A Golembiewski
- Former Graduate Research Assistant, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, USA
| | - Brianna M Slothower
- Laboratory Technician, Department of Soil and Water Systems, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Emily R Bishop
- Weber River Watershed Coordinator, Utah Dept. Agriculture and Food, Ogden, UT, USA
| | | | | | - Sandra Rideout-Hanzak
- Professor and Research Scientist, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, USA
| | - David B Wester
- Professor and Research Scientist, and Frances and Peter Swenson Endowed Chair for Rangeland and Restoration Research, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jin W, Wei Z, Liu X, Li Q, Han C, Bian Z, Zhang X, Qian F, Liu Y. Effects of constructing farmland with large amounts of iron tailings as soil reconstruction materials on soil properties and crop growth. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20205. [PMID: 36418371 PMCID: PMC9684151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24599-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
With continuous population growth and farmland decrease, the food security is seriously threatened. Farmland reclamation has been used as a means of raising the agricultural productivity and improving the ecological environment. However, the lack of reclaimed soil represents a serious problem. To verify the feasibility and effect of using large amounts of iron tailings to construct farmland, ten treatments (T1-T10) were designed to represent different soil profiles of regional normal farmland and constructed profiles using iron tailings. All treatments involving an iron tailings layer below topsoil exhibited higher soil water contents. The field capacity under T3 (20-cm iron tailings layer below cinnamon soil (b)) was 19.20% higher than that under T7 (20-cm red clay layer below cinnamon soil (b)), and the field capacity under T5 (20-cm iron tailings layer below cinnamon soil (a)) was 2.26% higher than that under T9 (20-cm red clay layer below cinnamon soil (a)). The soil water contents under T3 and T5 were almost the same as those under T7 and T9, respectively. The water-holding capacity of the 30-cm iron tailings layer (T6) was better than that of the 20-cm iron tailings layer (T2). Additionally, none of the treatments caused salt injury to maize. The maize height and stem thickness under the treatments employing iron tailings layers below topsoil were significantly greater than those in normal farmland; the maize height and stem thickness under T3 were 136.82% and 32.02% greater, respectively, than those under T7, and the values under T5 were 9.13% and 9.56% greater, respectively, than those under T9. The maize yields matched or even surpassed those in normal farmland, namely, the maize yield under T5 was equal to that under T9, and the maize yield under T3 was 12.69% higher than that under T7. In general, the application of an iron tailings layer below topsoil to construct farmland is a feasible and environmentally friendly way to realize sustainable farmland utilization and is beneficial to soil quality and crop yield improvement. Collectively, these results provide insight into the efficient utilization of iron tailings and environmental protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Jin
- grid.412557.00000 0000 9886 8131College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161 China ,Key Laboratory of Trinity Protection and Monitoring of Cultivated Land, Shenyang, 110161 China
| | - Zhongyi Wei
- grid.412557.00000 0000 9886 8131College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161 China ,Key Laboratory of Trinity Protection and Monitoring of Cultivated Land, Shenyang, 110161 China
| | - Xinzheng Liu
- grid.412557.00000 0000 9886 8131College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161 China ,Key Laboratory of Trinity Protection and Monitoring of Cultivated Land, Shenyang, 110161 China
| | - Qi Li
- Liaoning Natural Resources Affairs Service Center, Shenyang, 110011 China
| | - Chunlan Han
- grid.412557.00000 0000 9886 8131College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161 China ,Key Laboratory of Trinity Protection and Monitoring of Cultivated Land, Shenyang, 110161 China
| | - Zhenxing Bian
- grid.412557.00000 0000 9886 8131College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161 China ,Key Laboratory of Trinity Protection and Monitoring of Cultivated Land, Shenyang, 110161 China
| | - Xufeng Zhang
- grid.412557.00000 0000 9886 8131College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161 China
| | - Fengkui Qian
- grid.412557.00000 0000 9886 8131College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110161 China ,Key Laboratory of Trinity Protection and Monitoring of Cultivated Land, Shenyang, 110161 China
| | - Yonghai Liu
- Jianping Shengde Rixin Mining Co., Ltd, Chaoyang, 122400 China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schultz NL, Sluiter IRK, Allen GG, Machado-de-Lima NM, Muñoz-Rojas M. Biocrust Amendments to Topsoils Facilitate Biocrust Restoration in a Post-mining Arid Environment. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:882673. [PMID: 35958145 PMCID: PMC9360975 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.882673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil cryptogamic biocrusts provide many ecological functions in arid zone ecosystems, though their natural reestablishment in disturbed areas is slow. Accelerating reestablishment of biocrusts may facilitate the establishment of vascular plant communities within the timeframes of restoration targets (typically 5–15 years). One technique is to inoculate the soil surface using slurries of biocrust material harvested from another site. However, this is destructive to donor sites, and hence the potential to dilute slurries will govern the feasibility of this practice at large spatial scales. We conducted a replicated experiment on a disturbed mine site to test the individual and combined effects of two strategies for accelerating soil cryptogamic biocrust reestablishment: (1) slurry inoculation using biocrust material harvested from native vegetation; and (2) the use of psyllium husk powder as a source of mucilage to bind the soil surface, and to potentially provide a more cohesive substrate for biocrust development. The experiment comprised 90 experimental plots across six treatments, including different dilutions of the biocrust slurries and treatments with and without psyllium. Over 20 months, the reestablishing crust was dominated by cyanobacteria (including Tolypothrix distorta and Oculatella atacamensis), and these established more rapidly in the inoculated treatments than in the control treatments. The inoculated treatments also maintained this cover of cyanobacteria better through prolonged adverse conditions. The dilute biocrust slurry, at 1:100 of the biocrust in the remnant vegetation, performed as well as the 1:10 slurry, suggesting that strong dilution of biocrust slurry may improve the feasibility of using this technique at larger spatial scales. Psyllium husk powder did not improve biocrust development but helped to maintain a soil physical crust through hot, dry, and windy conditions, and so the potential longer-term advantages of psyllium need to be tested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nick L. Schultz
- The Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Nick L. Schultz,
| | - Ian R. K. Sluiter
- School of Geography Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Ogyris Ecological Research, Birdwoodton, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Nathali M. Machado-de-Lima
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Miriam Muñoz-Rojas
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Min X, Xu D, Hu X, Li X. Changes in total organic carbon and organic carbon fractions of reclaimed minesoils in response to the filling of different substrates. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 312:114928. [PMID: 35325738 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Soil organic carbon (SOC) of reclaimed minesoil (RMS) is regarded as an important part of terrestrial SOC, and SOC losses of RMSs occur during the substantial soil compaction and the removal, storage and backfilling of the topsoil, which lead to poor soil structure. The filling of alternative soil substrates is considered to disturb the soil structure of RMSs, however, how SOC pool changes in the RMSs filled with various substrates and the mechanisms are less clearly understood. Therefore, a study on reclaimed area filled with three typical alternative soil substrates, including mining waste reclamation (MWR), river sand reclamation (RSR) and river mud reclamation (RMR), was started in mining area of Eastern China, where total SOC, labile SOC fractions, stable SOC fraction and soil physicochemical properties were measured. The results showed that (1) the total SOC, labile SOC fractions (microbial biomass carbon (MBC), readily oxidizable organic carbon (ROOC), light fraction organic carbon (LFOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC)) and stable SOC fraction (humic acids carbon (HAC)) contents of RMSs were lower than those of non-subsided cultivated land (NCL), the filling of alternative soil substrates had a significant effect on the SOC composition of RMSs, and the backfilling layer of RSR and the filling layer of MWR were more similar with NCL than other treatments in SOC composition; (2) In backfilling layer, bulk density (BD), connectivity index (τ), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK) and soil urease (URE) were strong predictors for dissimilarities of SOC composition, and the difference in soil physics and soil fertility had more direct and indirect effects on the contents of SOC and SOC fractions; (3) In filling layer, water content (WC), macropore number (MN), microporosity (Φmac), available nitrogen (AN), electronic conductivity (EC), soil urease (URE) and sucrase (SUC) were strong predictors for dissimilarities of SOC composition, and the substrate texture and soil physics had more direct and indirect effects on the contents of SOC and SOC fractions. Easing the compactness and strengthening fertilizing management of backfilling layer, while improving the texture of filling substrates benefit the increasing of the SOC content of RMSs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Min
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Taian, 271018, People's Republic of China.
| | - Dongyun Xu
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Taian, 271018, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Hu
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xinju Li
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, People's Republic of China; National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Taian, 271018, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Valliere JM, Ruscalleda Alvarez J, Cross AT, Lewandrowski W, Riviera F, Stevens JC, Tomlinson S, Tudor EP, Wong WS, Yong JWH, Veneklaas EJ. Restoration ecophysiology: an ecophysiological approach to improve restoration strategies and outcomes in severely disturbed landscapes. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin M. Valliere
- Department of Biology California State University Dominguez Hills Carson CA 90747 U.S.A
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Jaume Ruscalleda Alvarez
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Adam T. Cross
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
- EcoHealth Network, 1330 Beacon Street Brookline MA 02446 U.S.A
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Wolfgang Lewandrowski
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- Kings Park Science Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Kings Park WA 6005 Australia
| | - Fiamma Riviera
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Jason C. Stevens
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
- Kings Park Science Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Kings Park WA 6005 Australia
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
- Kings Park Science Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Kings Park WA 6005 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Emily P. Tudor
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
- Kings Park Science Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Kings Park WA 6005 Australia
| | - Wei San Wong
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| | - Jean W. H. Yong
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
- Department of Biosystems and Technology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Alnarp Sweden
| | - Erik J. Veneklaas
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
| |
Collapse
|