Algal biochar enhances the re-vegetation of stockpiled mine soils with native grass

D A Roberts; A J Cole; Nicholas A Paul; R de Nys

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.07.002

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Algal biochar enhances the re-vegetation of stockpiled mine soils with native grass

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Algal biochar enhances the re-vegetation of stockpiled mine soils with native grass

D A Roberts, A J Cole, Nicholas A Paul and R de Nys

Journal of Environmental Management, Vol.161, pp.173-180

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.07.002

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Abstract

biochar

macroalgae

mine rehabilitation

terrestrial restoration

mining

metals

In most countries the mining industry is required to rehabilitate disturbed land with native vegetation. A typical approach is to stockpile soils during mining and then use this soil to recreate landforms after mining. Soil that has been stockpiled for an extended period typically contains little or no organic matter and nutrient, making soil rehabilitation a slow and difficult process. Here, we take freshwater macroalgae (Oedogonium) cultivated in waste water at a coal-fired power station and use it as a feedstock for the production of biochar, then use this biochar to enhance the rehabilitation of two types of stockpiled soil - a ferrosol and a sodosol - from the adjacent coal mine. While the biomass had relatively high concentrations of some metals, due to its cultivation in waste water, the resulting biochar did not leach metals into the pore water of soil-biochar mixtures. The biochar did, however, contribute essential trace elements (particularly K) to soil pore water. The biochar had very strong positive effects on the establishment and growth of a native plant (Kangaroo grass, Themeda australis) in both of the soils. The addition of the algal biochar to both soils at 10tha-1 reduced the time to germination by the grass and increased the growth and production of plant biomass. Somewhat surprisingly, there was no beneficial effect of a higher application rate (25tha-1) of the biochar in the ferrosol, which highlights the importance of matching biochar application rates to the requirements of different types of soil. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that algal biochar can be produced from biomass cultivated in waste water and used at low application rates to improve the rehabilitation of a variety of soils typical of coal mines. This novel process links biomass production in waste water to end use of the biomass in land rehabilitation, simultaneously addressing two environmental issues associated with coal-mining and processing. © 2015.

Details

Title: Algal biochar enhances the re-vegetation of stockpiled mine soils with native grass
Authors: D A Roberts (Author) - James Cook University
A J Cole (Author) - James Cook University
Nicholas A Paul (Author) - James Cook University
R de Nys (Author) - James Cook University
Publication details: Journal of Environmental Management, Vol.161, pp.173-180
Publisher: Academic Press
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.07.002
ISSN: 0301-4797
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451081402621
Output Type: Journal article

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