Restoration of mine tailings with organic amendments and plant species: Impact on the physical properties of the soil

Abstract

The use of organic residue - based amendments for the restoration of polluted soils is a common practice that allows to improving soil properties and reincorporating plant nutrients to the natural biogeochemical cycles, in addition to waste valorizating. However, there are few field trials evaluating the long-term effect of this practice on soil properties. The objective of this work is to monitor the evolution of soil physical properties in mine soils restored with organic amendments in combination with two plant species (phytomanagement), Salix viminalis or Agrostis capillaris. In the non-treated soil the physical properties were very desfavourable for plant growth, with coarse textures, high density, low porosity and low capacity of water retention. Phytomanagement techniques improved aggregation, reduced both soil compaction and density, and increased both porosity and water retention capacity, recovering characteristics similar to f the surrounding natural soils.