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Edaphic Conditions, Aboveground Carbon Stocks and Plant Diversity on Nickel Mine Tailings Dump Vegetated with Senegalia polyacantha (Willd.) Seigler & Ebinger
Author(s) -
Mukaro Edeth,
Nyakudya Innocent Wadzanayi,
Jimu Luke
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/ldr.2696
Subject(s) - edaphic , revegetation , tailings , biodiversity , vegetation (pathology) , environmental science , ecology , ecological succession , biology , soil water , chemistry , medicine , pathology
Revegetation accelerates soil fertility improvement and enhances biodiversity on mine dumps. The objective of the study was to determine the status of edaphic conditions; aboveground carbon stocks; and plant diversity. The study was conducted on nickel tailings dump revegetated with Senegalia polyacantha aged 8, 9, 10 and 11 years in Zimbabwe. Results showed high bulk densities and pH values; low organic carbon; deficiency in K; and toxic levels for Ni and As implying that the tailings materials are still marginal for vegetation establishment. Limited presence of woody species suggests that the substrate is not yet suitable for colonization by such species. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.