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Direct Seeding of Tree Species on Copper Mine Wastes in the Southwestern United States
Author(s) -
Day A. D.,
Ludeke K. L.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1980.00472425000900020029x
Subject(s) - revegetation , tailings , overburden , eucalyptus , environmental science , agronomy , seedling , botany , geology , mining engineering , ecology , biology , land reclamation , chemistry
Experiments were conducted in Arizona to study the effects of four soil materials in copper mine wastes (desert soil, overburden, overburden plus tailings, and tailings) on germination, seedling establishment, and growth of five tree species. Seeds of desert tobacco ( Nicotiana glauca Grah.), tiny capsule ( Eucalyptus microtheca F. J. Muell.), silver dollar gum ( Eucalyptus polyanthemos Schauer), red gum ( Eucalyptus rostrata Schlechtend.), and velvet mesquite [ Prosopis juliflora (Swartz.) DC.] were broadcast planted on each soil material. Plant growth data indicated that desert soil was most productive followed by overburden, overburden plus tailings, and tailings, in decreasing order. All tree species produced taller plants, more dry matter yield, and more ground cover during their second year of growth than they did during the first year. Although desert tobacco grew taller and produced more ground cover than did the other four tree species, the establishment of the five species together on copper mine wastes may provide the most desirable revegetation on the disturbed areas. It is believed that the planting of a variety of adapted trees on copper mine wastes in the southwestern U.S. is the most effective way to revegetate these disturbed areas and blend them into the surrounding environment.