Effect of amendment C:N ratio on plant richness, cover and metal content for acidic Pb and Zn mine tailings in Leadville, Colorado.
Biosolids and woody debris were applied with target C:N ratios of 8:1 to 50:1 to phytotoxic, acidic, high metal mine tailings to test the effect of amendment C:N ratio on native plant restoration. Total soil C decreased over time indicating an active microbial community. The 8:1 treatment initially had no growth, the highest plant cover for the final sampling (86.8+/-13.8%) and the lowest number of species (3.33+/-0.4). The greatest number of species was in the 30:1 treatment (5.44+/-0.45). Plant cover increased over time for all treatments from 44.7% in 2001 to 71% in 2005. This response was consistent across all except for the 30:1 treatment, which showed a slight decrease in the final year (65+/-11%). Volunteer species and evidence of animal grazing were observed in all amended plots. Results indicate that a C:N ratio>/=20:1 increased species diversity.
Brown
Sally
S
University of Washington, Box 352100, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. slb@u.washington.edu
Devolder
Pam
P
Compton
Harry
H
Henry
Chuck
C
D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002244:Carbon; D003120:Colorado; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D009584:Nitrogen; D063245:Plant Development; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D002244:Carbon; D015032:Zinc; D009584:Nitrogen