The Korean Journal of Ecology

The Ecological Society of Korea (한국생태학회)
권호 표지

Effects of Fertilizer and Sewage Sludge Treatments on Germination and Growth of Woody Plants in Metal Mine Tailings

  • Lee, Sul-Ki (School of Life Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Cho, Do-Soon (School of Life Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • Published : 2000.12.01
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Abstract

The effects of sludge and fertilizer application on germination and seedling growth of woody plants on heavy metal mine tailings were evaluated by greenhouse experiment. Two different mine tailings (Lead-zinc mine tailings from Kwangmyong, Kyonggi-do and tungsten mine tailings from Sangdong. Kangwon-do). four fertilizer treatments (N +P +K: 20, 40, 60, and 80 kg/m$^3$), and four sewage sludge treatments (5.5, 11, 22.5, and 45 Mg/m$^3$) were used in the experiment. Tested plants were Pinus densiflora, Larix leptolepis, Amorpha fruticosa, and Alnus hirsuta. There were three replicates for each treatment. In addition, vermiculite was used instead of mine tailings to determine the effect of physical amendments. Fifty seeds of a species were sown in a pot (upper diameter 13.5 cm, depth 10 cm) and seedling emergence were recorded daily for 30 days. The highest germination rate was 53% for all treatments. Germination rate of Larix leptolepis was lowest among the four species studied. One month later after seeding, seedlings were thinned and only 5 seedling were left in each pot, and fertilizer and sewage sludge were applied once again. Growth of seedlings were determined for 10 weeks since then. Most plants grew very poorly or died within 5 weeks on lead/zinc mine tailings from Kwangmyong. The analysis of heavy metal contents by the total dissolution method showed that heavy metals generally increased in the order of tungsten mine tailings from Sangdong < sewage sludge from Puchon < lead/zinc mine tailings from Kwangmyong. Growth of woody plants was improved significantly by the fertilizer treatments on tungsten mine tailings. In contrast. survival and growth of woody plants were not affected significantly by the sewage sludge treatment on both tailings. This study shows that fertilizer applied to established seeded stands may provide some benefits in terms of increased ground cover in the field. It is suggested that reclamation should be proceeded by the study of the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of mine tailings.

Keywords

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