Biosolids as a long-term solution for soil development on mine tailings

在加拿大的大多数地区，矿场必须在采矿停止后进行复垦。来自中国的生物固体 城市垃圾处理厂已被证明可以通过改善土壤生物物理来帮助场地恢复。 属性。然而，由于担心，生物固体的使用在加拿大公众中存在争议。 关于生物固体中的重金属淋溶到恢复的生态系统的问题。例如，有 最近不列颠哥伦比亚省尼古拉山谷内的居民就申请 卑诗省梅里特附近的生物固体。因此，矿业公司，如泰克高地山谷合伙公司(HVC)， 要求提供关于生物固体对矿山复垦场地的短期和长期影响的信息。有了这个 信息公司可以就生物固体在修复过程中的有效性和安全性做出明智的决定 受干扰的地点。 1998年，在复垦尾矿区的HVC矿建立了两个研究点。我们的目标是 评估不同水平的生物固体施用量对土壤理化性质的影响 植物生长和化学。过去对这些站点的研究报告称，在生物固体应用2年后， 提高了植物必需养分的利用率，生物固体比化肥更有效 改善土壤质量和固碳，提高植物组织和植物体内的钼浓度 土壤水文的变化是不确定的。最初的研究只报道了短期影响，但它是 重要的是，土壤和植物养分、重金属浓度、碳含量的长期变化 和水文学可以被量化。这些研究地点仍然存在，但这一地区有可能有新的采矿 可能会导致这些地块被摧毁。因此，如果要让采矿业更多地了解 生物固体的长期影响，我们必须衡量对土壤物理性质和植物的长期影响 立即取出组织。本研究的目的是评估生物固体对土壤和植物的影响。 在矿山复垦场地应用生物固体17年后的特征。

In most regions in Canada, mine sites must be reclaimed after the mining has ceased. Biosolids from municipal waste treatment plants have been shown to assist in site restoration by improving soil biophysical properties. However, the use of biosolids is controversial with the Canadian public because of concern regarding the leaching of heavy metals from the biosolids into the restored ecosystem. For example, there have been recent protests by residents within the Nicola Valley, British Columbia, regarding the application of biosolids near Merritt, BC. Therefore, mine companies, such as Teck Highland Valley Partnership (HVC), require information on the short and long-term impacts of biosolids on mine reclamation sites. With this information the company can make informed decisions on the effectiveness and safety of biosolids in restoring disturbed sites. In 1998, two study sites were established at the HVC mine on reclaimed tailings areas. The objective was to assess the impacts of different levels of biosolids application on soil physical and chemical properties and on plant growth and chemistry. Past research on these sites reported that 2 years after biosolids application the availability of essential plant nutrients were improved, biosolids were more effective than fertilizers at improving soil quality and carbon sequestration, concentrations of Mo were elevated in plant tissues and changes in soil hydrology were inconclusive. The initial study only reported on the short term impacts, but it is essential that the longer term changes in soil and plant nutrients, heavy metal concentrations, carbon content and hydrology be quantified. These study sites still remain but there is a possibility that new mining in this area may result in these plots being destroyed. Therefore, if the mining industry is to be more informed on the long-term impacts of biosolids, we must measure the long-term impacts on physical soil properties and plant tissue immediately. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of biosolids on soil and plant characteristics 17 years after the application of biosolids to a mine reclamation site.