Approaches to native plant establishment on treated mature fine tailings: From manipulation of plant materials to use of robotic systems

种植植被是一种潜在的方法来脱水饱和尾矿结构和提高土壤强度通过根床作为天然增强土工布。由于对人员的安全风险，专业人员的传统种植和撒播无法在非常软的沉积物上大规模完成。本研究旨在针对软尾矿库的独特条件，确定可行的建厂途径。方法将包括不同形式的播种和苗木幼苗的种植。还将展示机器人在软尾矿上部署和施肥植物的方法。感兴趣的物种包括：细长的小麦草（Agropyron trachycaulum），沙洲柳（Salix exigua）和水莎草（Carex aquatilis）。总之，这些物种代表了一系列的耐湿性和生长习性。此外，还将进一步检查更广泛的本地柳树品种，以测试它们在软尾矿上生长和发育的能力。通过所有试验，将收集详细的植物和岩土数据，以量化植物介导脱水的影响。将进行技术计量经济评价，以评估扩大规模的费用、种植的最适当时机和随后的材料运输，以确保有效脱水和加强，以及商业执行所需的自动化程度。预期的结果是一项利用植被作为土壤脱水和强化方法的协议。

Planting vegetation is a potential method to dewater saturated tailings structures and increase soil strength through a root bed that acts as a natural reinforcing geotextile. Conventional planting and broadcast seeding by professional crews cannot be accomplished at large scale on very soft deposits because of the safety risk to personnel. This study aims to determine viable plant establishment approaches for the unique conditions presented by soft tailings deposits. Approaches will include different forms of seeding and planting of nursery stock seedlings. Robotic methods to deploy and fertilize plants on soft tailings will also be demonstrated. The species of interest include: slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum), sandbar willow (Salix exigua) and water sedge (Carex aquatilis). Together, these species represent a range of moisture tolerance and growth habits. In addition, further examination of a wider range of native willow species will be tested for capacity in their growth and development on soft tailings. Through all trials, detailed plant and geotechnical data will be collected in order to quantify the effect of plant-mediated dewatering. A techno-econometric evaluation will be done to assess the cost of scale-up, the most appropriate timing for planting and subsequent lifts of material to ensure effective dewatering and strengthening, and the degree of automation necessary for commercial implementation. The expected outcome is a protocol for using vegetation as a method for dewatering and strengthening of soil. A highly interdisciplinary group of university and polytechnic students and staff will comprise the team. Two graduate students, one post-doctoral fellow, four university undergraduate and two college diploma researchers will be trained through this project with support from three research technicians and research associates.