The role of microorganisms in the revegetation of strip-mined land in the western united states

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · J. Range Manage.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3897311· OSTI ID:6621339

Cundell, A M

The role of microorganisms in the reclamation of spent shale wastes in western Colorado and the overburden from lignite stripmining areas in North Dakota are discussed. Adverse conditions for plant growth, such as low organic matter content, salinity, fine texture, and a lack of nitrogen and phosphorus limit the rate of revegetation of the mining wastes. Microbial processes are responsible for the accretion of organic matter and nitrogen fixation. Possible strategies to take advantage of microbial activities to encourage plant growth in stripmined lands are considered. (numerous references, 1table)

• Research Organization: Harvard Univ
• OSTI ID: 6621339
• Journal Information: J. Range Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Range Manage.; (United States) Vol. 30:4; ISSN JRMGA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040900 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Waste management
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560302 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
560303 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOMASS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMISTRY
COAL
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND COVER
GROWTH
LAND RECLAMATION
LIGNITE
MANAGEMENT
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MICROORGANISMS
MINING
OIL SHALES
OVERBURDEN
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
REVEGETATION
ROCKS
SHALES
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOIL MECHANICS
SPENT SHALES
SURFACE MINING
WASTE MANAGEMENT