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Role of grass-legume communities in revegetation of a subalpine mine site in British Columbia

Abstract

This study describes an investigation of the potential for pioneer grass-legume communities to stabilize and ameliorate geologically-fresh soil leading to the establishment of a self-sustaining, progressive plant succession on a surface-mined subalpine site. The study area is located 2000 m above sea level in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Field studies revealed chronological trends in grass-legume communities at four sites revegetated during 1974-1978 including: species composition, legumes (Trifolium repens L., T. hybridum L. and Medicago sativa L.) performing increasingly poorly on the older sites; biomass changes, a shoot to root ratio (S/R) decreasing from 2.3 to 0.2 as the communities aged; and litter accumulation which continued even on the oldest site. Fertilizer (13-16-10) operationally applied at 150-391 kg/ha enhanced the growth of Dactylis gomerata L. and litter degradation, and acidified the soil. Nitrogen fertilization was also associated with two clear inverse relationships identified between D. glomerata and Festuca rubra L. biomass, and between soil pH and phosphorus levels. In greenhouse tests grasses were revealed to be more efficient soil nitrogen consumers than were legumes and nitrogen fixation decreased significantly (P < 0.01) and linearly with increasing grass seeding rates.
Authors:
Publication Date:
Jan 01, 1982
Product Type:
Thesis/Dissertation
Reference Number:
EDB-85-074936
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; BRITISH COLUMBIA; LAND RECLAMATION; GRASS; PLANT GROWTH; LEGUMINOSAE; FERTILIZERS; NITROGEN; NITROGEN FIXATION; PH VALUE; PHOSPHORUS; POTASSIUM; REVEGETATION; ROCKY MOUNTAINS; SOILS; SURFACE MINING; ALKALI METALS; CANADA; ELEMENTS; GROWTH; METALS; MINING; MOUNTAINS; NONMETALS; NORTH AMERICA; PLANTS; 560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987); 510500 - Environment, Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989); 010900 - Coal, Lignite, & Peat- Environmental Aspects
OSTI ID:
5976773
Country of Origin:
Canada
Language:
English
Availability:
National Library of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Submitting Site:
HEDB
Size:
Pages: v
Announcement Date:
May 01, 1985

Citation Formats

Yamanaka, K. Role of grass-legume communities in revegetation of a subalpine mine site in British Columbia. Canada: N. p., 1982. Web.
Yamanaka, K. Role of grass-legume communities in revegetation of a subalpine mine site in British Columbia. Canada.
Yamanaka, K. 1982. "Role of grass-legume communities in revegetation of a subalpine mine site in British Columbia." Canada.
@misc{etde_5976773,
title = {Role of grass-legume communities in revegetation of a subalpine mine site in British Columbia}
author = {Yamanaka, K}
abstractNote = {This study describes an investigation of the potential for pioneer grass-legume communities to stabilize and ameliorate geologically-fresh soil leading to the establishment of a self-sustaining, progressive plant succession on a surface-mined subalpine site. The study area is located 2000 m above sea level in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Field studies revealed chronological trends in grass-legume communities at four sites revegetated during 1974-1978 including: species composition, legumes (Trifolium repens L., T. hybridum L. and Medicago sativa L.) performing increasingly poorly on the older sites; biomass changes, a shoot to root ratio (S/R) decreasing from 2.3 to 0.2 as the communities aged; and litter accumulation which continued even on the oldest site. Fertilizer (13-16-10) operationally applied at 150-391 kg/ha enhanced the growth of Dactylis gomerata L. and litter degradation, and acidified the soil. Nitrogen fertilization was also associated with two clear inverse relationships identified between D. glomerata and Festuca rubra L. biomass, and between soil pH and phosphorus levels. In greenhouse tests grasses were revealed to be more efficient soil nitrogen consumers than were legumes and nitrogen fixation decreased significantly (P < 0.01) and linearly with increasing grass seeding rates.}
place = {Canada}
year = {1982}
month = {Jan}
}