Do peat amendments to oil sands wet sediments affect Carex aquatilis biomass for reclamation success?
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Published source details
Roy M.-C., Mollard F.P.O. & Foote A.L. (2014) Do peat amendments to oil sands wet sediments affect Carex aquatilis biomass for reclamation success?. Journal of Environmental Management, 139, 154-163.
Published source details Roy M.-C., Mollard F.P.O. & Foote A.L. (2014) Do peat amendments to oil sands wet sediments affect Carex aquatilis biomass for reclamation success?. Journal of Environmental Management, 139, 154-163.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Transplant wetland soil before/after planting non-woody plants: freshwater wetlands Action Link |
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Add upland topsoil before/after planting non-woody plants: freshwater wetlands Action Link |
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Transplant wetland soil before/after planting non-woody plants: freshwater wetlands
A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study in 2010–2011 in six experimental wetland trenches in Alberta, Canada (Roy et al. 2014) found that adding peat-rich soil to mine tailings did not reduce survival of planted water sedge Carex aquatilis over two growing seasons, and typically increased the biomass of surviving sedges. In two of four comparisons, pots of mine tailings mixed with peat-rich soil supported higher sedge survival (50–67%) than pots of raw mine tailings (24–44%). There was no significant difference between treatments in the other two comparisons (added peat: 74%; raw tailings: 54–69%). In three of four comparisons, the above-ground biomass of surviving sedges was higher in pots of mine tailings mixed with peat-rich soil (2.1–2.8 g/trench) than in pots of raw mine tailings (1.1–1.5 g/trench). There was no significant difference between treatments in the other comparisons (added peat: 2.2 g/trench; raw tailings: 2.2 g/trench). Methods: In June 2010, water sedges were collected from a natural marsh and randomly planted into 192 one-gallon pots (number of plants/pot not clearly reported). Half of the pots contained mine tailings mixed with peat-rich soil (1:2 parts). Half of the pots contained pure mine tailings (dense sediments, low in organic matter, rich in salts and metals). The pots were placed into six experimental wetland trenches: 16 peaty pots and 16 raw tailings pots/trench. Surviving plants were harvested at the end of the 2011 growing season. Biomass was dried before weighing.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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Add upland topsoil before/after planting non-woody plants: freshwater wetlands
A replicated, randomized, paired, controlled study in 2010–2011 in six experimental wetland trenches in Alberta, Canada (Roy et al. 2014) found that adding peat/mineral soil to mine tailings did not reduce survival of planted water sedge Carex aquatilis over two growing seasons, and typically increased the biomass of surviving sedges. In two of four comparisons, pots of mine tailings mixed with peat/mineral soil supported higher sedge survival (50–67%) than pots of raw mine tailings (24–44%). There was no significant difference between treatments in the other two comparisons (peat/mineral soil: 74%; raw tailings: 54–69%). In three of four comparisons, the above-ground biomass of surviving sedges was higher in pots of mine tailings mixed with peat/mineral soil (2.1–2.8 g/trench) than in pots of raw mine tailings (1.1–1.5 g/trench). There was no significant difference between treatments in the other comparisons (peat/mineral soil: 2.2 g/trench; raw tailings: 2.2 g/trench). Methods: In June 2010, water sedges were collected from a natural marsh and randomly planted into 192 one-gallon pots (number of plants/pot not clearly reported). Half of the pots contained mine tailings amended with a mixture of peat and mineral soil (1 part tailings to 2 parts peat/mineral soil). Half of the pots contained pure mine tailings (dense sediments, low in organic matter, rich in salts and metals). The pots were placed into six experimental wetland trenches: 16 amended pots and 16 raw tailings pots/trench. Surviving plants were harvested at the end of the 2011 growing season. Biomass was dried before weighing.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
