Addition of an organic amendment and/or residue mud to bauxite residue sand in order to improve its properties as a growth medium

Jones, B. E. H., Haynes, R. J. and Phillips, I. R. (2012) Addition of an organic amendment and/or residue mud to bauxite residue sand in order to improve its properties as a growth medium. Journal of Environmental Management, 95 1: 29-38.


Author Jones, B. E. H.
Haynes, R. J.
Phillips, I. R.
Title Addition of an organic amendment and/or residue mud to bauxite residue sand in order to improve its properties as a growth medium
Journal name Journal of Environmental Management  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-03
Sub-type Article
Year available 2011
DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.09.014
Volume number 95
Issue number 1
ISSN 0301-4797; 1095-8630
Start page 29
End page 38
Total pages 10
Place of publication London, United Kingdom
Publisher Academic Press
Collection year 2012
Language eng
Formatted abstract The effects of addition of carbonated residue mud (RMC) or seawater neutralized residue mud (RMS), at two rates, in the presence or absence of added green waste compost, on the chemical, physical and microbial properties of gypsum-treated bauxite residue sand were studied in a laboratory incubation study. The growth of two species commonly used in revegetation of residue sand (Lolium rigidum and Acacia saligna) in the treatments was then studied in a 18-week greenhouse study. Addition of green waste-based compost increased ammonium acetate-extractable (exchangeable) Mg, K and Na. Addition of residue mud at 5 and 10% w/w reduced exchangeable Ca but increased that of Mg and Na (and K for RMS). Concentrations of K, Na, Mg and level of EC in saturation paste extracts were increased by residue mud additions. Concentrations of cations in water extracts were considerably higher than those in saturation paste extracts but trends with treatment were broadly similar. Addition of both compost and residue mud caused a significant decrease in macroporosity with a concomitant increase in mesoporosity and microporosity, available water holding capacity and the quantity of water held at field capacity. Increasing rates of added residue mud reduced the percentage of sample present as discrete sand particles and increased that in aggregated form (particularly in the 1–2 and >10 mm diameter ranges). Organic C content, C/N ratio, soluble organic C, microbial biomass C and basal respiration were increased by compost additions. Where compost was added, residue mud additions caused a substantial increase in microbial biomass and basal respiration. L. rigidum grew satisfactorily in all treatments although yields tended to be reduced by additions of mud (especially RMC) particularly in the absence of added compost. Growth of A. saligna was poor in sand alone and mud-amended sand and was greatly promoted by additions of compost. However, in the presence of compost, addition of carbonated mud had a marked depressive effect on both top and root growth. The significant positive effect of compost was attributed to substantial inputs of K and marked reductions in the Na/K ratio in soil solution while the depressive effect of RMC was attributed to its greater alkalinity and consequently higher concentrations of HCO3− in solution.
Keyword Bauxite processing sand
Compost
Red mud
Remediation
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ
Additional Notes Available online 30 October 2011

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: School of Agriculture and Food Sciences
Official 2013 Collection
 
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