Native-plant amendments and topsoil addition enhance soil function in post-mining arid grasslands

摘要: One of the most critical challenges faced in restoration disturbed arid lands is limited availability topsoil. In post-mining restoration, alternative soil substrates such as mine waste could be an adequate growth media to alleviate topsoil deficit, but these materials often lack appropriate characteristics support development and survival seedlings. Thus, addition exogenous organic matter may essential enhance plant function. Here, we present a case study Pilbara region (north-west Western Australia), resource-rich area subject intensive mining activities. The main objective our was assess effects different techniques reconstruction by blending available materials, sowing compositions species, locally abundant native amendment (Triodia pungens biomass) on: (i) seedling recruitment Triodia wiseana, dominant grass Australian ecosystems, (ii) chemical, physical, biological reconstructed soils, including microbial activity, total C, N, C N mineralisation. conducted 12-month multifactorial microcosms setting controlled environment. Our results showed that increased contents re-made values were still lower than those obtained High activity mineralisation rates found amended contrasted low this did not translate into improved emergence or T. wiseana. These suggest short- medium-term immobilisation caused negative priming effect fresh un-composted on communities. We similar wiseana blend (50:50) which highlights importance topsoil, even reduced amount, for establishment land restoration.