Field scale assessment of artificial topsoil: a Victorian coal mine experience

摘要: The Latrobe Valley is host to several open-cut coal mines which pose an environmental risk if poorly managed. To reduce risks associated with acid mine drainage and fire, progressive rehabilitation of batters recommended. A lack topsoil in the has led industrial symbiosis generate artificial topsoil’s (ATS). Based on previous experiments, three ATS were created by combining overburden (OB), brown (BC), fly ash (FA) one two waste products from a local paper mill – Effluent Sewage Recovery (ESR) or Enviroshield (ES). compared (TS). study analyzed physical chemical properties topsoil’s, seed germination grass establishment. It was found that all had similar alkaline acidic TS. enriched salts be sodic highly saline while TS non-saline but slightly sodic. also low nitrogen and, due high pH soil, nutrients such as phosphorus, iron manganese not bioavailable. For duration study, establishment significant, however, beginning establish As such, it recommended further investigation undertaken determine appropriate mix for tolerant soils. Further research being conducted source alkalinity salinity ATS.