Phosphogypsum Stack Reclamation Using Soil Amendments and Short-Rotational Woody Species

Martin J. C. Robinson, Amalesh Dhar, M. Anne Naeth () and Connie K. Nichol
Additional contact information
Martin J. C. Robinson: Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada
Amalesh Dhar: Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada
M. Anne Naeth: Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada
Connie K. Nichol: Agrium Fort Saskatchewan Nitrogen Operations, Fort Saskatchewan, AB T8L 4J1, Canada

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Phosphogypsum (PG) is a by-product of phosphorus fertilizer production that is stored in large piles (stacks). Typically, PG stack reclamation focuses on topsoil caps vegetated with grass which has limited economic return. Therefore, a study was conducted using the short-rotational tree species ( Picea glauca, Populus balsamifera ) to determine their potential in PG stack reclamation. Five soil amendments (compost, compost with mycorrhizal fungi, manure pellets, black earth, mycorrhizal fungi) with a control (no amendment on PG) were used in a field experiment to determine whether they would enhance the growth of the planted species. After two years, amendments had little effect on the height, diameter or biomass of either species. P. balsamifera on PG (control) was significantly healthier than in amended soils. The healthiest and most successful trees for both species were found in the control treatment. Organic amendments (compost, manure) had significantly higher nitrate and phosphorus than most of the other treatments. Black earth and mycorrhizal fungi did not affect any soil properties relative to the control. This study suggests short-rotational forestry plantations of Populus balsamifera appear to be meeting reclamation objectives for PG stacks, similar to traditional grass covers; however, the built soil profile could limit tree success in future.

Keywords: biomass; survival; reclamation; soil amendments; Picea glauca; Populus balsamifera (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/11/2003/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/11/2003/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:11:p:2003-:d:967419

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().