Selecting a nitrogen availability index for understanding plant nutrient dynamics in rehabilitated bauxite-processing residue sand

Goloran, Johnvie Bayang; Chen, Chengrong; Phillips, Ian; Xu, Zhihong; Condron, Leo M.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.07.004

Cited by 18 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Such indexes usually take account of easily mineralisable 'labile' soil organic N as well as mineral N (extractable NH 4 + -N and NO 3 À -N) already present in the profile. However, Goloran et al (2013) showed that for bauxite residue sand, under both pot experiment and field conditions, KCl-extractable NO 3 À -N was best correlated with plant biomass N. Presumably, the soil organic N pool had not yet built up to a level where potentially mineralisable N was significantly contributing to N uptake by plants.…”

Section: Nitrogenmentioning

confidence: 94%

Soil quality and vegetation performance indicators for sustainable rehabilitation of bauxite residue disposal areas: a review

et al. 2019

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The generation of bauxite residue, the by-product of alumina manufacture from bauxite ore, has increased to a global stockpile of some 3 billion tonnes. In the absence of significant reuse options, the bulk of this residue is contained within bauxite residue disposal areas (BRDAs), which can occupy a significant footprint and pose potential environmental risk. Rehabilitation (amendment and vegetation establishment) is viewed as a significant strategy for eventual closure of the BRDAs. Major limitations to plant growth in residue include high pH, salinity, and sodicity, as well as deficiencies of macro- and micronutrients and potentially elevated levels of trace elements. The physical properties are also problematic as residue mud consolidates to form a solid mass that waterlogs easily or dries to form a massive structure, whereas sand has a very low water- and nutrient-holding capacity. A variety of techniques have been trialled at the pot level and at the field scale to bring about reductions in residue alkalinity and sodicity to promote plant establishment, with gypsum amendment viewed as the most promising. Other amendment strategies include use of organic additions or fertiliser applications, and a combined approach can lead to improved residue properties and successful plant establishment. Few reports have focused on longer term plant growth, self-propagation, and residue interactions under field conditions. There is some evidence that rehabilitated residue can support vegetation growth and soil development in the short to medium term (~15 years), but key issues such as nutrient availability and plant uptake require further study. Although rehabilitated residue can support diverse microbial communities and demonstrate trajectory analogous to soil, the ability of rehabilitated residue to support soil biota and key ecosystem processes warrants further study. The bioavailability of trace elements within rehabilitated sites and potential food chain transfer are relatively unexplored. These areas need careful study before definitive statements can be made regarding the sustainability of residue rehabilitation strategies.

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Section: Nitrogenmentioning

confidence: 94%

Soil quality and vegetation performance indicators for sustainable rehabilitation of bauxite residue disposal areas: a review

et al. 2019

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“…Seeds of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) were obtained from a local seed company in Brisbane, Australia. Annual ryegrass is the primary grass species used for dust control at the Alcoa RSA because of its tolerance to the alkalinity and sodicity of BRS (Goloran et al, 2013).…”

Section: Materials Used and Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this preference might differ in some environments (e.g. alkaline) where NH 4 + -N is unstable and converted to either NH 3 or NO 3 − (Goloran et al, 2013). The dominance of NO 3 − -N has been reported in alkaline soil in spite of the addition of ammonium-based fertilizer (Tagliavini et al, 1995).…”

Section: Plant Growth and N Uptakementioning

confidence: 99%

“…These researchers found that around 90% of added N as DAP was lost within 7 days. Another study reported the dominance of extractable NO 3 − ‐N over extractable NH 4 + ‐N and the positive relationship (NO 3 − ‐N) with leaf N biomass in spite of the application of DAP as a source of N (Goloran et al ., ). These reports imply transformation of ammonium N as DAP by nitrifying organisms in rehabilitated BRS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Pathways of different forms of nitrogen and role of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria in alkaline residue sand from bauxite processing

Goloran

Chen

Phillips

et al. 2015

European J Soil Science

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Summary Nitrogen (N) dynamics and associated processes are often overlooked in the rehabilitation protocols of disturbed landscapes. This study reports on the transformations of N fertilizers and the microbial community, and plant growth responses in rehabilitated strongly alkaline residue sand from bauxite processing (BRS). Ryegrass was grown in specifically designed growth chambers in a two‐factorial completely randomized design. Different forms of N fertilizer, such as ammonium sulphate (AS), potassium nitrate (KN) and glycine (GL), were applied at two rates. Nitrogen uptake by plants, residual inorganic N and N losses through leaching and volatilization were determined and quantified throughout the growing period. The abundance of both ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that N uptake was greater with KN fertilizer (31.3–56.4%) than with AS (23.4–47.8%) and GL (16.4–38.1%), in spite of the substantial leaching loss of NO3−. Combined N losses by volatilization and leaching with GL (39–53%) and AS (40–60%) fertilizers indicated both physico‐chemical and biological transformations of N by mineralization and nitrification. Ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria, rather than AOA, were the dominant nitrifiers that colonized the freshly rehabilitated BRS growth media. The gene copy number of AOB correlated with both soil extractable NO3−‐N (r = 0.92, P < 0.001) and ryegrass leaf biomass N (r = 0.89, P < 0.001). We concluded that AOB play a pivotal role in the cycling of N in BRS, whereas NO3−‐N is critical for plant N nutrition and rehabilitation in the alkaline BRS disposal areas.

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“…Alcoa of Australia (Alcoa) uses a dry stacking method at their residue storage areas (RSAs). This involves separating the fine (residue mud, <150 μ m) and coarse (residue sand, >150 μ m) fractions prior to transporting to the RSA (Goloran et al ., , ). The coarse fraction, herein referred to as bauxite‐processing residue sand (BRS), represents the primary material used for constructing the perimeter walls of RSAs, and the outer embankment surface is progressively rehabilitated as part of RSA closure (Gherardi & Rengel, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of amendments and fertilization on plant growth, nitrogen and phosphorus availability in rehabilitated highly alkaline bauxite‐processing residue sand

Goloran

Phillips

et al. 2014

Soil Use and Management

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The effects of organic–inorganic amendments and nitrogen‐phosphorus (NP) fertilization (NH4NO3 plus Ca (H2PO4)2) on ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) growth, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability in highly alkaline bauxite‐processing residue sand (BRS), were examined in a pot experiment. The BRS used was either unamended (control) or amended with organic (e.g. greenwaste compost and biochar) or inorganic (e.g. zeolite) materials at a rate of 10% v/v. BRS from 15 years of rehabilitation (15YRRH) was also used as the second control. NP fertilizer was applied at different rates. The experimental set up was arranged in a two factorial complete randomized design. BRS with zeolite and 15YRRH at NP fertilizer rates of 2.0 and 2.5 t/ha produced the highest dry matter, leaf N concentration and N uptake by ryegrass, which were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the other treatments, suggesting the potential of zeolite in providing stability of applied N fertilizer in BRS. Further, BRS with biochar at NP rates 2.0 and 2.5 t/ha can also be suitable amendments as they enhance growth and also improved the N and P supplying capacity of BRS. Ryegrass leaf P concentration and P uptake were above the critical P values in the 15YRRH compared with organic–inorganic amended BRS, suggesting that time is important for better P uptake from the residue. It is concluded that zeolite and biochar combined with appropriate NP fertilizer rates can improve plant growth and provide a source of nutrients for ryegrass establishment in bauxite residue storage areas. The results need to be tested in field conditions before being advised in farming practice.

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Selecting a nitrogen availability index for understanding plant nutrient dynamics in rehabilitated bauxite-processing residue sand

Cited by 18 publications

References 55 publications

Soil quality and vegetation performance indicators for sustainable rehabilitation of bauxite residue disposal areas: a review

Soil quality and vegetation performance indicators for sustainable rehabilitation of bauxite residue disposal areas: a review

Pathways of different forms of nitrogen and role of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria in alkaline residue sand from bauxite processing

Effects of amendments and fertilization on plant growth, nitrogen and phosphorus availability in rehabilitated highly alkaline bauxite‐processing residue sand

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