Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Increasing soil water retention with native-sourced mulch improves seedling establishment in postmine Mediterranean sandy soils

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Benigno, S.
    Dixon, Kingsley
    Stevens, J.
    Date
    2013
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Benigno, S. and Dixon, K. and Stevens, J. 2013. Increasing soil water retention with native-sourced mulch improves seedling establishment in postmine Mediterranean sandy soils. Restoration Ecology. 21 (5): pp. 617-626.
    Source Title
    Restoration Ecology
    DOI
    10.1111/j.1526-100X.2012.00926.x
    ISSN
    1061-2971
    School
    Department of Environment and Agriculture
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25925
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Seasonal drought and heavily impeded soils reduce restoration success in Mediterranean-type postmine soils, where up to 90% seedling mortality has been observed after 2 years. To alleviate these barriers, amendments were incorporated into the soil profile of a freshly mined sand quarry. Within the quarry, three 223 m2 replicate sites contained two substrate amendments: 12% v/v native-sourced mulch or gravel incorporated within the top 50 cm of the soil profile. Three remnant sites provided a “natural” reference system. Seeds of two autochthonous trees, Banksia attenuata (R.Br.) and B. menziesii (R.Br.) were sown across all treatments. Soil impedance, moisture, and seedling stomatal conductance were monitored for 2 years, at which point seedlings were excavated, and nutrient concentration, root morphology, and soil chemical properties were measured. Roots in all restoration treatments were restricted to the top 40 cm of the profile due to increases in soil impedance, regardless of amendment, compared to >70 cm in the natural system. Seedling mortality was greatest after the second summer in the control and inorganic amendment treatments, with stomatal conductance indicating severe drought stress. Survival in the organic treatment was 24–42% greater than the control, with higher soil moisture and stomatal conductance rates 2.5 times that of the control. The increased soil water retention by a native-sourced mulch was shown to improve postmine restoration success for these native trees.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Incorporating rock in surface covers improves the establishment of native pioneer vegetation on alkaline mine tailings
      Cross, Adam ; Zhong, H.; Lambers, Hans (2021)
      Background and aims: Rates of tailings production and deposition around the world have increased markedly in recent decades, and have grown asynchronously with safe and environmentally suitable solutions for their storage. ...
    • Seedling growth and physiological responses of Perth’s eucalypts to soil-induced stresses
      Farifr, Eiman (2010)
      Perth’s Swan Coastal Sand Plain soils are typically nutrient impoverished, and the native trees of the region are therefore adapted to maximise nutrient uptake. Although the dune systems here are generally not known to ...
    • Native-plant amendments and topsoil addition enhance soil function in post-mining arid grasslands
      Kneller, T.; Harris, Richard; Bateman, A.; Muñoz-Rojas, M. (2018)
      One of the most critical challenges faced in restoration of disturbed arid lands is the limited availability of topsoil. In post-mining restoration, alternative soil substrates such as mine waste could be an adequate ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.