A comparison of field performance of Acacia xanthophloea, Schinus molle, Casuarina equisetifolia and Gravellia robusta plant species was made in an exhausted limestone quarry, backfilled with limestone mine waste in a...A comparison of field performance of Acacia xanthophloea, Schinus molle, Casuarina equisetifolia and Gravellia robusta plant species was made in an exhausted limestone quarry, backfilled with limestone mine waste in a semi-arid area in Athi River, Kenya. The aim of the study was to determine if the tree species had an influence on the soil chemical properties. The soil had alkaline pH ranging from 8.0 to 8.98, low nitrogen content （〈 0.03%）, moderate phosphorus concentrations ranging from 44.15 ppm to 21.33 ppm and high to moderate exchangeable cations （Na, Ca, Mg and K）. All the tree species exerted a positive influence on soil properties necessary for plant growth. The pH values and total phosphorus were relatively lower in soils close to the trees （0.5 m） and increased with distance from the trees, while the soil values for total nitrogen and exchangeable cations were relatively higher close to the trees. C. equisetifolia had the best growth performance and a higher positive influence on the soil chemical properties necessary for plant growth followed by A. xanthophloea. It was concluded that trees should remain a feature of quarry rehabilitation because of their role in maintaining the biophysical environment.展开更多
文摘A comparison of field performance of Acacia xanthophloea, Schinus molle, Casuarina equisetifolia and Gravellia robusta plant species was made in an exhausted limestone quarry, backfilled with limestone mine waste in a semi-arid area in Athi River, Kenya. The aim of the study was to determine if the tree species had an influence on the soil chemical properties. The soil had alkaline pH ranging from 8.0 to 8.98, low nitrogen content （〈 0.03%）, moderate phosphorus concentrations ranging from 44.15 ppm to 21.33 ppm and high to moderate exchangeable cations （Na, Ca, Mg and K）. All the tree species exerted a positive influence on soil properties necessary for plant growth. The pH values and total phosphorus were relatively lower in soils close to the trees （0.5 m） and increased with distance from the trees, while the soil values for total nitrogen and exchangeable cations were relatively higher close to the trees. C. equisetifolia had the best growth performance and a higher positive influence on the soil chemical properties necessary for plant growth followed by A. xanthophloea. It was concluded that trees should remain a feature of quarry rehabilitation because of their role in maintaining the biophysical environment.
