Effects of N-enriched rock powder on soil chemistry, organic matter formation and plant nutrition in lignite-poor sandy mine spoil in the forest reclamation practice

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 213; no. 1-2; pp. 99 - 115
• Main Authors: Hartmann, R. (Brandenburg Univ. of Technology, Cottbus (Germany). Dept. of Soil Protection and Recultivation), Schneider, B.U, Gast, C, Keplin, B, Huettl, R.F
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 01.01.1999; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; APLICACION DE ABONOS; AZOTE; Biological and medical sciences; Cellulose; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; CHIMIE DU SOL; DECOMBRES DE MINE; Decomposition; ESCOMBRO DE MINERIA; FERTILISATION; Fertilization; FERTILIZER APPLICATION; Forest soils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growing seasons; Lignite; MATERIA ORGANICA DEL SUELO; MATIERE ORGANIQUE DU SOL; MINE SPOIL; NITROGEN; NITROGENO; Nutritional status; Organic matter; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Pine needles; Pine trees; PINUS SYLVESTRIS; Plant nutrition; PLANTULAS; PLANTULE; QUIMICA DEL SUELO; RECLAMATION; RECUPERATION DES SOLS; REHABILITACION DE TIERRAS; Rocks; Sand soils; SEEDLINGS; SOIL CHEMISTRY; SOIL ORGANIC MATTER; Soil science; Soil solution; Soils; Vegetation; Nitrogen fertilization; Forests; Organic matter; Nutrition; Cellulose; Decomposition; Pinus sylvestris; Afforestation; Slow releasing fertilizer; Softwood forest tree; Gymnospermae; Reclamation; Apatite; Coniferales; Spermatophyta; Ecological recovery; Mica; Mining waste
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1004638203867

The effects of a slow-release N-enriched rock powder on soil chemistry, on the development of the soil vegetation (field layer vegetation), on the nutritional status of pine seedlings (Pinus sylvestris L.), and on decomposition rates of cellulose in lignite-poor mine spoils were studied. In the initial phase after afforestation fertilization caused a significant increase in $NO_3^ - - N$ concentrations in the soil solution of the top-soil (0-60 cm). Subsequently, $NO_3^ - - N$ concentrations of all N fertilized treatments decreased with the exception of the highest N application area (500 kg N ha⁻¹). This decrease of $NO_3^ - - N$ concentrations was related to the establishment of a field layer vegetation, which developed according to the amount of N applied. In the above-ground phytomass of the field layer vegetation a maximum N accumulation amount of 22 kg ha⁻¹ was measured. Cellulose decomposition increased with higher N application rates. In the second year after N-fertilization, the pine needles indicated insufficient supply for almost all nutrients except for N. The deficiency symptoms were most pronounced at the plots that had received the highest amounts of nitrogen. This phenomenon appears to be related to the competition by the field layer vegetation.