Physical properties of technosols as evapotranspiration covers on potash tailings piles.

The covering of potash tailings piles with technosols (artificial soils) is a modern and promising method for decreasing the saline drainage of these piles. In this context, it is important to determine whether technosols have appropriate physical properties for crop growth. In evapotranspiration covers, physical properties, such as bulk density, particle size distribution, total porosity, proportion of large pores, and available water are particularly important because they allow for robust crop growth, which subsequently determines the evapotranspiration capacity.

Water balance assessment of different substrates on potash tailings piles using non-weighable lysimeters.

Water balance is an important tool to evaluate water deficit or excess in crop systems. However, few studies have evaluated the water balance of vegetation grown on the residues from potash mining because the high sodium chloride levels of the residues hinder agricultural development. Therefore, this study aims to measure the water balance components in eight non-weighing lysimeters installed on a potash tailings pile in Heringen (Werra), Germany.