Soil health as a proxy for long-term reclamation success of metal-contaminated mine tailings using lime and biosolids.

Mine lands contaminted with heavy metals pose environmental risks, and thus reclamation is paramount for improving soil, plant, animal, and ecosystem health. A metal-contaminated alluvial mine tailing, devoid of vegetation, received 224 Mg ha of both lime and biosolids in 1998, and long-term reclamation success was quantified in 2019 with respect to soils, plants, and linkages to animals. Reclamation success was quantified using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), in conjunction with bioavailable (0.

Training Population Optimization for Genomic Selection in .

is a perennial grass with potential for lignocellulosic ethanol production. To ensure its utility for this purpose, breeding efforts should focus on increasing genetic diversity of the nothospecies × (M×g) beyond the single clone used in many programs. Germplasm from the corresponding parental species (Msi) and (Msa) could theoretically be used as training sets for genomic prediction of M×g clones with optimal genomic estimated breeding values for biofuel traits.

A footprint of past climate change on the diversity and population structure of Miscanthus sinensis.

Background And Aims: Miscanthus is a perennial C4 grass that is a leading potential feedstock crop for the emerging bioenergy industry in North America, Europe and China. However, only a single, sterile genotype of M. × giganteus (M×g), a nothospecies derived from diploid M.

Establishment and growth of two willow species in a riparian zone impacted by mine tailings.

A field study was initiated to determine survival, growth characteristics, and metal uptake of two montane riparian willow species, Geyer (Salix geyeriana Andersson) and mountain (S. monticola Bebb) willow, grown in amended fluvial mine tailing deposits. Revegetation was done with staked and previously rooted cuttings to determine if planting method had an effect on successful establishment of willows.

Manganese and zinc toxicity thresholds for mountain and Geyer willow.

Information on the heavy metal toxicity thresholds of woody species endemic to the western United States is lacking but critical for successful restoration of contaminated riparian areas. Manganese (Mn, 50-10,000 mg l(-1)) and zinc (Zn, 100-1000 mg l(-1)) toxicity thresholds were determined for Geyer (Salix geyeriana Anderss.) and mountain (S.

Irrigated mountain meadow fertilizer application timing effects on overland flow water quality.

Nonpoint-source pollution from agricultural activities is currently the leading cause of degradation of waterways in the United States. Applying best management practices to flood-irrigated mountain meadows may improve agricultural runoff and return flow water quality. Prior research has focused on fertilizer use for increased hay yields, while few studies have investigated the environmental implications of this practice.