When working with severely degraded soil (e.g. mine tailings, contaminated sites, or oil and gas pads), plants can be used for phytoremediation where seeded or planted species can stabilize or uptake soil contaminants. Establishing vegetation on severely degraded sites will also result in increased soil organic matter and nutrient content, however, plants (such as sedges, which typically can handle low pH) must be selected to survive such harsh conditions as saline or acidic soils. Managers should be strategic in their restoration approach and use a variety of techniques when possible. For example, liquid gypsum can be used to remove salts and soften hard, compacted soils, while compost application has been shown to reduce toxicity of contaminated soils. The addition or cultivation of native biological soil crusts (thin layer of cyanobacteria-lichen-bryophyte microbial communities on the soil surface) can also enhance plant community establishment as these crusts are critically important to soil structure and function [1][2]. Finally, planting plugs, rather than seeding, can be an effective way to inoculate soil with beneficial organisms that are living in the container soil.
Resources
General
- The Importance of Biocrust
- Soil disturbance rehabilitation: A desk guide to techniques and monitoring
- Activated carbon helps restore native plant communities
- Community Guide to Phytotechnologies
- Community Guide to Granular Activated Carbon
- Community Guide to Ecological Revitalization
- The Use of Soil Amendments for Remediation, Revitalization, and Reuse
- Revegetating Landfills and Waste Containment Areas Fact Sheet
- Effect of Biocrust Development on Establishment of Native Plants in a Salt Desert System
- A Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. Drylands | U.S. Geological Survey
Energy Extraction Rehabilitation
- National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs
- The Practical Guide to Reclamation in Utah
- Establishing seed islands for native forb species on rangelands using N-Sulate ground cover fabric
References
[1] Chiquoine LP, Abella SR, Bowker MA. Rapidly restoring biological soil crusts and ecosystem functions in a severely disturbed desert ecosystem. Ecological Applications. 2016;26(4):1260–1272.
[2] Miller S, Warren S, Clair LS. Don’t bust the biological soil crust: Preserving and restoring an important desert resource. Science You Can Use Bulletin. Fort Collins (CO): U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2017 [accessed 2022 Dec 14];(23). https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/53680