Root colonisation effects on the key hydrogeological properties of a reclamation cover with an elevated water table

The performance of reclamation cover systems could be affected by the colonization of plant roots, which may modify the hydrogeological properties of the construction materials. A four-year field investigation was conducted using six experimental cells with various soil layering designs over AMD-gen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of mining, reclamation and environment reclamation and environment, 2024-08, Vol.38 (7), p.562-575
Main Authors: Arabyarmohammadi, Hoda, Guittonny, Marie, Demers, Isabelle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Colonization
Construction materials
Density
Field investigations
Geology
hydrogeological properties
Hydrogeology
Mine tailings
Overburden
Oxygen
Oxygen-barrier cover systems
Parameter modification
Plant roots
Reclamation
reclamation of acid generating mine wastes
root colonization effects
Roots
Soil investigations
Soil layers
Soil properties
Soil water
Vegetation
Water table
Woody plants
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Summary:The performance of reclamation cover systems could be affected by the colonization of plant roots, which may modify the hydrogeological properties of the construction materials. A four-year field investigation was conducted using six experimental cells with various soil layering designs over AMD-generating tailings reclaimed with an oxygen-barrier cover combined with an elevated water table. Both herbaceous and woody vegetation were installed on top of the cells to compare the influence on the properties of the cover material. Consecutive and undisturbed cores were collected from the cover's functional layer in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Root parameters, such as root length density, and hydrogeological properties were measured on the core samples to assess the possible relationships between the two categories of variables. Root observation trenches were also cut in each cell to better analyze the root density and occurrence profiles. Results showed that, within the four-year monitoring period of the study, both herbaceous and woody vegetation roots mostly colonized the top overburden layer of the cell (>86% visible roots) and barely occupied the functional layer of the reclamation cover (
ISSN:1748-0930
1748-0949
DOI:10.1080/17480930.2024.2325187