AUTHOR=Zapata-Carbonell José , Ciadamidaro Lisa , Parelle Julien , Chalot Michel , Tatin-Froux Fabienne TITLE=Improving Silver Birch (Betula pendula) Growth and Mn Accumulation in Residual Red Gypsum Using Organic Amendments JOURNAL=Frontiers in Environmental Science VOLUME=8 YEAR=2020 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2020.00024 DOI=10.3389/fenvs.2020.00024 ISSN=2296-665X ABSTRACT=

The increasing production of wastes that are landfilled might contribute to sources of potentially toxic elements; this is the case of residual red gypsum tailings, a by-product of titanium dioxide extraction. Revegetation of such a site is essential, and Mn phytoextraction may render the operations economically profitable. This study aimed to apply phytomanagement techniques for increasing the plant development, tailings revegetation and an optimal Mn phytoextraction using silver birch, the most abundant plant species on this site. To enhance the nutrient availability from the tailings, amendments that reduce the pH, i.e., pine bark chips, Miscanthus straw, white peat, and ericaceous compost, were mixed with residual red gypsum and birches were allowed to grow for 3 months. The pine bark chips and ericaceous compost led to a maximum decrease in pH, allowing the accumulation of up to 1400 mg Mn kg–1 dry matter in the leaves silver birch leaves. However, some nutrient competition was found in the pine bark treatment, which halved biomass production as compared to control. Further amendment addition may be needed to take advantage of the pine bark capabilities as a soil conditioner and Mn solubilizing treatment in residual red gypsum.