Proceedings

Use of chenopod species for mine revegetation at Saraji mine in central Queensland

Carter, J O

1986

Rangelands: a resource under siege. Proceedings of the 2nd International Rangeland Congress

173-174

13-18 May 1986

Adelaide, Australia

QLD

23/03/04

reclamation; coal mines; mine rehabilitation; revegetation; Saraji mine; Queensland; Bowen Basin; grasses

Call Number: 870703517

Trials were conducted at Saraji Mine, an opencut coking coal mine approx. 165 km SW of Mackay, on 3 substrates: decomposing siltstone (site 1), clay loam (site 2), and 10-15 cm topsoil over spoil (site 3). 15 chenopod species from the genera Atriplex, Maireana and Salsola were grown individually in replicated plots on the 3 substrates. Grasses (Chloris gayana, Cynodon dactylon and Cenchrus ciliaris) were planted as a mix. Sites 1 and 2 were ripped and fertilized before sowing in Jan. 1983. Establishment was measured in Aug. 1983 and cover was determined using point quadrats. Establishment on sites 2 and 3 was similar and about twice that of site 1. For all species establishment was low and ranged from 0-1.3%. With the exception of site 3, chenopods gave greater cover than grasses. A. amnicola was the most promising species, producing cover 5 times better than grasses on sites 1 and 2. A. vesicaria, A. halimus and A. undulata all showed steady growth on sites l and 2. Maireana spp. were generally slower growing and showed poor survival. On site 3 the performance of chenopods was poor with only S. kali producing significant cover. It was concluded that chenopods can out-perform pasture grasses at cover production over a range of spoil types and that annual chenopods native to the region showed capacity for rapid production of temporary ground cover and a large seed set.