206, RAJ TOWER -1, ALAKNANDA COMMUNITY CENTRE, ... area ol approximately 300 hectares) and Assonora (with an area of approxmately 100 hectares) owned by ... Although the establishment of a stable, self-sustaining ecosystem depends ... growing on two iron ore mining sites in Goa. SPECIES. N/C. H A B IT. & ft.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
XTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ACADEMY Held at the
NATIONAL INTITUTE OF OCEONOGRAPHY, GOA MARCH 8 -10th, 1995
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NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ACADEMY 206, RAJ TO W ER -1, ALAKNAN DA COMMUNITY CENTRE, NEW D E L H I -110 019.
Xth ANNUAL CONFERENCE
45
LEGUMES OF IRON ORE MINE WASTELANDS OF GOA AND THEIR POTEN TIAL USE IN REVEGETATION. 8. F. R O D R IG U E S Department of Botany, Goa University Taleigao Plateau, Goa 403 205.
a b str a c t
A survey of two iron ore mining sites was carried out to identify the naturally occurring and cultivated leguminous plant species. In a l. a total of 44 legume spec'® belonging to 24 genera were recorded. Legumes formed the single largest group o plants at the two mining sites. The ditferent genera recorded are Cassia (6), Acacia (5), Sirithia (3), Crotalaria (3), Aiysicarpus (2), Daibergia (2), Dtsirtodiom (2), Getssaspts (2), Taphrosia (2), AtylosiaC\). Erythrina (1). Giriodia (1). Indigofera {1), Pongamia (1), Phaseotus (\), Pueraria (1), Teramnus (1), Zomia (1), Bautinia (1), Delonix (1). Tamarindus (1), Mimosa ( I), Wagatea (1), Pithoceiobium (1), and Samanea (1), with the total number of species given in the brackets. Th e paper also discusses their potential use (with regards to nodulation, mycorrhtzal association and production of organic matter) in revegetation of iron ore mine wastelands. IN TR O D U C TIO N Mining produces a major disturbance in the ecosystem. The topsoil is removed, leaving bare rock, making it hard for vegetation to become re-established. Th e reject materials may be contaminated with heavy melals This means that natural succession w il be even slower. Normally, natural process would gradually colonize the mine sites and spoil heaps, buildings up the sot! and rectothing the landscape in vegetation, However, this can take a long time. Meanwhile, the unprotected surface is subjected to ero6ion, clogging rivers and lakes with silt (Rodrigues, et al., 1996 a). The best approach to stabilization of reject dumps is a vegetation cover. The establishment of a permanent cover of vegetation involves not only growing plants. It necessitates bringing into being a plant community that will maintain itself indefinitely without any attention or artificial aid, and will in turn support native fauna. Such permanence could be achieved by selecting species adapted to growth, spread and reproduction under the severe conditions provided both by nature of the dump material and the exposed situation on the dump surfaces. Plants which appear on abandoned mine reject sites provide a source of potential species for rehabilitation programmes One such gioup of plants are the legumes. The legumes form one of the largest families of (lowering plants, ranking third in terms of wo rid-wide occurrence with about 600 genera and 18,000 species, although estimates of actual numbers vary considerably from 590 to 700 genera and IZOOOto 18,000 species according to different authors (Lim & Burton. 1982). In the presen' paper, an attempt is made to identify both naturally growing and cultivated legume species found on two fairly established iron ore mine wastelands in the state. Their potential use with respect to nodulation, mycorrhtzal association and osganic matter production tov/ards revegetation of iron ore mine wastelands in the state has been discussed. M A TE R IA L S A N D M E TH O D S uoth cultivated ana naturally occurring legume species were collected from two iron ore mining sites viz., Sanquetim (with an area ol approximately 300 hectares) and Assonora (with an area of approxmately 100 hectares) owned by M/S Sesa Goa Limited. The species collected were identified by using local floras R E S U L T S AND DIS C U S S IO N In all, a total of 44 legume species belonging to 24 genera were collected from the conducted survey (Table 1). Qf the total legume species reco’dw). naturally occurring legumes constitutes 61% white cultivated legumes constitutes only 38%. A s regards to, their habit, herbs contributed to 50 % of the total number at legume species found on the two mining sites, folowed by trees (36%) and shrubs (14%). Chemical analyses of the fresh mine rejects reveals that besides acute deficiency of nitrogen (N ) the mine rejects are also deficient in Phosphorus (P ). Potassium (K ) and other macro arid micro-nutrients. The organic matter is very low or nearly absent as there is hardly any micrpoi.il activity. Electrical conductivity (E C ) is very low indicating that there is no likelihood of salinity problems, and the pH of the fresh rejects is neither acidic nor alkaline, thus poses no problems for plant growth (Rodrigues et at., 1966b). Nitrogen deficiency is one of the most important factors limiting the growth of vegetation during the reclamation of derelict land and mining spoils (Bradshaw et al., 1962). Although the establishment of a stable, self-sustaining ecosystem depends on the effective cycling of several major elements, the accumulation and effective cycling of nitrogen is particularly important because this is the element most easily lost from ecosystems (Jefleries et al., 1981). Leguminous species are important colonizers in the development of natural communities on abandoned mine spoils
j ■e
ANNUAL c o n f e r e n c e
46
1 Naturally occurring and cultivated leguminous plant species growing on two iron ore mining sites in Goa. S P E C IE S
N/C
H A B IT
Alysicarpus bupieurtfoHus (L .) DC.
H
H
Atysicarpus vagnahs ( L ) D C .
N
H
Atylosia scarabaecxdes Benth.
N
H
Crotatana fiipes Senth.
N
H
Crotatana palMa Aiton
N
H
Crotatana prostrata RottSer ex Willd
N
H
Taphrosia purpurea ( I . ) Pers.
N
H
&
Tephrosia coccmea Wall
N
H
ft
Oalbergia sissoo Roxb.
C
T
?10.
Dalbergia sympathetica Nimmo
N
T
Desmodium Iwterocarpon (L.) DC.
N
S
.12.
Desmodium triftorum (L.) DC.
N
H
13.
Erythnna vanegata L.
C
T
14.
Gaissaspis cristata W . & A . Benth.
N
H
15.
Geissaspts tenella Benth.
N
H
16.
G&ncidta septum (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.
C
T
17.
Indigofera prostrata Willd
N
H
ia.
Pongamia pinnata ( L ) Pierre
C
T
19.
Phaseolus subiobatus Roxb.
N
H
20.
Smthia conferta Sm.
N
H
21.
Smithia sensitive Ait.
N
H
22.
Smthia salsugmea Hance
H
H
23.
Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.) DC.
N
S
24.
Teramnus labialis (L f .) Sprengel
•H'
H
25.
Zornia gibbosa Spanoghe
N
H
26.
Bauhinia purpurea L.
C
T
27.
Cassia absus L
N
H
28.
Cassia alatal.
C
S
'f--.
29.
Cassia fistula L
C
T
3D.
Cassia siamea Lam.
C
T
3 f.
Cassia tora L
N
H
32.
Cassia mtmosoides L.
N
H
33.
Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf.
C
T
34.
Tamarindus indica L.
C
T
36.
Acacia nUotica ( L ) Del. Ssp.
C
S
36.
Acacia aunculiforms A. Cunn. ex Benth.
C
T
37.
Leucaena leucocephata (Lam.) de Wit,
C
T
38.
Acacia mangium Willd.
C
T
39.
Acacia pennata (L.) Willd.
C
T
40.
Acacia torta (Roxb.) Craib
C
S
41.
Mimosa pudica L.
N
42.
Wagatea sptcata Dalz.
N -
43.
Pithocetbium dulce (Roxb.) Benth
C
T
44.
Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr.
C
T
Legend: N = Naturally occurring; C = Cultivated. H » Herb; S = Shrub: T = Tree.
H *
S
B I A NNUAL CONFERENCE
, 47
k & :., (Jefferies etal., 1981; Roberts et al, 1981). Th e predominance of legumes on revegetated mine sites suggests that these have K j advantage in colonizing spoils especially low in available nitrogen (Dancer et al., 1977). I: Legumes play a key role in many agricultural systems by providing high protein grain and herbage as w el as maintaining and improving soil fertility. Leguminous plants are commonly used as a part of many mine waste revegetation programme* (Johnson at ^9 7 7 ; Moore & Zimmermann, 1977). Many of the Leguminous plant species have nodulating ability and are able to fix atmospheric f ^ o g e n . The majority of biologically fixed nitrogen available for agriculture is formed by Rhizobia in symbiotic association w th V|t gUrnes. Hence, their selection would increase the nitrogen levels In the soil. This would help other plant species to grew and survive. v Refertilizing oider rehabilitated areas with nitrogenous fertilizers is costly, incurs access problems and presents the possibility ?of causing eutrophication of streams. A n answer to the long term nitrogen nutrition of trees probably lies with nitrogen fixing legumes.
‘ ■ ; i
Besides, Rhizobial colonization, legujnes have another type of symbiotic association with fungi. Vesicular - arbuscular mycorrhizal infection have been recorded earlier in both cultivated and naturally occurring legumes found growing on iron ore mine wastes in Goa (Rodrigues 199S). Mycorrhizal fungi by virtue of their symbiotic association with roots of virtually all vascular plant systems, are among the most significant microbes in terrestial ecosystems. Mycorrhizae are not only more efficient in utilization of ' available nutrients from the soil but are also involved in transfer of nutrient cycling in an ecosystem. Vesicular - arbuscular mycorstiizae (VAM) seems to provide a primary mechanism of phosphorus uptake from so l and may thus perform an important function In mineral cycling (fogel, 1980). The increased.uptake of phosphorus is due to increased absorptive surface area of the root (Sylyia. 1968). Th e hyphae has the ability to act as a substitute for a more extensive root system (Benthlenfalvay et al., 1982). Th e importance of introducing VAM fungal inoculum into soi respread on reclaimed land has been recognized (Allen, 1986; White et al., 1969). Hetyar and Godden (1977) have estimated that the introduction of VAM would decrease the amount of fertilizer required in th^ establishment phase. The nitrogen-fixing plants cause nitrogen to accumulate as soil organic matter which, when mineralized, becomes available to other plants. As an ecosystem develops so this nitrogen capital grows until it is sufficiently large to satisfy the short-term and annual needs of the mature plant community (Piha et al., 1995).
*■
The use of legumes for the initial build-up and long-term maintenance of nitrogen levels is potentially practical and economical. The presence of legumes in nitrogen deficient soil results in greatly increased dry matter production for their own growth and also In increased growth by associated plants (Jeffrey et al., 1975). Organic materials help plant establishment by improving moisture regime, moderating surface temperature, decreasing erosion, improving fertility, increasing cation exchange capacity and detoxifying trade metals (Jurgensen, 1979). Aery and Tiagi (1965) have shown that after cropping and addition of litter and its subsequent humification in the tailings, there is an absolute increase in organic carbon and percentage nitrogen contents, a substantial increase in water holding capacity, extractable potassium, sodium, calcium a id phosphorus and a decrease in bulk density due to the increment of organic matter. C O N C L U S IO N S In aU, a total of forty four legume species have been recorded at the two fairly established mining sites in Goa. Large scale use of nodulating legumes for revegetating fresh iron ore mining sites is suggested, as a.
They will improve the nitrogen status of the mine spoils.
b.
There will be increased uptake of phosphorus and other macro and micro-nutrients due to VAM colonization.
C.
The increased uptake of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and other nutrients would help better plant growth. This would increase the organic mattei production and thus the microbial activity would be increased. Overall, his would help to hasten the revegetation . process.
ACK N O W LED G EM EN TS The author would like to thank Department of Science. Technology and Environment, Government of Goa, for providing the financial assistance. Thanks are also due to M/S Sesa Goa Limited for the facilities provided during the work period. REFERENCES Aery, N .C .and Y. D. Tiagt (1985) Studies on the reclamation of tailings at Zawar mines, Udaipur, India, tn: Proceedings of Asian Mining IMM, London. PP: 65-70. ASen, E.B. (1966) Some strategies for establishment of VA mycorrhizae in disturbed arid land, the Western Reclamation Group, Itinerant Reclamation Notes No. 4. Amaz Coal Company, Gllette, W Y . Bradshaw, A.D., R.H. Marrs., R X . Roberts & R.A. Skeffington (1982) The creation of nitrogen cycles in the derelict land. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 296 : 557 - 561. ; Bethlenfalvay, G. J., Ulrich J . M. and Brown M. S. (1982) Plant response to mycorrhizai fungi: Host. Endophyte and Soil effects. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 49 : 116 4-1168 . _ Dancer W .S ., J. F. Handley and A. D. Bradshaw(1977) Nitrogen accumulation in Kaolin mining wastes in Cornwall. 2. Forage legumes. Plant and Soil 48 : 303 - 314. Fogel, R. (1980) Mycorrhizae and nutrient eyeing in natural forest ecosystems. The New Phytologist 86; 199-212.
^ ..
v v
^
48
S nn UAL c o n f e r e n c e
R arKj Godden. O P. (1977) Th e biology and modelling of fertiizer response. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural
Science 43 : 22-30 p w ., M. Maybury and D. Levings (1975) Ecological approach to mining waste revegetation. In: Minerals and the Environment *'{M. J Jones, Ed.) London, Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, pp: 371 - 386. ries R. A., A.D. Bradshaw and P.D. Putwain (1961) Growth, nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen transfer by legume species established on mine spoils. Journal of Appied Ecology 18: 945 • 966. n, M.S., T . McNally and P.D.Putwain (1977) Revegetation of metalliferous mine spoil contaminated by lead and zinc. Environmental Pollution 12.261-277. q and J. C. Burton (1962) Nodulation status of the Leguminosae. In : Nitrogen fixation. Vol. 2: Rhizobium (Broughton W .J . Ed.) Clarendon Press Oxford. we, T . R- ar*d ^ C . Zimmetmann (1977) Establishment of vegetation of serpentine asbestos mine wastes, southeastern Quebec, Canada. Journal of Applied Ecology 14 : 589-599 Iptta, m i ., h .W. Vallack, B.M. Reefer and N. Michael (1995) A low input approach to vegetation establishment on mine and coal ash wastes in semi-arid regions. I. Tin mine tailings in Zimbabwe. Journal of Applied Ecology 32, (In Press). Roberts, R. 0., R. H. Man’s, R. A . Skeffington and A.D. Bradshaw (1981) Ecosystem development on naturaJy - colonized china day wastes. I. Vegetation changes and overal accumulation of organic matter and nutrients. Journal of Ecology 6 9 :1 5 3 -1 6 1 . Rodrigues, B.F. (1995) Mycorrhtzal status of naturally occurring and cultivated legumes of iron w e mine wastelands in Goa. Mycorrhizae: Biofertilizers forthe Future. In: Proceedings of.Third National Conference on Mycorrhiza. (Alok Adholeya & Sujan Singh, Eds.) No. 1.9 pp. 42-44. New Delhi. 'Rodrigues, B.F., M. Patii, J. D'souza, A. V. Veeresh. M. Souza, M. Miranda and B. Lobo (1995a) Rehabilitation of iron ore mine wastelands in Goa. In: Biodiversity in the Western Ghats. 9-7 pp. 1-4. An information kit produced by W W F - India; Goa division and the international Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Phiippines. Rodrigues, B. F., M.B.V. Miranda and H. W . Valack (1995b) Screening of probable plant species (based on vegetation survey) for revegetation of iron ore mine wastelands in Goa. In : Proceedings of Frontiers in Plant Science Research, Hyderabad (In Press). Sylvia, D.M. (1988) Activily of external hyphae of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. S ol Biology and Biochemistry 20: 39-43. White, J. A., Munn, L.C. and Williams, S.E. (1989) Edaphicand reclamation aspects’of vesicular -afbuscuiar mycorrhizae in Wyoming Red Desert soils. Soil Science Society of America Preceedings 53: 59-68.
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