Shifts in leaf nitrogen to phosphorus ratio of Lolium rigidum grown in highly alkaline bauxite-processing residue sand with differing age of rehabilitation and amendments

Abstract Stoichiometric ratios of leaf nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (P) have been used as a tool to characterize ecological problems and ecosystem productivity. This study used leaf N:P stoichiometry to assess nutrient limitation and productivity in alkaline bauxite-processing residue sand (BRS) vegetated with Lolium rigidum. Fresh BRS [amended with either greenwaste compost (BRSgc) or biochar (BRSbc)], and aged BRS [e.g. 5, 7, and 15 years under established rehabilitation (5, 7, and 15YrBRS)] were grown with L. rigidum for 3 months in a controlled environment. Leaf N:P ratios were positively correlated with the pH of growth media [freshly amended BRS (r = 0.66, P 5YrBRS (20.9) > 7YrBRS (19.0) > 15YrBRS (17.2)]. This suggests that when rehabilitated BRS becomes older, the leaf N:P ratio will shift towards the ratio of the reference sample (i.e. L. rigidum with adequate levels of N and P), demonstrating an improved plant N and P uptake in aged BRS-plant systems. Results highlight that leaf N:P ratios can effectively reflect N and P limitations to productivity in vegetated alkaline BRS, which can be a critical ecological indicator in such environment. These results however, have to be verified with other species (e.g. native shrubs and trees) used for plant establishment of alkaline BRS before using this indicator for assessing ecological rehabilitation performance

Effects of amendments and fertilization on plant growth, nitrogen and phosphorus availability in rehabilitated highly alkaline bauxite-processing residue sand

The effects of organic-inorganic amendments and nitrogen-phosphorus (NP) fertilization (NH₄NO₃ plus Ca (H₂PO₄)₂) on ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) growth, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability in highly alkaline bauxite-processing residue sand (BRS), were examined in a pot experiment. The BRS used was either unamended (control) or amended with organic (e.g. greenwaste compost and biochar) or inorganic (e.g. zeolite) materials at a rate of 10% v/v. BRS from 15 years of rehabilitation (15YRRH) was also used as the second control. NP fertilizer was applied at different rates. The experimental set up was arranged in a two factorial complete randomized design. BRS with zeolite and 15YRRH at NP fertilizer rates of 2.0 and 2.5 t/ha produced the highest dry matter, leaf N concentration and N uptake by ryegrass, which were significantly higher (P  <  0.05) than the other treatments, suggesting the potential of zeolite in providing stability of applied N fertilizer in BRS. Further, BRS with biochar at NP rates 2.0 and 2.5 t/ha can also be suitable amendments as they enhance growth and also improved the N and P supplying capacity of BRS. Ryegrass leaf P concentration and P uptake were above the critical P values in the 15YRRH compared with organic-inorganic amended BRS, suggesting that time is important for better P uptake from the residue. It is concluded that zeolite and biochar combined with appropriate NP fertilizer rates can improve plant growth and provide a source of nutrients for ryegrass establishment in bauxite residue storage areas. The results need to be tested in field conditions before being advised in farming practice