Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SR > SR08201
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 47(5)

Micronutrient fractionation and plant availability in bauxite-processing residue sand

Chitdeshwari Thiyagarajan A B , I. R. Phillips C , B. Dell D and Richard W. Bell B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.

B School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

C Alcoa World Alumina Australia, PO Box 172, Pinjarra, WA 6208, Australia.

D School of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: r.bell@murdoch.edu.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 47(5) 518-528 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR08201
Submitted: 12 September 2008  Accepted: 27 April 2009   Published: 18 August 2009

Abstract

Bauxite-processing residue must be disposed of in specifically designed facilities for long-term management. Consideration of alkalinity, salinity, sodium content, and poor nutritional status is essential for successful rehabilitation of residue disposal areas (RDA). The aim of this study was to examine the availability and distribution of the micronutrients, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, in (i) fresh bauxite-processing residue sand (particle size >150 μm) with and without gypsum amendment, and (ii) aged residue sand from a 4-year-old rehabilitated RDA that had received past gypsum and fertiliser addition. Samples of fresh residue sand from India and Australia exhibited high alkalinity, high salinity, and sodicity. Gypsum addition significantly lowered pH, soluble Na, and alkalinity. Aged residue sand had low levels of all micronutrients, with low extractability for Zn and Mn followed by B, Cu, and Fe. Fractionation showed that 30–78% of Zn and Mn and 40–60% of B existed in non-available (residual) forms. The next most dominant fractions were the Fe and Mn oxide-bound and carbonate-bound fractions. Plant-available fractions (i.e. exchangeable and organically bound) contributed <1% of the total concentration. Total concentration was found to be a reliable indicator for Zn, Cu, and B extractability but not for DTPA-extractable forms of Fe and Mn. Leaf analysis of vegetation grown on aged residue sand indicated deficiencies of Mn and B. Results demonstrated that bauxite-processing residue sand contained very low levels of B, Mn, and Zn and these concentrations may be limiting to plant growth. Distribution of micronutrients among chemical pools was significantly influenced by pH, organic carbon, exchangeable Na, and alkalinity of residue. Nutrient management strategies that account for the characteristics of residue sand need to be developed for residue rehabilitation. Importantly, strategies to limit the conversion of nutrients to non-available forms are required to minimise micronutrient disorders.

Additional keywords: alkalinity, bauxite residue sand, fractionation, micronutrient availability, spiking.


Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the support provided for this study by the Australian Government through the Australian Leadership Award Fellowship (ALA) and for the support provided by Alcoa World Alumina Australia.


References


Anon. (2007) Bauxite and alumina market to reach 250 million mt by 2010. Engineering and Mining Journal 6, 208. open url image1

Barrow NJ (1982) Possibility of using caustic residue from bauxite for improving the chemical and physical properties of sandy soils. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 33, 275–285.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Bell LC (1981) A systematic approach to the assessment of fertiliser requirements for the rehabilitation of mine wastes. In ‘Australian Mining Industry Council (AMIC) Environmental Workshop Papers’. Canberra, 20–24 Sept. 1981. pp. 163–175. (AMIC)

Bell RW (1999) Boron. In ‘Soil analysis: An interpretation manual’. (Eds K Peverill, L Sparrow, DJ Reuter) pp. 309–317. (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

Bell RW , Fletcher N , Samaraweera MK , Hammond I (1997) ‘The use of inorganic fertilizer in place of organic amendments for rehabilitation of gold and bauxite ore refining residue.’ Report submitted to Alcoa Australia. (School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University: Murdoch, W. Aust.)

Bell RW , Fletcher N , Samaraweera MK , Krockenberger I (2003) Can inorganic fertilisers substitute for organic amendments in the rehabili-tation of saline, sodic ore refining residues? In ‘ORBIT 2003. 4th International Conference of the ORBIT Association. Biological Processing of Organics: Advance for a Sustainable Society’. 28 April–2 May 2003, Perth, W. Aust. (Eds P Pullumannapallil, A McComb, LF Diaz, W Bidlingmaier) pp. 602–611. (ORBIT Association: Perth, W. Aust.)

Benitez LN, Dubois JP (1999) Evaluation of ammonium oxalate for fractionating metallic trace elements in soils by sequential extraction. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry 74, 289–303.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Bingham FT (1982) Boron. In ‘Methods of soil analysis’. Agronomy No. 9. (Eds AL Page et al.) pp. 431–442. (American Society of Agronomy/Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)

Bremner JM , Mulveny CS (1982) Nitrogen–total. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Chemical and morphological properties’. Agronomy No. 9, 2nd edn. (Ed. AL Page) (American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)

Courtney R, Timpson JP, Grennan E (2003) Growth of Trifolium pratense in red mud amended with process sand, gypsum and thermally dried sewage sludge. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment 17, 227–233.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Courtney RG, Timpson JP (2004) Nutrient status of vegetation grown in alkaline bauxite processing residue amended with gypsum and thermally dried sewage sludge – A two year field study. Plant and Soil 266, 187–194.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Courtney RG, Timpson JP (2005) Reclamation of fine fraction bauxite processing residue (red mud) amended with coarse fraction residue and gypsum. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 164, 91–102.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Datta SP, Rattan RK, Suribabu K, Datta SC (2002) Fractionation and calorimetric determination of boron in soils. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 165, 179–184.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Dell B , Malajczuk N , Xu D , Grove TS (2001) ‘Nutrient disorders in plantation eucalypts.’ 2nd edn, ACIAR Monograph No. 74. (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra, ACT)

Eastham J, Morald T (2006) Effective nutrient sources for plant growth on bauxite residue I. Comparing organic and inorganic fertilizers. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 176, 5–19.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Eastham J, Morald T, Aylmore P (2006) Effective nutrient sources for plant growth on bauxite residue: II. Evaluating the response to inorganic fertilizers. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 171, 315–331.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Fuller RD, Richardson CJ (1986) Aluminate toxicity as a factor controlling plant growth in bauxite residue. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 5, 905–916.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Ge Y, Murray P, Hendershot WH (2000) Trace metal speciation and bioavailability in urban soils. Environmental Pollution 107, 137–144.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Gee GW , Bauder JW (1987) Particle size analysis. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part I. Physical and mineralogical methods’. pp. 377–411. (Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy: Madison, WI)

Gherardi MJ, Rengel Z (2001) Bauxite residue sand has the capacity to rapidly decrease availability of added manganese. Plant and Soil 234, 143–151.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Gherardi MJ, Rengel Z (2003a) Deep banding improves residual effectiveness of manganese fertiliser for bauxite residue revegetation. Australian Journal of Soil Research 41, 1273–1282.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Gherardi MJ, Rengel Z (2003b) Deep placement of manganese fertiliser improves sustainability of lucerne growing on bauxite residue: a glasshouse study. Plant and Soil 257, 85–95.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Gherardi MJ, Rengel Z (2003c) Genotypes of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) show differential tolerance to manganese deficiency and toxicity when grown in bauxite residue sand. Plant and Soil 249, 287–296.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Goldberg S (1997) Reactions of boron with soils. Plant and Soil 193, 35–48.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Goldberg SP, Smith KA (1984) Soil manganese: E values, distribution of manganese-54 among soil fractions, and effects of drying. Soil Science Society of America Journal 48, 559–564.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Hou JL, Evans J, Spiers GA (1994) Boron fractions in soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 25, 1841–1853.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Hseu ZY (2005) Extractability and bioavailability of zinc over time in three tropical soils incubated with biosolids. Chemosphere 63, 762–771.
| Crossref | PubMed |
open url image1

Jasper D , Lockley I , Ward S , White A (2000) Current approaches and future challenges for rehabilitation of bauxite residue. In ‘Proceedings of Remade Lands 2000, International Conference on the Remediation and Management of Degraded Lands’. Fremantle, W. Aust. (Eds A Brion, RW Bell) pp. 57–62. (Promaco Conventions: Canning Bridge, W. Aust.)

Li LY (1998) Properties of red mud tailings produced under varying process conditions. Journal of Environmental Engineering 124, 254–264.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Lindsay WL, Norvell WA (1978) Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil Science Society of America Journal 42, 421–428.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Luo YM, Christie P (1998) Bio-availability of copper and zinc in soils treated with alkaline stabilised sewage sludges. Journal of Environmental Quality 27, 335–342.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Ma YB, Uren NC (1995) Application of new fractionation scheme for heavy metals in soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 26, 3291–3303.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

McBride MB (1994) Chemisorption and precipitation of Mn at CaCO3 surfaces. Soil Science Society of America Journal 43, 693–698. open url image1

Meecham JR, Bell LC (1977) Revegetation of alumina refinery wastes: I. Properties and amelioration of the materials. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 17, 679–688.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Melaku S, Dams R, Moens L (2005) Determination of trace elements in agricultural soil samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: Microwave acid digestion versus aqua regia extraction. Analytica Chimica Acta 543, 117–123.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Munshower FF (1994) ‘Practical handbook of disturbed land revegetation.’ (Lewis Publishers: CRC Press, FL)

Prasad MBK, Ramanathan AL, Shrivastav SK, Anshumali , Saxena R (2006) Metal fractionation studies in surfacial and core sediments in the Achankovil river basins in India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 121, 77–102.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Rayment GE , Higginson FR (1992) ‘Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods.’ (Inkata Press: Melbourne, Vic.)

Reuter DJ , Robinson JDB (Eds) (1997) ‘Plant analysis: An interpretation manual.’ (CSIRO: Collingwood, Vic.)

Shane MW, Lambers H (2005) Manganese accumulation in leaves of Hakea prostrata (Proteaceae) and the significance of cluster roots for micronutrient uptake as dependent on phosphorus supply. Physiologia Plantarum 124, 441–450.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Shuman LM (1985) Fractionation methods for soil microelements. Soil Science 140, 11–22.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Silveira ML, Alleoni L, O’Connor GA, Chang A (2006) Heavy metal sequential extraction methods – a modification for tropical soils. Chemosphere 64, 1929–1938.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Snars KR, Gilkes RJ, Hughes JC (2003) Effect of soil amendment with bauxite Bayer process residue (red mud) on the availability of phosphorus in very sandy soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 41, 1229–1241.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Soumaré M, Tack FMG, Verloo MG (2003) Distribution and availability of iron, manganese, zinc and copper in four tropical agricultural soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 34, 1023–1038.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Su C, Suarez DL (1995) Coordination of adsorbed boron: AFTIR spectroscopic study. Environmental Science & Technology 29, 302–311.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Tong Y, Rengel Z, Graham RD (1995) Effects of temperature on extractable manganese and distribution of manganese among soil fractions. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 26, 1963–1977.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Tucker BM (1985) Laboratory procedures for soluble salts and exchangeable cations in soils. CSIRO Australia, Division of Soils, Technical Paper No. 47.

Uren NC (1981) Chemical reduction of insoluble higher oxide of manganese by plant roots. Journal of Plant Nutrition 4, 65–71.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Xenidis A, Harokopou AD (2005) Modifying alumina red mud to support a revegetation cover. JOM 57, 42–46.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Xu JM, Wang K, Bell RW, Yang YA, Huang LB (2001) Soil boron fractions and their relationship to soil properties. Soil Science Society of America Journal 65, 133–138.
|  CAS |
open url image1

Yasrebi J, Karimian N, Maftoun M, Abtahi A, Sameni AM (1994) Distribution of zinc forms in highly calcareous soils as influenced by soil physical and chemical properties and application of zinc sulphate. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 25, 2133–2145.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Zinati G, Li Y, Bryan HH (2001) Accumulation and fractionation of copper, iron, manganese and zinc in calcareous soils amended with composts. Journal of Environmental Science & Health, Part B 36, 229–243.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1