Artificial soils from alluvial tin mining wastes in Malaysia – A study of soil chemistry following experimental treatments and the impact of mycorrhizal treatment on growth and foliar chemistry†
Abstract
For decades Malaysia was the world's largest producer of Sn, but now the vast open cast mining operations have left a legacy of some 100 000 ha of what is effectively wasteland, covered with a mosaic of tailings and lagoons. Few plants naturally recolonise these areas. The demand for such land for both urban expansion and agricultural use has presented an urgent need for better characterisation. This study reports on the formation of artificial soils from alluvial Sn mining waste with a focus on the effects of experimental treatments on soil chemistry. Soil organic matter, clay, and pH were manipulated in a controlled environment. Adding both clay tailings and peat enhanced the