Improving Soil Fertility to Support Grass-Legume Revegetation on Lignite Mine Spoils

The short-term sequential effects of different treatments on soil fertility and revegetation of mine spoils were examined in a lignite mine in northwestern Spain. Experimental plots were established both on old and recent spoils after tillage and treated with compost or nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), + magnesium limestone before seeding with a grass-legume species mixture. Compost improved plant production and, contrary to NPK, maintained soil N levels and supplied enough P for the establishment and early growth of the vegetation. Severe magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and K limitations in recent spoils were only alleviated by compost + magnesium limestone, allowing the rapid growth and coating of the soil surface. The amendment based on NPK + magnesium limestone improved plant production in the short term but caused proliferation of weeds. Results suggest that revegetation in combination with the appropriate amendments is a key issue for the reclamation of lignite mine spoils.