In the laboratory, the collected plants are separated into roots, stems, and leaves. Each part is weighed separately to quantify its biomass. Aliquots of each part are then washed and dried in the drier for further analysis.
During plant sampling we have observed many roots growing between the layers that form the mining waste, in parallel to the soil surface. These roots can grow more than 1 meter away from the plant trunk. In other casers, when the roots find cracks penetrate deep in the soil.
On May 15, 2023, we began the sampling of plants in the pilot plot. We uproot a individual of each species from each plot, trying to collect all the aerial and underground parts. In the treatments with amendment we observed great root growth following the line of the planting furrows, where the soil was ploughed, …
On April 26, 2023, students and teachers from the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineers and Forestry of Albacete, University of Castilla la Mancha, visited us again. During the visit we explained the problems of the abandoned mine tailings and we explained to the students and teachers (Doctors Pablo Ferrandis and Daniel Moya, Department of …
The company IngenierÃa del Entorno Natural (https://entornonatural.org/) carried out the second flight with a drone to analyze the images and evaluate the vegetation cover in the pilot plot one year after afforestation.
Many individuals of various species continue colonizing the pilot plot, favored by soil improvements and the presence of fascines. Some of the pine trees that were planted have started to bloom.
Three months after the protection tubes were removed, the plants are still in good condition and have continued to grow during the winter to spring period.
We measure the plants for the third time, and this time we removed the plant protector tubes. It’s already been a year since planting!! The results indicate low mortality and high growth rates of all species. The positive effects of the amendment are evident and have favored the plants growth and soil improvement.
The FiAmbRes project participates in one of the stands of the Technical University of Cartagena in the Science and Technology Week in Murcia, in October 2022.
The summer rainfall events have contributed to the erosion of the plot’s soil in some areas, leaving hardened laminations of mining waste on the surface. These layers hinder plants growth and favour runoff, but also difficult the formation of rills and gullies due to their hardness.
