Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1971. / Mimeographed. Also availalbe in microfilm.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-62).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1979.

No description available.

No description available.

In order to encourage the establishment of an erosion controlling vegetative ground cover, low cost organic amendments and inorganic fertilizers were incorporated into an abandoned, non-acid generating mine tailings pond. By amending these gold mine tailings with a small quantity (3.7 kg m-2) of combined papermill sludge and fertilizer, a consistent and robust grass/Medicago sativa sward was established within the first growing season. This tailings amendment and the subsequent plant establishment lead to improvements in substrate fertility characteristics including aggregation, bulk density, as well as cation exchange capacity and organic content. Chemical fertility (available nitrogen and phosphorous) was ameliorated by all initial amendment treatments. However, the effect was relatively short-lived, with all amendment treatments returning to their background levels of these nutrients within one to two years. This study further proves the usefulness of papermill sludge as a low cost amendment for disturbed soil substrates, including mine tailings.

In order to encourage the establishment of an erosion controlling vegetative ground cover, low cost organic amendments and inorganic fertilizers were incorporated into an abandoned, non-acid generating mine tailings pond. By amending these gold mine tailings with a small quantity (3.7 kg m-2) of combined papermill sludge and fertilizer, a consistent and robust grass/Medicago sativa sward was established within the first growing season. This tailings amendment and the subsequent plant establishment lead to improvements in substrate fertility characteristics including aggregation, bulk density, as well as cation exchange capacity and organic content. Chemical fertility (available nitrogen and phosphorous) was ameliorated by all initial amendment treatments. However, the effect was relatively short-lived, with all amendment treatments returning to their background levels of these nutrients within one to two years. This study further proves the usefulness of papermill sludge as a low cost amendment for disturbed soil substrates, including mine tailings.

This research investigated the natural recovery of upland boreal forest vegetation on a peat-mineral mix substrate in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta. Three sites, aged 26 to 34 years, were assessed to determine effects of substrate (pH, electrical conductivity, texture), topography, slope, aspect, hummock size, litter depth, tall shrub and tree stem densities, canopy cover, and tree ages on community composition and cover of upland boreal vegetation. Environmental variables that had the most influence on the plant communities were substrate texture (clay), tree canopy cover, and tall shrub stem density. The plant communities, which likely developed from early successional lowland communities, most closely approximate an upland boreal mixedwood forest in transition from an early to mid successional stage. Community development was concluded to be a product of measured environmental variables, with unmeasured factors such as propagule dispersal, germination conditions, and initial species composition also playing important roles. / Land Reclamation and Remediation