Effects of the use of wastewater sludge on water availability of a mine substrate in the Brazilian Savanna

ABSTRACT

Mining exposes to surface a material generically called substrate, which has different physical, chemical and biological attributes compared to natural soils. The wastewater sludge (WWS) is the main source of organic matter used in reclamation works of mines in the Federal District of Brazil. Reclamation works positively affect mine substrate but their effects on water availability (AW) have been little studied. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of WWS into a mine substrate on its hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and AW. Samples of a mine substrate exposed to surface, the same material treated with wastewater sludge and soil under natural Savanna vegetation were collected and analyzed for bulk density, granulometry, total porosity, microporosity, macroporosity, saturated Ksat, volumetric water content at field capacity (FC) and at permanent wilt point (PWP). Subsequently, volumetric water and air content were monitored on the field for 22 weeks. Results showed that the substrate exposed by mining presented water content above FC during 86% of the investigation period and air content at critic levels during 55% of the same period. The incorporation of WWS and subsequent plant colonization increased Ksat values and shortened the period in which water was store at FC. However, the moisture regime in the substrate treaded with WWS remained dissimilar to that of the original soil used as reference.

Keywords:
soil water availability; mine substrate; wastewater sludge