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Small-scale spatial variability of Technosol properties in a chronosequence of reclamation of dredged sediment landfills
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  • Bibiana Betancur-Corredor,
  • Juliet Wanjiku Kamau,
  • Juan Sebastian Perez-Jimenez,
  • Juan Loaiza Usaga,
  • Santiago Alonso Cardona-Gallo,
  • Manfred Denich,
  • Christian Borgemeister
Bibiana Betancur-Corredor
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn Zentrum fur Entwicklungsforschung

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Juliet Wanjiku Kamau
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn Zentrum fur Entwicklungsforschung
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Juan Sebastian Perez-Jimenez
Universidad Nacional de Colombia Medellin Sede Facultad de Minas
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Juan Loaiza Usaga
Universidad Nacional de Colombia Medellin Sede Facultad de Minas
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Santiago Alonso Cardona-Gallo
Universidad Nacional de Colombia Medellin Sede Facultad de Minas
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Manfred Denich
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn Zentrum fur Entwicklungsforschung
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Christian Borgemeister
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn Zentrum fur Entwicklungsforschung
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Abstract

Active reclamation is often necessary to ensure a transformation of mining waste into Technosols -“soils dominated or strongly influenced by human made material” - and restore its utility and environmental value. The objective of this study was to assess the spatial variation of the physicochemical properties of a Technosol forming on dredged sediment landfills left by alluvial gold mining in a chronosequence of reclamation (0, 4, 8 and 12 years). We hypothesized a higher spatial dependency of most soil properties with increasing time of Technosol formation and an overall homogenization of the soil resulting from pedogenetic processes. Our results showed that most of the investigated physical and chemical properties changed significantly among Technosols of different ages. The content of organic matter, phosphorus, and exchangeable cations showed the highest spatial variability in Technosols of all ages. In older Technosols, most soil properties showed less spatial variability than in younger Technosols. A multivariate geostatistical assessment allowed the delineation of spatial clusters i.e. homogeneous zones with distinctive physicochemical properties within areas of the chronosequence. This spatial clustering showed that reclamation and Technosol formation led to spatially-dependent fragmentation processes reflected in more and smaller homogeneous zones in the oldest Technosol assessed in the chronosequence. From the perspective of reclamation management, understanding the spatial variability of highly heterogeneous Technosols where substantial changes can be observed within small distances can support the development of reclamation strategies suitable to the characteristics of each field as well as the determination of its potential uses.
09 Mar 2022Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
10 Mar 2022Submission Checks Completed
10 Mar 2022Assigned to Editor
15 Mar 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 May 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 May 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Major
08 Jun 20221st Revision Received
15 Jun 2022Submission Checks Completed
15 Jun 2022Assigned to Editor
08 Aug 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Aug 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
22 Sep 20222nd Revision Received
22 Sep 2022Submission Checks Completed
22 Sep 2022Assigned to Editor
11 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Jan 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
18 Feb 20233rd Revision Received
20 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
20 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
09 Mar 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Accept