Growth of five species of trees on experimental plots on sand tailings left after mining for rutile in Sierra Leone
identifier: CEH:EIDC:/1280318997906
bibliographic citation: Dick, J., Garnett, T., Jones, S., Karim, A.B., Sundufu, A.J., Wadsworth, R.A., Okoni-Williams, A. (2015). Growth of five species of trees on experimental plots on sand tailings left after mining for rutile in Sierra Leone. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/d4c6029a-464c-49d0-bcc7-75757cab2b3a
description: Data comprise measured heights of five species of trees after 2.5 years growth between June 2007 and November 2009 in plots reclaimed using a variety of planting techniques and surface applications following mining for rutile in Lanti South, Sierra Leone, West Africa. Eight 25 by 25 metres plots were divided into four squares and four rectangles and planted in June 2007. The five tree species included Gmelina (Gmelina arborea), mango (Mangifera indica), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), citrus (Citrus sinensis) and monkey apple (Anisophyllea laurina). Five rows of trees were planted at a spacing of 5 meters in each direction to minimize above and below ground competition. Four planting treatments were tested: 1 bucket of compost per planting hole, 1 bucket of topsoil, 1 bucket of a 50:50 mix of compost and topsoil and a control. Surface treatments included 2 cm of compost, 5 cm of mulch, 2 cm of top-soil and a control.
provenance: ProvenanceStatement
  label: Trees were planted at a spacing of 5 meters (in each direction) to minimize the potential for above ground and below ground competition. The substrate (soil) that they are planted in is not very hospitable for plants as it consists of very coarse quartz sand the finer material (silts and clays) are removed as part of the initial processing of the rutile. The coarse nature of the sand and the high rainfall (~3 meters per year) means that leach rates are potentially high. Nutrient levels are low with an average concentration of Nitrogen of 0.0027% and an average soil Carbon of 0.073%; these values are barely 1% of the pre-disturbance conditions (typical undisturbed soils in the area have Nitrogen ~0.12% and Carbon ~4%). Eight (8) rehabilitation plots have been set out at Lanti South (7 deg 41' N, 12 deg 17' W). Each plot consists of four 25 by 25 meter compartments. Four plots (number 1 to 4) are square and four (5 to 8) are rectangular. Each compartment was planted in June 2007 with five rows of trees (one species per row) at a 5 meter by 5 meter spacing. Four planting treatments were tested: - 1 bucket of compost per planting hole, - 1 bucket of topsoil, - 1 bucket of a 50:50 mix of compost and topsoil - a control. The 'standard bucket' used is the local '34 centimeter' galvanized steel bucket and it contains 17 liters to brim full. The standard planting hole was 42 cm x 42 cm and 21 cm deep; the dimensions were chosen based on two spade blades wide and one deep when using the typical (standard) round mouth shovel sold in Sierra Leone. All trees in a compartment have the same planting treatment. Four surface treatments were applied; - 2 cm of compost, - 5 cm of mulch, - 2 cm of top-soil or - nothing (control) All four compartments in a plot have the same surface treatment. Planting and maintenance of the plots was carried out by the mining company (Sierra Rutile Ltd.) who hired labour and purchased compost from the local communities. Compost was produced by the loca…
spatial: Location
  bbox: POLYGON((-13 7, -13 8, -12 8, -12 7, -13 7))
temporal: PeriodOfTime
  start date: 1997-06-01
  end date: 1999-11-30
is referenced by: https://hdl.handle.net/10986/24813
subject: Sierra Leone
subject: Moyamba District
subject: Sierra Rutile Concession Area
subject: West Africa
subject: sand tailings
subject: rutile
subject: mango
subject: cashew
subject: citrus
subject: orange
subject: monkey apple
subject: land restoration
subject: Gmelina arborea
subject: Anacardium occidentale
subject: Anisophyllea laurina
subject: Mangifera indica
subject: Citrus sinensis
subject: titanium dioxide
subject: mining
type: Dataset
available: 2015-07-31
landing page: https://doi.org/10.5285/d4c6029a-464c-49d0-bcc7-75757cab2b3a
license: OGL-UK-3.0.ttl
rights: RightsStatement
  copyright notice: copyright UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
access rights: UNRS
distribution:
  access URL: https://data-package.ceh.ac.uk/data/d4c6029a-464c-49d0-bcc7-75757cab2b3a
  license: OGL-UK-3.0.ttl
  rights: RightsStatement
    copyright notice: copyright UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
  access rights: UNRS
  format: Comma-separated values (CSV)
creator: Dick, J.
language: en

Dick, J.
type: Person
family name: Dick
given name: Jan
member: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

NERC Environmental Information Data Centre
type: Organization
member: NERC Environmental Information Data Centre

Dick, J.
type: Person
family name: Dick
given name: J.
member: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Garnett, T.
type: Person
family name: Garnett
given name: T.
member: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Jones, S.
type: Person
family name: Jones
given name: S.
member: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Karim, A.B.
type: Person
family name: Karim
given name: A.B.
member: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Sundufu, A.J.
type: Person
family name: Sundufu
given name: A.J.
member: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Wadsworth, R.A.
type: Person
family name: Wadsworth
given name: R.A.
member: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Okoni-Williams, A.
type: Person
family name: Okoni-Williams
given name: A.
member: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

https://hdl.handle.net/10986/24813
type: Expression
bibliographic citation: Place, F.; Garrity, D. ; Mohan, S. ; Agostini, P. (2016). Tree-Based Production Systems for Africa’s Drylands. World Bank Studies;. © Washington, DC: World Bank.

Sierra Leone
type: Concept

Moyamba District
type: Concept

land restoration
type: Concept

Gmelina arborea
type: Concept

Anacardium occidentale
type: Concept

Anisophyllea laurina
type: Concept

Mangifera indica
type: Concept

Citrus sinensis
type: Concept

titanium dioxide
type: Concept

mining
type: Concept

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
type: Organization