Phytotesting as a Tool in Assessing the Effectiveness of Salt Dump Reclamation

The utilisation of potash reserves has various environmental consequences, such as the generation of substantial volumes of solid waste containing high levels of sodium chloride. The accumulation of environmental harm gives rise to an unfavourable environmental scenario in potash production areas, which requires the investigation of waste management solutions. The predominant approach to reducing surface waste involves backfilling mined areas. In other countries, salt dump reclamation is utilised alongside backfilling. The distinctive characteristic of salt dump reclamation lies in the water-solubility and phytotoxicity of the dump rock. This research aims to evaluate the morphometric and biochemical parameters (using phytotesting) of vegetation throughout the process of salt dump reclamation using different variants. A model reclamation was carried out in a laboratory setting, where three different variants were subjected to experimentation. A reduction in the thickness of the protective clay barrier resulted in a decline in morphometric aspects of the experimental crops as well as the woody vegetation. Reducing the thickness of the protective clay barrier leads to an elevation in the redox activity of the examined crops, thus pointing towards potential environmental toxicity. Superior morphometric and biochemical parameters were noted in vegetation possessing a substantial protective covering, hinting at the feasibility of utilising insulating layers for salt dump reclamation. Phytotesting serves as an indicative approach to assessing soil toxicity and as a parameter for determining soil resilience against pollution. The findings hold potential for application in further research within the field of biological reclamation in areas with dump sites.