Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.): A Potential Candidate for the Rehabilitation of Feldspar Mine Spoil Amended with Bioinoculants

Abstract

Excessive feldspar mining is becoming an alarming issue due to the untreated mine spoil. For the success in the remediation of mine spoil, selection of plant species is an important factor. Therefore being a nitrogen fixer, legumes can be an alternative and are needed to be broadcasted for the rehabilitation of mined lands. In this context guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) can be preferred which excels in enhancing soil fertility and is already in cultivation but not experimented with feldspar due to not establishing its rhizosphere fertility. In this study to enhance the fertility status and biological activities of feldspar mine spoil plantation of guar is done with the inoculation of microbes Azotobacter Azospirillum and Glomus mosseae (AMF) and organic and inorganic amendments. This attempt has successfully enhanced the rhizosphere enzymes at the rate of 10-65% maximum with AMF+ OM+ NPK50% (T16), nutrient uptake 10-70% maximum with Azotobacter+ OM+ NPK 50% (T7) and plant metabolites 10-51% also observed maximum with T7 over the uninoculated control. Guar has also shown positive response towards the applied treatment and grown well. Based on the results it can be inferred that guar can tolerate detrimental effects of feldspar mining. Hence, it is concluded that guar can be a potential crop to restore soil health of feldspar mined land for sustainable development.