简介：Apotexperimentwasconductedtoinvestigatetheeffectsofvarioussoiltreatmentsonthegrowthofvetivergrass(Vetiveriazizanioides(L.)Nash)withtheobjectiveofformulatingappropriatesoilmediaforuseinsulfide-bearingminedareas.Anacidicminesiteacidsulfatesoil(pH2.8)wastreatedwithdifferentsoilconditionerformulaincludinghydratedlime,redmud(bauxiteresidues),zeoliticrockpowder,biosolidsandacompoundfertilizer.Soilstreatedwithredmudandhydratedlimecorrectedsoilacidityandreducedoreliminatedmetaltoxicityenablingtheestablishmentofvetivergrass.Althoughover-limingaffectedgrowth,someseedlingsofvetiversurvivedtheinitialstrongalkalineconditions.Additionofappropriateamountsofzeoliticrockpowderalsoenhancedgrowth,butover-applicationcauseddetrimentaleffects.Inthisexperiment,soilmediumwiththebestgrowthperformanceofvetiverwas50gofredmud,10goflime,30gofzeoliticrockpowderand30gofbiosolidswith2000gofminesoils(100%survivalratewiththegreatestbiomassandnumberofnewshoots),butaddingachemicalfertilizertothismediaadverselyimpactedplantgrowth.Inaddition,ahighapplicationrateofbiosolidsresultedinpoorergrowthofvetiver,comparedtoamoderateapplicationrate.