A selection of native plant species potentially useful in revegetation of open cut coal mines in central Queensland

Abstract

Central Queensland coal mine spoils are often difficult to rehabilitate by conventional means, which often incorporate only a small number of exotic species. Native plant species that either tolerate or exploit natural soil conditions similar to difficult spoil conditions have been sought to improve rehabilitation. Field examination of plant communities and their associated soils in Western and Central Queensland has provided a range of approximately 60 potentially suitable species are able to survive harsh natural conditions (assessed primarily on the basis of pH, salinity and exchangeable sodium percentage at 600 to 800mm depth). Natural subsoil pH's of sites encountered ranged from 3.8 to 10.5, with chloride contents in the range of 3,000 to 4,000ug/g. Four of the larger tree species considered to have widespread potential in rehabilitation are Acacia argyrodendron (blackwood), A. cambagei (gidgee), Eucalyptus thozetiana (yapunyah) and E. ochrophloia (napunyah).