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Forestry

Breakthrough in Mine Ecological Rehabilitation: Optimized Use of Super Absorbent Polymer and Bio-Fertilizer

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A recent study from Beijing Forestry University has made a significant contribution to the field of sustainability research by exploring the enhancement effect of mine ecological rehabilitation. The researchers conducted a case study in the Bayan Obo mine, where they planted Pinus tabulaeformis carr (PC) and Festuca arundinacea (FA) and amended with a super absorbent polymer (SAP) compound bio-fertilizer (SAP@bio-fertilizer). The results showed that the optimum amendment of SAP@bio-fertilizer increased the growth characteristic parameters of height and ground diameter by 1.40 and 1.43 times compared to single bio-fertilizer. The study also found that the property parameters of soil fertility, such as available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, increased by 239.61%, 992.91%, and 94.31% compared to control (CK), respectively.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers conducted a case study in the Bayan Obo mine to investigate the enhancement effect of mine ecological rehabilitation using super absorbent polymer and bio-fertilizer.
  • The optimum amendment of SAP@bio-fertilizer was found to be 30 g/plant plus 50 g/plant (A2B2) for PC macrophanerophytes and 100 g/m2 plus 150 g/m2 (A2B2) for FA herbaceous.
  • The study showed that the use of SAP@bio-fertilizer increased the total biomass by 6.83 and 2.77 times compared to single bio-fertilizer and control (CK), respectively.
  • The property parameters of soil fertility, such as available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, increased by 239.61%, 992.91%, and 94.31% compared to control (CK), respectively.
  • The community diversity of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes increased by 1-2 orders of magnitude for PC and FA.
  • The study concluded that the combination of SAP@bio-fertilizer provided a feasible solution for the ecological restoration of mines in arid and semi-arid areas.

Statistics:

  • The growth characteristic parameters of height and ground diameter increased by 1.40 and 1.43 times compared to single bio-fertilizer.
  • The property parameters of soil fertility, such as available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, increased by 239.61%, 992.91%, and 94.31% compared to control (CK), respectively.
  • The community diversity of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes increased by 1-2 orders of magnitude for PC and FA.
  • The total biomass increased by 6.83 and 2.77 times compared to single bio-fertilizer and control (CK), respectively.

Sources:

  • Zhang, J., Zhao, T., Hao, J., He, X., & Xie, J. (2025). Optimized the ratio of super absorbent polymer and bio-fertilizer for better ecological rehabilitation in Bayan Obo mine, China. Discover Sustainability, 6(1), 1-18.

doi: 10.1007/s43621-025-01899-y

  • China Weekly News. (2025, October 21). Research Data from Beijing Forestry University Update Understanding of Sustainability Research (Optimized the ratio of super absorbent polymer and bio-fertilizer for better ecological rehabilitation in Bayan Obo mine, China). China Weekly News, 399.

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