Environmental Conditions during Growth of Bouteloua curtipendula in Mining Wastes

A 45-day mesocosom experiment was conducted to determine how well a perennial grass species (Bouteloua curtipendula) grew in mining wastes from southeastern Arizona. The experiment tested whether the addition of an endophyte seed coat combined with a top dressing of compost improved grass growth, organic matter accumulation, and metal stabilization in the mining wastes (i.e., phytostabilization). The mining wastes were sourced from two formerly active hard rock mines: waste rock from a porphyry copper open pit mine and tailings from a tunnel and shaft polymetallic mine. The plants were grown for 45 days in an indoor growing complex. These data give the environmental conditions of the indoor growing complex (light, temperature, and water conditions) during the experiment.