Grass Growth in Mining Wastes with Compost and Endophyte Additions

Phytostabilization reduces the mobility of inorganic contaminants by establishing or enhancing plant growth. For small, remote, or abandoned mines, phytostabilization may reduce potential environmental hazards—provided plants can establish and grow. We grew a widespread perennial grass, Bouteloua curtipendula, in mining wastes with and without soil (compost, lime) and microbial amendments (endophyte seed coats) to determine whether we could improve plant establishment and growth. This data collection has four associated data releases: the physical elemental, and geochemical characteristics of the mining wastes and soil amendments; the laboratory environmental conditions during the growth of Bouteloua curtipendula in the mining wastes; and the amount of grass growth, organic matter accumulation, and metals remaining after growth of Bouteloua curtipendula with and without soil and/or microbial amendments.