Microbial community structure and biomass of a mine soil with different organic and inorganic treatments and native plants

Abstract

Heavy metals far in excess of trace amounts that are required for healthy plant growth, cause harmful effects on soil microorganisms; however, studies concerning the characterization of microbial communities in mine soils are scarce. The present study is the first attempt to characterize, by means of the analysis of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) patterns, soil microbial community composition from a contaminated mine soil (Pb, As) subjected to different remediation technologies. A pot experiment was performed with a soil from the São Domingos mine (South of Portugal) with or without native herbaceous plants combined with the following soil treatments: control; inorganic fertilizer (NPK); inorganic fertilizer plus polyacrylate polymer; inorganic fertilizer plus organic amendment (compost); inorganic fertilizer plus both amendments (compost, polymer). The measurements of PLFA patterns were made on soil samples collected 5 months after the application of remediation treatments.The total microbial biomass and the biomass of specific groups increased notably after soil treatments, particularly those including organic amendments, and were significantly higher in presence of native plants than in the corresponding bare soils. The data also indicated that a plant cover rather than organic and inorganic treatments played the dominant role in determining the composition of the microbial community. An influence of different soil treatments on microbial composition was also observed; the effect of organic amendment being more pronounced than that of the remaining treatments. The results clearly showed the efficacy of a vegetation cover (native plants) combined with the use of organic amendment in the reclamation of this degraded mine soil.

Different Effects of Ash Application on the Carbon Mineralization and Microbial Biomass Carbon of Reclaimed Mining Soils

“…The application of different amounts of rice husk and oil palm shell ash and a low amount of coal fly ash increased C mineralization and MBC, while the application of a high amount of coal fly ash reduced C mineralization and MBC. The results of this study are consistent with a study by Basanta et al (2017) that reported changes in both microbial activity and microbial biomass after the application of remediation treatments. Ash application to soils indirectly influences soil C mineralization and MBC through changes in the activity of soil microorganisms.…”

Effects of Different Organic Fertilizers on Sweet Potato Growth and Rhizosphere Soil Properties in Newly Reclaimed Land

“…These fungal isolates exhibited the great ability to solubilize P, increase the growth of eggplant, and produce siderophores and indole acetic acid [6]. In addition, the use of organic residues as amendments exerts a great influence on soil microbial communities [45][46][47][48], which not only increases the soil organic matter level and long-term soil fertility, but also improves the soil health and productivity.…”

Superabsorbent Hydrogels in the Agriculture and Reclamation of Degraded Areas

“…Studies to evaluate the use of SAPs on the microbiological properties of post-industrial soils are rare and limited to mine soils contaminated with toxic metals [182,187]. These studies reported a positive effect of SAP application on soil microbiological properties [168,169,[187][188][189], resulting from increased pH and significantly reduced concentrations of toxic metals in the soil solution.…”