Phosphorus deficiency is the major limiting factor for wheat on alluvium polluted by the copper mine pyrite tailings: a black box approach

Abstract

Failures of tailings dams have degraded large areas of agricultural alluvial soils worldwide, and concomitant soil pollution studies are abundant. Yet, the data on the actual effects of thereby imposed stresses on major crops are scarce. This work analyses the effect of pyrite tailings from a copper mine, deposited over crop fields by long-term flooding, on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions. The major previously reported polluting agents were Cu, As, Zn, Pb and acidity generated by sulphide oxidation. Flexible systematic sampling, based on visual symptoms in wheat, included transects through partially damaged fields (from calcareous to acid soils). Multivariate analysis of soil properties, leaf mineral composition and growth parameters revealed a consistent underlying soil gradient of decreasing available P and increasing S tot . Phosphorus was shown to have the highest unique contribution to predicting wheat yield, consistent correlation with growth and visual symptoms, and concentrations in the range of severe deficiency. In P deficient plants N deficiency, decrease of available micronutrients and increase of As occur irrespectively of their soil concentrations, and the competition with superior "pyrite" weeds increases. Different sorption of P and possible rhizotoxic effects of other pollutants imply that fertilization can hardly be a solution.

The response to bacterial inoculation is cultivar-related in strawberries

“…The ground particles were then subjected to digestion in a microwave digester, using an HNO 3 -H 2 O 2 acid mixture (2:3 v/v). The content of the macroelements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) and microelements (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, and Mo) in the leaves was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy according to the method of Nikolic et al (2011) To assess the morphometric fruit properties, a sample of 25 fruits per replication was randomly selected in both harvesting seasons. For average fruit weight, a METTLER balance (±0.01 g accuracy) was used.…”

Contribution of inorganic cations and organic compounds to osmotic adjustment in root cultures of two Centaurium species differing in tolerance to salt stress

“…2 ml H 2 O 2 for 2 h. The concentrations of Na, K, Mg and Ca were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission (ICP) spectrometry (SpectroGenesis EOP II, Spectro Analytical Instruments GmbH, Kleve, Germany) after diluting the samples with deionised water to a final volume of 25 ml (Nikolić et al 2011).…”

Long-term passive restoration following fluvial deposition of sulphidic copper tailings: nature filters out the solutions

“…The major process on these polluted soils is oxidative weathering of sulphides, which leads to strong acidification and leaching of most mineral elements (Nikolic and Nikolic 2012). Our previous research showed clear spatial gradients in properties of polluted soils along the transects, <1 km long, perpendicular to the river channel; the concentration of total soil sulphur was a good indicator of pollution load, which regularly decreased with the distance from the river (for more details, see Nikolic et al 2011Nikolic et al , 2014Nikolic and Nikolic 2012).…”