Abstract
Due to prolonged exposure, the abandoned sites of copper sulphide mines lead to serious environmental problems, including soil acidification and heavy metal pollution. Soil amendments are extensively used in the remediation of contaminated soils. However, there has been little studies assessing the relationship between soil amendments and plant growth, soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, and bacterial community structure. Therefore, this study aims to determine the remediation effectiveness of plants combined with earthworm castings and steel slag on acidic copper sulfide mine soils. The results demonstrate that whether applied alone or in combination, both steel slag and earthworm castings can improve soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), and cation exchange capacity (CEC), and enzyme activity, effectively enrich beneficial bacteria, and lower redox potential (Eh), total and effective Cu, Cd concentration. Compared to unamended soil, the pH in the soil restored by Vetiveria (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) combined with earthworm castings and steel slag increased from 3.78 to 7. Soil organic matter (SOM) increased by 156.4% in the soil restored by maize (Zea mays L.) combined with earthworm castings. The activity of hydrogen peroxide enzyme increased by approximately 40% in Z. mays combined with various amendment treatment groups. Urease activity significantly increased by 250% in Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) combined with earthworm castings and steel slag treatment groups. Proteobacteria dominated the soil restored by V. zizanioides combined with steel slag, reaching 71.5%. Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) and V. zizanioides were found to be the best hyperaccumulators for Cu, while V. zizanioides and L. perenne were the best hyperaccumulators for Cd. In general, the intercropping of Z. mays and V. zizanioides with the addition of earthworm castings and steel slag holds the potential for the remediation of acidic copper sulfide mine soils.
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Data availability
The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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The authors are thankful to the Jiangxi University of Science and Technology for their unstinted support for this study.
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This work was funded by Key R&D Program of Jiangxi Province, China (20212BBG73013) and Jiangxi Province Graduate Innovation Special Fund Project, China (XY2022-S211).
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Xiaojuan Wang carried out the data analyses and wrote the manuscript. Jinchun Xue contributed to the conception of the study. Hui Qi contributed significantly to the analysis. Shuting Wang conducted the experiment. Yu Wang helped perform the analysis with constructive discussions. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Wang, X., Xue, J., Qi, H. et al. Remediation of acidic soils in copper sulfide mines through combined plant amendments and their effects on soil bacterial community structure. Water Air Soil Pollut 235, 141 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-06948-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-06948-2