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Metal Uptake by Spontaneous Vegetation in Acidic Mine Tailings from a Semiarid Area in South Spain: Implications for Revegetation and Land Management

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Abstract

Tailings are frequently a source of pollution in mining areas due to the spread of metals from their bare surfaces via wind or runoff water. Phytostabilization is an interesting and low-cost option to decrease environmental risks in these sites. In this study, an acidic mine tailing (pH 3–4) located in a semiarid area in Southeast Spain and the spontaneous vegetation which grow on were investigated. Soil samples were taken to characterize metal contamination, and three plant species, Lygeum spartum, Piptatherum miliaceum, and Helichrysum decumbens, were sampled in order to determine plant uptake of metals. The rhizosphere pH of H. decumbens was measured to be 6.7, which was significantly higher than the bulk soil (pH 3). The electrical conductivity values were around 2–5 dS m−1. Total metal concentrations in soil were high (9,800 mg kg−1 for Pb and 7,200 mg kg−1 for Zn). DTPA-extractable Zn and Pb were 16% and 19% of the total amount, respectively. The three selected plant species accumulated around 2–5 mg kg−1 Cu in both shoots and roots. Zn concentration was 100 mg kg−1 in P. miliaceum roots. DTPA-extractable Zn was positively correlated with Zn plant uptake. These plant species demonstrated to grow well in acid tailings taking up only low concentrations of metals and therefore are good candidates to perform further phytostabilization works.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Fundacion Seneca of Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia for financial support and Gregorio García, Juan Marcos Andreu, and Raquel Arnaldos for their help in sampling. Also, we want to thank Dr. Ripolles for the help in English typing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agraria, Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 52-30203, Cartagena, Spain

    Héctor M. Conesa & Ángel Faz

  2. Soil Protection Group, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland

    Héctor M. Conesa

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  1. Héctor M. Conesa
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  2. Ángel Faz
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Correspondence to Héctor M. Conesa.

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Conesa, H.M., Faz, Á. Metal Uptake by Spontaneous Vegetation in Acidic Mine Tailings from a Semiarid Area in South Spain: Implications for Revegetation and Land Management. Water Air Soil Pollut 215, 221–227 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0471-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0471-4

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