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Agro-industrial wastes as effective amendments for ecotoxicity reduction and soil health improvement in aided phytostabilization

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Abstract

Aided phytostabilization is a technology that uses metal tolerant plants and organic and/or inorganic amendments to reduce soil metal bioavailability, while improving soil health. Our objective was to determine the effects of the application of amendments [sheep manure (SHEEP), poultry litter (POULTRY), cow slurry (COW), and paper mill sludge mixed with poultry litter (PAPER)], together with the growth of a metallicolous Festuca rubra L. population, on (i) chemical and microbial indicators of soil health and (ii) soil ecotoxicity, during the aided phytostabilization of a Zn/Pb contaminated mine soil. Amendment application led to an increase in soil pH, organic matter content, and inorganic salts, resulting in a decrease in Pb and Zn CaCl2-extractable concentrations in soil, which, in turn, contributed to lower ecotoxicity and a stimulation of plant growth and soil microbial communities. The factor most affecting the metal extractability was probably soil pH. POULTRY was the best amendment in terms of increasing plant growth, chlorophylls content, and soil microbial biomass and activity, but resulted in higher levels of phytoavailable Pb and Zn. SHEEP and PAPER were more effective at reducing metal CaCl2-extractability and, consequently, led to lower values of metal accumulation in plant tissues, thereby reducing the risk of metals entering into the food chain. When combined with the application of organic amendments, the metallicolous F. rubra population studied here appears an excellent candidate for aided phytostabilization. Our results indicate that the application of organic amendments is essential for the short-term recovery of highly contaminated metalliferous soils during aided phytostabilization.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been financially supported by the following projects: Etortek-BERRILUR III, UPV/EHU-GV IT-299-07, and MINECO AGL2012-39715-CO3-01/02. M.A. Galende is the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), and M.T. Gómez-Sagasti is the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Department of Education, Universities and Research, Basque Government. SGIker technical and human support by Dr. Juan Carlos Raposo and Dr. Azucena González (University of the Basque Country) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), P.O. box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain

    María A. Galende, José M. Becerril, María T. Gómez-Sagasti, Oihana Barrutia & Antonio Hernández

  2. NEIKER-Tecnalia, Basque Institute of Agricultural Research and Development, Soil Microbial Ecology Group, c/Berreaga 1, 48160, Derio, Spain

    Carlos Garbisu

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  1. María A. Galende
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  2. José M. Becerril
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  3. María T. Gómez-Sagasti
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  4. Oihana Barrutia
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  5. Carlos Garbisu
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  6. Antonio Hernández
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Correspondence to María A. Galende.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Galende, M.A., Becerril, J.M., Gómez-Sagasti, M.T. et al. Agro-industrial wastes as effective amendments for ecotoxicity reduction and soil health improvement in aided phytostabilization. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 10036–10044 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2752-8

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