Atividade microbiana após a fitorremediação de um solo contaminado por cobre

Abstract

Copper (Cu) mining is strictly related to the intensification of industrial activities. However, it generates waste with high concentrations of the metal, which, when disposed without appropriate care, can cause soil contamination and direct consequences for the environment and human health. Treating a soil contaminated by high concentrations of Cu can be done by immobilizing or reducing its toxicity or mobility, through physical separation or extracting the contaminant from the environment. One of the techniques used to reduce the effects of soil contamination by Cu is phytoremediation combined with the addition of organic amendments. In addition to execute appropriate remediation techniques on the contaminated soil, it is necessary to carry out monitoring in order to verify the recovery of the area, if it is being successful and if the goals of the remediation are being met. The objective of this study is to evaluate the microbial activity in the soil of an area contaminated by Cu mining tailings after the addition of organic amendments and the growth of black oats and jack bean. The microbial activity was estimated measuring the amount of CO2 released from the soil and the activity of urease enzyme. The results indicate that the addition of a 45 kg K ha-1 organic amendments doses and 90 kg N ha-1 of biosolids stimulates the Cu contaminated soil microbial respiration and may indicates the soothing effect of these compounds .