Mine tailings pose a huge hazard for environmental and human health, and the establishment of vegetation cover is crucial to reduce pollutant dispersion for the surroundings. However, their hostile ...physicochemical conditions hamper plant growth, compromising phytoremediation strategies. This study aims to investigate the role of organo-mineral amendments and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the improvement of mine tailings properties and Lolium perenne L. (ryegrass) growth. Plants were grown in mine tailings mixed with an agricultural soil (1:1), 10% compost, and supplied with two different inorganic amendments – rock phosphate (6%) or lime (3%), and inoculated with the rhizobacterial strains Advenellakashmirensis BKM20 (B1) and Mesorhizobium tamadayense BKM04 (B2). The application of organo-mineral amendments ameliorated tailings characteristics, which fostered plant growth and further enhanced soil fertility and microbial activity. These findings were consistent with the increase of total organic carbon levels, with the higher numbers of heterotrophic and phosphate solubilizing bacteria, and higher dehydrogenase and urease activities, found in these substrates after plant establishment. Plant growth was further boosted by PGPR inoculation, most noticeable by co-inoculation of both strains. Moreover, inoculated plants showed increased activities for several antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, and glutathione reductase) which indicate a reinforced antioxidant system.
The application of agricultural soil, compost and lime associated with the inoculation of a mixture of PGPR proved to enhance the establishment of vegetation cover, thus promoting the stabilization of Kettara mine tailings. Nonetheless, further studies are needed in order to confirm its effectiveness under field conditions.
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•Organo-mineral amendments play a key role in plant establishment in mine tailings.•Combined use of organo-mineral amendments and PGPR enhanced ryegrass growth.•Co-inoculation with metal resistant PGPR further improved plant growth.•Bacterial inoculation improved plant resistance to metals.•Bioinoculation stimulated ryegrass antioxidant defense system.
Soil heavy metal contamination resulting from mining activities constitutes a major environmental problem worldwide. The spread of heavy metals is often facilitated by scarce vegetation cover, so ...there is an urgent need to improve plant survival and establishment in these metalliferous areas. This study is aimed at the isolation and analysis of the phylogenetic relationship of culturable bacteria from the rhizosphere of metallophyte plants growing in the Kettara mine, in Marrakech, in order to select plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), which could be used in assisted-phytoremediation. Bacterial isolates were grouped by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Strains were further characterized for the production of plant growth-promoting (PGP) substances, such as NH
3
, siderophores, indol-3-acetic acid (IAA), hydrogen cyanide, and extracellular enzymes, for ACC-deaminase activity, their capacity to solubilize phosphate, and for their tolerance to heavy metals and acidic pH. Rhizosphere soils were highly contaminated with Cu and Zn and presented low fertility. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the rhizobacteria were affiliated to three major groups: γ-
Proteobacteria
(48 %), β-
Proteobacteria
(17 %), and
Bacilli
(17 %). The most represented genera were
Pseudomonas
(38 %),
Bacillus
(10 %),
Streptomyces
(10 %), and
Tetrathiobacter
(10 %). Overall, rhizobacterial strains showed an ability to produce multiple, important PGP traits, which may be helpful when applied as plant growth promoter agents in contaminated soils. PGPR were also able to withstand high levels of metals (up to 2615.2 mg Zn l
−1
, 953.29 mg Cu l
−1
, and 1124.6 mg Cd l
−1
) and the order of metal toxicity was Cd > Cu > Zn. The rhizobacterial strains isolated in the present study have the potential to be used as efficient bioinoculants in phytoremediation strategies for the recovery of Kettara mine soils.
The objective of this work was to develop a process that allows the synthesis of an apatitic material of controlled composition and morphology, which could be used for medical and environmental ...applications. The adsorbent was synthesized, and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, Thermal analysis and other techniques, Atomic Force Microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Total organic carbon. Different experimental parameters such as the effect of the amount of adsorbent, solution pH and temperatures and contact times were studied. Pseudo-order kinetics models were studied, and our data followed a pseudo second order. Experimental data were analyzed for both Langmuir and Freundlich models and the data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model. To understand the mechanism of adsorption, thermodynamic parameters like standard enthalpy, standard Gibbs free energy, and standard entropy were studied. The study indicated that the process is spontaneous, exothermic in nature and follow physisorption mechanisms. The novelty of this study showed surface of composite based of hydroxyapatite has the ability to highlight the surface designed for efficient removal of Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions, from aqueous solutions more than other studies.
After nitrogen, phosphorus is the main element for plant growth. Most agricultural soils worldwide are deficient in phosphorus and therefore require a contribution of phosphorus for the plant needs. ...There is a continuing need to improve soil fertility, to increase yields and agricultural productivity. During the application of phosphate fertilizers, soluble phosphorus assimilated by plants is rare because of its precipitation and then become unavailable to the plant. Rhizospheric bacteria including the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are of growing interest for their potential role in improving soil fertility and enhancing an increase of crop yields and their nutrients contents. These bacteria make the insoluble phosphorus in soluble forms during the application of phosphate fertilizers and make the phosphorus available to the plant. This work gives a review of methodology and techniques used for the research of phosphate solubilization bacteria (PSB), their molecular characterization and the biochemical mechanisms and genes tools involved in solubilization of phosphate and their relationships with symbiotic plants.
Purpose
Mining areas are low-quality habitats for macro- and microorganisms’ development, mainly due to the degradation of the soil quality by metal pollution. The present work aimed to analyze the ...influence of metal contamination and of plant species on the rhizospheric microbial communities of four indigenous metallophytes (
Ononis natrix
,
Haloxylon scoparium, Peganum harmala
, and
Aizoon canariense
) growing along a metal contamination gradient in Kettara mine near Marrakech, Morocco.
Materials and methods
In pyrrhotite mining areas (Kettara mine, Morocco), rhizosphere soil samples were collected from four predominant indigenous metallophytes (
O. natrix
,
H. scoparium
,
P. harmala
, and
A. canariense
) growing along a metal contamination gradient (ZC, control zone; Z1, high metal contamination; Z2, moderate metal contamination; Z3, low metal contamination). Microbial communities were analyzed by using microbial counts and by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The physicochemical properties (pH, conductivity, total organic carbon, nitrogen, P Olsen, and metal concentrations) of soils were also determined.
Results and discussion
The physicochemical analysis revealed that rhizospheric soils from Z1, Z2, and Z3 were relatively poor in nutrients as they presented low levels of total organic carbon and nitrogen, organic matter and available P. Moreover, these rhizospheric soils showed high concentrations of metals, especially Cu and Pb, which significantly reduced the abundance of the different groups of soil microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes) and the activity of soil dehydrogenase. The analysis of bacterial communities by DGGE revealed that bacterial diversity was not negatively affected by metal contamination being higher in the most contaminated area (Z1).
Conclusions
Overall, the microbial abundance, the composition, and the diversity of rhizospheric bacterial communities were more influenced by the environmental factors in sampling zones than by plant cover. Microbial counts and enzymatic activity were both systematically affected throughout the metal gradient, evidencing as good indicators of the harmful effects of anthropogenic disturbances in soils.
H. scorparium
and
P. harmala
proved to be good candidates for the development of phytotechnological programs aiming the revegetation of mining degraded areas.
The implementation of phytoremediation strategies under arid and semiarid climates requires the use of appropriate plant species capable of withstanding multiple abiotic stresses. In this study, we ...assessed the combined effects of organo-mineral amendments and microbial inoculants on the chemical and biological properties of mine tailings, as well as on the growth of native plant species under drought stress conditions. Plants were cultivated in pots containing 1 kg of a mixture of mine tailings and topsoil (i.e., pre-mined superficial soil) in a 60:40 ratio, 6% marble sludge, and 10% sheep manure. Moreover, a consortium of four drought-resistant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) was inoculated. Three irrigation levels were applied: well-watered, moderate water deficit, and severe water deficit, corresponding to 80%, 45%, and 30% of field capacity, respectively. The addition of topsoil and organo-mineral amendments to mine tailings significantly improved their chemical and biological properties, which were further enhanced by bacterial inoculation and plants' establishment. Water stress negatively impacted enzymatic activities in amended tailings, resulting in a significant decrease in acid and alkaline phosphatases, urease, and dehydrogenase activities. Similar results were obtained for bacteria, fungi, and actinomycete abundance. PGPR inoculation positively influenced the availability of phosphorus, total nitrogen, and organic carbon, while it increased alkaline phosphatase, urease (by about 10%), and dehydrogenase activity (by 50%). The rhizosphere of
showed the highest enzymatic activity and number of culturable microorganisms, especially in inoculated treatments. Severe water deficit negatively affected plant growth, leading to a 40% reduction in the shoot biomass of both
and
compared to well-watered plants.
showed greater tolerance to water stress, evidenced by lower decreases observed in root and shoot length and dry weight compared to well-watered plants. The use of bioinoculants mitigated the negative effects of drought on
shoot biomass, resulting in an increase of up to 75% in the aerial biomass in plants exposed to severe water deficit. In conclusion, the results suggest that the combination of organo-mineral amendments, PGPR inoculation, and
represents a promising approach to enhance the phytoremediation of metal-polluted soils under semiarid conditions.
The mining industry is of major importance to Morocco’s economy. However, the abandoned pyritic mines are a source of potentially toxic elements that can cause the disruption of the surrounding ...ecosystems, constituting a huge threat to wellbeing and human health. The present study aimed to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of different types of tailings and to investigate the microbial populations of acidophilic bacteria involved in the oxidation of pyrite. Coarse and fine tailings collected from different zones of the mine (dike and pond) at two different depths (oxidized and non-oxidized residues) were analyzed for their pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, available P, major elements, and pseudo-total metal concentrations. The abundance of acidophilic bacteria was determined, and some acidophilic bacterial strains were isolated and tested for their metal tolerance. Tailings showed a pH ≈ 2, very low nutritional content, and high concentrations of Cu, As, Zn, and Pb, which were higher in the non-oxidized samples. The microbial counts of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were higher than heterotrophic bacteria, with the highest numbers detected in the oxidized fine tailings. The five acidophilic bacteria isolated from the tailings were affiliated to genera Alicyclobacillus and Sulfobacillus, commonly found in this kind of environment.
Purpose
Due to their close proximity with the population, urban soils are extensively affected by human activities that release considerable technogenic inputs resulting in an overall soil ...degradation and leading to an increase of water-extractable fraction of trace elements. This work aimed to determine the influence of anthropization on trace and major element concentrations and to assess how it might also affect soil biochemical and microbiological parameters in an urban area of Marrakech city, Morocco.
Materials and methods
The work was carried out on nine topsoils located along an anthropogenic gradient from a suburban area to the city center. The percentage of technogenic fraction (TGF) (e.g., building material, plastic, wood, metallic material, bones, glass, paper, fabric) was used to quantify the degree of human interference in the different soils. Physicochemical parameters were measured: pH (in water solution), TOC (Anne method), TKN, and Olsen phosphorus. The total fraction of trace and major elements (ISO NF 11446) and their water-soluble fraction were analyzed with an ICP-OES. Enumeration of cultivable microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes) was conducted on culture media. Dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and urease activities were colorimetrically measured, and the structure and diversity of soil bacterial communities were determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) technique.
Results and discussion
In general, trace and major element concentrations showed increasing levels along the anthropogenic gradient, except for Ca, Mg, B, and Cd. However, trace element concentrations remained below the standard international limits for soils. Total numbers of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes) varied significantly among sites, with bacterial counts directly related to the anthropogenic gradient, significantly increasing from suburban area to the city center. Dehydrogenase activity decreased throughout the anthropogenic gradient, while phosphatase and urease activities varied between sites independently of the gradient. DGGE profiles showed that bacterial diversity was higher in the most anthropized soils, where their community structure seemed to be influenced by the total concentrations of Zn, As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and the technogenic fraction.
Conclusions
Overall, trace and major element concentrations and the technogenic fraction were higher with increasing levels of urbanization. Microbiological and biochemical parameters appeared significantly influenced by the anthropogenic inputs without being systematically inhibited along the anthropogenic gradient. Dehydrogenase activity decreased along the anthropization gradient, and thus may be used as a proxy to assess the effect of anthropization on soil biological functions.
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