Enhancing Native Plant Establishment in Mine Tailings under Drought Stress Conditions through the Application of Organo-Mineral Amendments and Microbial Inoculants

Author:

Atika Madline1,Leila Benidire12,Pereira Sofia I. A.3ORCID,Castro Paula M. L.3,Ali Boularbah14ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Laboratoire Bioressources et Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cadi Ayyad, BP 549, Guéliz, Marrakech 40000, Morocco

2. Ecole Supérieure de Technologie El Kelâa des Sraghna, Université Cadi Ayyad, Route de Béni Mellal Km 8 B.P 104, El Kelaa des Sraghna 43000, Morocco

3. CBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal

4. Center of Excellence for Soil and Africa Research in Africa, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P), Benguerir 43150, Morocco

Abstract

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 Peganum harmala 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 Atriplex halimus and Pennisetum setaceum compared to well-watered plants. P. harmala 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 P. harmala 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 P. harmala represents a promising approach to enhance the phytoremediation of metal-polluted soils under semiarid conditions.

Funder

Convention de coopération CNRST-Morocco/FCT-Portugal, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique et Techniques

Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation

Morocco

Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia

Publisher

MDPI AG

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