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Silva AO, Guimarães AA, Lopez BDO, Zanchi CS, Vega CFP, Batista ÉR, de Souza Moreira FM, da Costa Souza FR, Pinto FA, Dos Santos JV, Carneiro JJ, Siqueira JO, Kemmelmeier K, Guilherme LRG, Rufini M, de Souza Dias Junior M, da Silva Aragão OO, de Castro Borges PH, de Oliveira-Longatti SM, Carneiro MAC. Chemical, physical, and biological attributes in soils affected by deposition of iron ore tailings from the Fundão Dam failure. Environ Monit Assess 2021; 193:462. [PMID: 34216287 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09234-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring degraded areas is essential for evaluation of the quality of the rehabilitation process. In this study, we evaluate how the physical and chemical characteristics of the mixture of iron ore tailings with the soil have affected the soil microbial biomass and activity in areas along the Gualaxo do Norte River after the Fundão Dam disaster. Composite soil samples were collected from areas that were impacted (I) and not impacted (NI) by the tailings. The following attributes were evaluated: chemical element content; soil density, porosity, and texture; microbial biomass carbon; basal respiration; and enzyme activity and density of microbial groups (bacteria, actinobacteria, fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizae, phosphate solubilizers, cellulolytic microorganisms, nitrifiers, ammonifiers, and diazotrophs). According to result, the deposition of tailings increased the pH and the soil available P, Cr, Fe, and Mn content and reduced organic matter. The physical and biological attributes were negatively affected, with increases in the silt content and density of the soil, and reduction in macroporosity and in the microbial biomass and activity of the soil (respiration and enzymes) in the impacted area. However, the impacted areas exhibited greater densities of some microbial groups (cellulolytic microorganisms, nitrifiers, and diazotrophic bacteria). Modifications in the organic matter and silt content are the main attributes associated with deposition of the tailings that affected soil microbial biomass and microbial activity. This may affect erosive conditions and the functionality of the ecosystem, indicating an imbalance in this environment. In contrast, the higher density of some microbial groups in the impacted areas show the high rehabilitation potential of these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Oliveira Silva
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Amanda Azarias Guimarães
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Bruna Daniela Ortiz Lopez
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Carin Sgobi Zanchi
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | | | - Éder Rodrigues Batista
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | | | | | - Flávio Araújo Pinto
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Jessé Valentim Dos Santos
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Joana Junqueira Carneiro
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - José Oswaldo Siqueira
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Karl Kemmelmeier
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
| | | | - Márcia Rufini
- Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras, Gerais State, Lavras, Minas, 37200-900, Brazil
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