Gypsum mining spoil improves plant emergence and growth in soils polluted with potentially harmful elements

Abstract

Purpose Soil pollution is a major problem worldwide. Some anthropogenic activities, such as mining, may exceed soil capacity, causing relevant health and ecosystem hazards. The use of mineral amendments can help reduce soil pollution. Gypsum mining spoil (GS) is a waste material highly produced in gypsum mining industry, which has never been used in soil remediation despite its high potential as amendment of polluted soils. In this study, we carried out an ex-situ experiment to assess for the first time the capacity of GS to both reduce the availability of Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs) in soils and promote seed emergence. Methods Soils affected by residual pollution after the Aznalcóllar mine spill were collected, treated with GS in three different proportions, and sown with seeds of two non-genetically related species. Seed emergence and biomass production were monitored, and PHE content in soils and plants were analysed. Results We have observed a direct and very positive relation between GS and both the reduction of PHE availability and PHE uptake by plants, and the increase of plant emergence and growth, especially with the addition of the highest doses of the amendment. Conclusion This study highlights the promising results of GS as a novel soil amendment to be used in the remediation of polluted soils and vegetation recovery. Moreover, using GS as soil amendment will bring the opportunity to sustainably manage this waste material and reduce its social and environmental impact parallelly to the mitigation of PHE hazards.