Amendment application in a multicontaminated mine soil: Effects on trace element mobility

Abstract

Several amendments were tested for their effectiveness in aiding plant growth and immobilising contaminants in pots containing soil from an arsenopyrite mine contaminated with arsenic and heavy metals. Trace element solubility in pore water was monitored using Rhizon samplers for five weeks. Results showed that amendments containing ferrous sulphate and ferrous sulphate combined with paper mill limited arsenic mobilisation and increased metal solubility. However, ferrous sulphate in combination with calcium carbonate was effective in reducing arsenic and metal solubilisation. Plant biomass of both the grass species used during the experiment, Arrhenatherum elatius and Festuca curvifolia, was a sensitive indicator of the comparative efficiency of the amendments, although metal(loid)s concentration in pore water did not correlate with plant uptake