Utilization of selected microorganisms in enhancing the growth of selected plant in ex gold mining soil

Abstract

Gold mining is an essential economic booster in enhancing the foreign exchange of a country. However, the gold mining activities resulting in contaminated soil. Phytoremediation, using plants for environmental remediation, has been intensively investigated in last decade. Phytoremediation has fewer side effects than conventional physical and chemical methods. This remediation technique embraces an array of low-cost plant-based technologies that could be potentially advantageous for remediation of the former gold mining site. This research aimed to assess the potency of selected microorganisms to support the growth of the plant in the soil of the former gold mining area. The application of selected microorganisms of P solubilizer, N fixing, growth-promoting bacteria, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi showed the best result on yield. This study showed that sengon (Falcataria) yields the better one compared to that of sorghum both in a medium consisting of ex gold mining soil and compost and medium with the composition of the soil, compost, and zeolite. It can thus be concluded that sengon inoculated with selected microbe is a potential method for remediating ex gold mining area.