Integrating amendment and liquid fertilizer for aided-phytostabilization and its impacts on soil microbiological properties in arsenic-contaminated soil

Abstract

Indiscriminate overuse of liquid fertilizer and arsenic (As) contaminated soil by abandoned mines is one of the important environmental issues in Korea. This study was carried out to solve these two problems. Amendments (limestone, red mud and acid mine drainage sludge), liquid fertilizer and plant vegetation (Hairy vetch; Vicia villosa Roth) were simultaneously treated. Some soil chemical properties (pH, dissolved organic carbon, inorganic nitrogen content, and bioavailable As), soil respiration and enzyme activity (urease activity and dehydrogenase activity) were determined for chemical and biological assessment. Amendments decreased bioavailable As in soil, and acid mine drainage sludge had the best reduction efficiency in alkali soil. Liquid fertilizer affects not only soil chemical properties but also biological properties. Through multiple regression analysis, the rhizosphere effect through plant cultivation using specific root length index was reflected in the result of soil microbial and enzyme activity. In the reclamation of As-contaminated soil, the synergistic effect of multiple treatments could be confirmed. In particular, biological assessment indicators could be useful when evaluating the complex treatment of various restoration techniques, including the phytoremediation method. Based on these results, a long-term follow-up study on the field scale will be possible.