Impact of pyrometallurgical slags on sunflower growth, metal accumulation and rhizosphere microbial communities

AGNELLO, A. C.; POTYSZ, A.; FOURDRIN, C.; HUGUENOT, D.; CHAUHAN, P.

Nueva Delhi

Conferencia; TECO Networking Conference; 2016

TECO Team

Metallurgical exploitation originates metal-rich by-products, which are often disposed in the environmentbeing a source of anthropogenic heavy metal pollution. Despite the environmental risk that this maypose for living organisms, little is known about the impact of slags on biotic components of the ecosystemlike plants and rhizosphere microbial communities.The present research aimed to study the effects of metal-rich pyrometallurgical slags on plant growth,metal accumulation and soil microbial diversity. A pot experiment was conducted using as growingsubstrate for sunflower (Helianthus annus) a mix (50% w/w) of an agricultural soil and metal-rich (Cu, Pb,Zn) slag. After 90 days plants were harvested to determine biometric parameters and to quantify metals inplant tissues. The content of metals in bioavailable soil fractions and a leaching test in the presence of soilsolution were also performed. Finally, microbial diversity was assessed by using 16S rRNA gene baseddenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and community level physiological profiling (CLPP)analyses.The results showed that sunflower was able to grow in the presence of slags accumulating Cu, Pb and Znin roots, shoots and flowers. Bioavailability of metals was, in increasing order: Pb