title: Carbon mineralization, microbial activity and metal dynamics in tailing ponds amended with pig slurry and marble waste.
abstract: A field experiment was set up in Cartagena-La Unión Mining District, SE Spain, aimed at evaluating the short-term effects of pig slurry (PS) amendment alone and together with marble waste (MW) on organic matter mineralization, microbial activity and stabilization of heavy metals in two tailing ponds. These structures pose environmental risk owing to high metals contents, low organic matter and nutrients, and null vegetation. Carbon mineralization, exchangeable metals and microbiological properties were monitored during 67 d. The application of amendments led to a rapid decrease of exchangeable metals concentrations, except for Cu, with decreases up to 98%, 75% and 97% for Cd, Pb and Zn, respectively. The combined addition of MW+PS was the treatment with greater reduction in metals concentrations. The addition of PS caused a significant increase in respiration rates, although in MW+PS plots respiration was lower than in PS plots. The mineralized C from the pig slurry was low, approximately 25-30% and 4-12% for PS and MW+PS treatments, respectively. Soluble carbon (Csol), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase activities increased after the application of the organic amendment. However, after 3d these parameters started a decreasing trend reaching similar values than control from approximately day 25 for Csol and MBC. The PS treatment promoted highest values in enzyme activities, which remained high upon time. Arylesterase activity increased in the MW+PS treatment. Thus, the remediation techniques used improved soil microbiological status and reduced metal availability. The combined application of PS+MW reduced the degradability of the organic compounds.
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Use, Management, and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Department of Agrarian Science and Technology, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: raul.zornoza@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zornoza
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Use, Management, and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Department of Agrarian Science and Technology, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángel
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Faz
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Use, Management, and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Department of Agrarian Science and Technology, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain; Grupo de Investigaciones Ambientales, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Circular 1° No. 70-01, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Dora M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Use, Management, and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Department of Agrarian Science and Technology, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Use, Management, and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Department of Agrarian Science and Technology, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Vreng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D044602:Cellulases / Q000378:metabolism; D008372:Manure / Q000382:microbiology*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008906:Mining; D061005:Ponds / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013552:Swine; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D044602:Cellulases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D002119:Calcium Carbonate