Bioinoculants as plants allies in phytotechnological approaches to soil requalification

Moreira, Helena; Pereira, Sofia I. A.; Vega, Alberto; Ávila, Paula; Castro, Paula M. L.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/54329

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Introduction: Soil functions and quality have been adversely affected by anthropogenic activities (eg. mining), and the resulting contamination is a serious and crosscutting problem in several countries, including those in the SUDOE territory (Portugal, Spain and France). The urgent need for soil protection and conservation and the development of sustainable technologies to ensure the restoration of their environmental functionalities and services are a priority in European and national research programs and legislation. The PhytoSUDOE project aims to boost the environmental, economical and social benefits generated trough the implementation of phytotechnologies in degraded sites as a way to encourage their greater use by owners and policy-makers. A transnational network of contaminated sites throughout the SUDOE region (11 sites) was established to demonstrate different strategies. Objectives: The Borralha mine integrates soils with high TE (trace elements) concentrations. Energy crops such as sunflower and poplar can bring economic value to this area. Microorganisms such as mycorrhizal fungi (MF) and plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) that stimulate crop growth may benefit these plants by reducing the stress promoted by the contamination. Associated with these plants, agronomic techniques such as intercropping with alfalfa and clover may increase soil organic matter, promoting the biological activity and nutritive status of soils. The main goal of the work is: to evaluate the potential of energy crops cropping systems and the application of microbial consortia in the improvement of the functionalities of soil in the Borralha mine; Specific objectives include: improving plant performance and soil functionality/diversity with the use of bioinoculants; assess the effect of biostimulants on plant performance and TE mobility and uptake. On-going work: Sunflower was be harvested in October and rhizospheric soil samples will be collected to determine the metal content. Also plant biomass, elongation and metal content in each plant section (root and shoots) will be assessed. Bioconcentration and translocation factors will be determined to assess the plant phytostabilization/phytoextraction abilities. Soil analysis to determine structural and functional diversity will be performed at the end of the experiment (middle of next year – 2018). For poplars, height and plant diameter will be evaluated at the end of the experiment. Rhizosperic samples will be also collected to determine the metal stabilization.