Functioning of semi-arid soils under long-term mining activity with trace elements at high concentrations
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abstract
Trace elements (TEs), including certain heavy metals, are essential for soil health and fertility, and their concentration in the soil depends on environmental factors and anthropogenic activities. In San Luis Potosí, Mexico, mining has been practiced for more than 400 years, causing severe heavy metal pollution problems in different mining districts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of TEs at high concentrations and soil physicochemical properties on the biological and biochemical functioning of soils from contaminated sites. Samples were taken from sites with and without a history of mining activity, and the following parameters were determined: organic matter (OM), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), texture, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels, and TE concentration, as well as dehydrogenase (DES), protease (PRO), β-galactosidase (GAL), and phosphatase (PHO) activities and CO2 production (CO2-PR). According to the redundancy analysis of the data from the set of sites, the influence of the main parameters on the biochemical and respiratory functioning of the soils resulted in the following pattern: N > EC > OM, and Mo > B > As > Fe > Cr > V > Ni > Li > Mn > Al. DES and CO2-PR were the most inhibited parameters, and the lowest inhibition was observed in PRO. The mixture of TEs at high concentrations acts synergistically with the physicochemical properties of the soil and differentially on the type of enzymatic activity and CO2-PR by microorganisms, thus altering the functioning and buffering capacity of the soil compared to uncontaminated sites.
