Evidence supporting the value of spontaneous vegetation for phytomanagement of soil ecosystem functions in abandoned metal(loid) mine tailings

This work studies a set of soil indicators (physical, physico-chemical and biological), evaluated under field laboratory conditions, in different stages spontaneous vegetation colonization abandoned metal(loid) mine tailings from Mediterranean semiarid areas. The results provide evidence about the interest by native for phytomanagement terms providing ecosystem functions. Bare soils (B), small groups pine trees (P), scattered with shrubs herbs canopy (P + S), dense patches (DP S) were studied inside ?40 years ago. Besides, forests next (FN) away (FA) also studied. Pioneer nurse plants mainly found tailings, although ecological indexes P S DP similar to FN FA. Pedogenesis evidences such as structure development increase cation exchange capacity, organic C N tailing B S. However, metal(loid)s did not follow same variation pattern. For example (in mg kg?1): showed maximum total Cu (?277) Zn (?17,860), while As (?1250) Pb (?14,570). had water extractable (?4) (?207), FA (?0.192) (?0.149). Soil microbial biomass C, enzyme activity, CO2 emission, matter decomposition feeding activity dwelling organisms indicated similar, or even higher, biological than In fact, highest ecotoxicity risk (reduced enchytraeid reproduction). Therefore, can be effectively modified following colonization, achieving conditions capacity certain Hence, these should preceded detailed knowledge existing spontaneously colonized sites, which preserved take advantage their potentiality.