The relationships between functional and physicochemical soil parameters in metal(loid) mine tailings from Mediterranean semiarid areas support the value of spontaneous vegetation colonization for phytomanagement

Spontaneous growth of native vegetation in abandoned metal(loid) mine tailings can be valuable for phytomanagement restoration projects. This study aimed to assess the degree which spontaneous plant colonization from Mediterranean semiarid areas led functional soil improvement, and identify, if possible, a critical level indicating that this functionality was moving towards vegetated soils surroundings. Vegetation ecological indexes, life forms species roles, together with physicochemical parameters, were studied ~40 years ago surrounding forests SE Spain. patches showed only small differences parameters related abiotic stress conditions (pH, salinity metals), regardless vegetation. However, greater diversity richness presence plants contrasted traits facilitate less stress-tolerant an increase microbial (higher biomass C, β-glucosidase activity, bacterial metabolic activity diversity). Moreover, these status comparable outside tailings. In sense, present value preserving since they may act as nucleation spots favoring positive plant-soil feedbacks help accelerate recovery degraded areas. Furthermore, strategies promote creation new including variety should considered projects