Biological characterization of a southeast Kansas mining site

K. G. Shetty, M. K. Banks, B. A. Hetrick, A. P. Schwab

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Soils from a heavy metal contaminated southeast Kansas mining site were characterized for microbial resistance to zinc, cadmium, and lead. Plant availability indices (DTPA-extractable) for zinc were very high in the waste material (610 Μg g-1), while levels of lead and cadmium were more moderate, 45 and 4.3 Μg g-1, respectively. Soil contamination decreased with distance from the mine tailings or 'chat'. In the rhizosphere, bacterial resistance to zinc and cadmium increased as the DTPA-extractable plant availability indices increased. Mycorrhizal root colonization was not affected by the heavy metal concentration in the soil. The established vegetation in the contaminated area included warm- and cool-season grasses as well as forbs and sedges.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)169-177
Number of pages9
JournalWater, Air, & Soil Pollution
Volume78
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Ecological Modeling
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Pollution

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