ENIVRONMENT ASIA

Volume 13, No. 01, Month JANUARY, Year 2020, Pages 86 - 98

Phytoremediating capacity of copper tolerant plants in mine tailing soil materials with compost amendment in mankayan benguet, philippines

Marjorie D. delos Angeles, Inocencio E. Buot Jr., Virginia C. Cuevas, and Pearl B. Sanche

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This study aimed to identify phytoremediating plant species on copper-contaminated soils in abandoned tailings ponds in barangay Paco, Mankayan, Benguet, Philippines. It also examined and verified the role of organic matter in phytoremediation by utilizing growth media with varying concentrations of copper. Agricultural soil, tailings pond overlaid with tops soil and municipal biowaste (TP4), and abandoned tailings pond without rehabilitation (TP3) were amended with 4%, 8%, and 16% compost. These soil materials were placed in their respective 1x1 m2 experimental plots and were allowed to be colonized by different plants. The study was conducted for three months at an abandoned agricultural field. All the plants that grew in the experimental plots were identified. The different species in each treatment plot with the highest Importance Values (IV) were considered as dominant. A total of 15 species representing 12 genera and 8 families were recorded in plots utilizing TP3 soil materials. The plant species with the highest importance value was Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (54.30). Most of the regenerants were herbaceous flora and grasses. These plants are considered pioneers due to its ability to tolerate stressful conditions. Plots with TP4 soil materials had 18 plant species representing 17 genera and 8 families. The plant species with the highest importance value was Amaranthus spinosus L. (45.53). Among the plant species, Cynodon dactylon was observed to dominate different growth media with highly variable soil physical and chemical characteristics. This plant can be utilized as a phytostabilizing agent in different media types contaminated with copper.

Keywords

Copper; Heavy metal; Tailing ponds; Plant composition

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