BIOREMEDATION EFFORTS IN AN ABANDONED MINE AREA:
THE MOGPOG, MARINDUQUE EXPERIENCE
Nina M. Cadjz1*, Nelly S. Aggangan2, Nelson M. Pampolina3, Arlene
Llamado1, Jocelyn T, Zarate2, Senen Livelo, Jr4, and
Asuncion K. Raymundo1
1
/nstitute of Biological Sciences, College ofArts and Sciences, University of
the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna 4031, 2BIOTECH, UPLB,
College, Laguna,
3
FBS-CFNR, UPLB, College, Laguna,
4
Mogpog, Marinduque
(*Email: presenting author)
ABSTRACT
Various bioremediation strategies were carried out in an abandoned mine
area in Mogpog, Marinduque. Since Jatropha curcas or physic nut (tubang-
bakod Tag) is a plant that can tolerate a wide range of environment, its
adaptability in the area was determined but in conjunction with various
treatments such as application of lime and compost, and mycorrhizal
inoculation. Compost incorporation improved biomass accumulation, giving
heavier roots and stem than the untreated plants. Root, stem and leaf dry
weights were heavier than in treatments with lime, or mycorrhiza alone.
However, better growth performance was obtained under treatment
combinations (e.g. compost and mycorrhiza, compost and lime). Jatropha
seedlings planted under existing Acacia auriculiformis were generally taller
and larger in diameter with a mean survival rates of 90-97%; while in an
open site 80-93%. Biodiversification (i.e. planting with narra, banaba,
anchoan and alibangbang, together with Jatropha), showed better
performance of Jatropha in terms of height. Growth in terms of stem
diameter had an opposite trend since shorter plants have apparently larger
diameter. The results suggest that Jatropha grows faster where there is
diversification, thus enhancing its growth in an abandoned mine area.
Biodiversification effect on the rhizosphere bacteria appeared to vary with
trees planted. Bacterial counts were higher where trees were diversified.
Since seeds are processed for biodiesel, and the environmental concern that
the heavy metals may lodge in the seeds, the translocation of heavy metals in
Jatropha was also studied. The concentration of Zn was highest in the roots,
Cu in the stems and Pb in the leaves in the control treatment. Applications of
compost and mycorrhiza greatly reduced the translocation of these heavy
metals in the various organs. Analysis of the fruits and seeds revealed that
heavy metals are nil or absent in these organs.
INTRODUCTION
First, I would like to acknowledge the members of this bioremediation effort:
Dr Nelly S. Aggangan, Dr Nelson M. Pampolina, Prof. Arlene Llamado, Dr
Jocelyn T, Zarate, Mayor Senen Livelo, Jr, and the head of our research
team, Dr Asuncion K. Raymundo. As the saying goes, ti.me lea res no one
behind... we all deteriorate thru time ... and our environment is not spared.
The over exploitation of our resources lead to the deterioration of our
environment. This we can see in the patches of bare mountains where the
forest has been felled, the overexploited mangroves resulting to denudation,
etc. These destructions result in loss of biodiversity, climate change hazards
such as flood, decrease of water storage, decline in food production, etc. But
time also heals .. .For instance, the desert-like area somewhere in India has
been transformed to an oasis in a span of less than two years. And as Klaus
Becker said, "I saw all this green in what is otherwise a complete dese)"t."
They found that Jatropha cultivation can halt soil erosion, increase water
storage in the soil and transform barren expanses into lush productive land.
In our project, we also tried Jatropha curcas because of the hype on this
species as cheap source of biodiesel. It has also long been known to exhibit
high resistance to aridity. In fact, it can even survive in deserts. But, can
Jatropha be used as a phytoremediation species? Can Jatropha grow in an
abandoned mine area considering that this is not just a simple case of being a
marginalized land? Planting vegetables and other food crops in an abandoned
mine area/ or converting it in an agricultural land is risky because of the
danger of the heavy metals (HMs) entering the food chain. Planting non-food
high value crops would be alright. So, planting biofuel crops like Jatropha
..vould pose lesser risk. It is a ''two-in-one" solution from environmental and
economic points of view.
The research area where various bioremediation efforts were carried out is
part of the 32 hectares of abandoned mine dump site Mogpog, Marinduque.
It has a hilly topography, and at 60 m above sea level, it is almost plain. In
addition, it is overlooking Mogpog Elementary and National Comprehensive
High Schools and communities are present all around. Their location is put
at risk bec;:ause of the instability of the abandoned mine dumpsite. We
thought that the area would be very ideal for our project because it has been
abandoned for several years after extracting copper (Cu) ore,. Cu is one of
the waste heavy metals present during the process of gold extraction from
Prob!eins and Solutions of
mining process. The environmental condition poses hazard to the community
and all other living biota within the vicinity. Therefore, it is a priority site
for rehabilitation to prevent leaching of heavy metals to the river system,
agricultural areas, mangrove and marine ecosystems, not to mention the
environmental and health risks posed in the communities around.
Although classified as an essential mineral element, copper could be very
toxic in excess. Long-term exposure to copper can cause irritation of nose,
mouth, and eyes, headaches, stomachaches, dizziness and diarrhea.
Intentional intake may lead to liver and kidney damage, and worst, death. So,
our research team tried to look into the adaptability/growth performance of
Jatropha curcas in the abandoned mine area in conjunction with various
bioremediation strategies, such as: (1) application of mycorrhiza and soil
amendments like lime, and compost; (2) outplanting in open or under
existing vegetation with or without mycorrhiza and soil amendments (3)
biodiversification of Jatropha with fast growing reforestation species and its
effect on the rhizosphere bacteria and concentration of heavy metals in soil;
and (4) transloc~tion of heavy metals in Jatropha. The latter study was an
important component to determine whether the HMs are translocated to the
fruits. If so, it would be an environmental concern since Jatropha seeds are
processed for biodiesel. From among the treatments, ·we would also like to
know whether the translocation of HMs could be contained to the lower
region, particularly, the roots since the greatest risk of food chain
contamination is in the shoot or leafy vegetables like lettuce or spinach.
Another hazard is forage eaten by livestock.
FINDINGS
The soil in the abandoned mine area contained copper, lead, cadmium and
zinc; but only Cu exceeded the maximum allowable limit. The amount of Cu
in the soil was almost double that of the allowable limit of 36 mg/kg soil.
A. Etlect of mycorrhiza and soil amendments
In this study, the treatments were lime, compost and mycorrhizal inoculation
in the form of Mykovam and MineVam obtained from BIOTECH-UPLB.
Outplanted Jatropha seedlings with no compost and lime exhibited the
poorest growth. Tallest and biggest diameter were observed in seedlings
treated with Mykovam or MineVam plus compost and lime. Myt:orrhiza plus
lime and compost gave the highest leaf, stem an< root dry weights.
B. Growth response of Jatropha outplanted in open or under existing
vegetation
Soil analysis in open area was slightly acidic and poorer in organic matter
(O.M.) content as compared with the soil with existing vegetation. However,
the amount of P and K were almost the same. Seedlings planted in areas
with existing auri, talahib, silver fern, datiles and anabiong showed 90-97%
seedling survival when planted under Acacia auriculiformis, while 80-93%
survived under open site condition.
C. Biodiversification of Jatropha with fast growing reforestation species
and its effect on the rhizosphere bacteria
In this study, Jatropha seedlings were interplanted with some indigenous
forest tree seedlings such as narra, anchoan, banaba, alibangbang and their
combinations. Soil samples around the rhizosphere were analyzed and
examined for bacterial population. Our results showed that the population of
heavy metal- resistant bacteria varied in each block or stand. Soil from pure
Jatropha block gave the lowest number of heavy metal -resistant bacteria
while soil from the stand where Jatropha was outplanted with narra and
anchoan had the highest heavy metal-resistant bacteria. Higher counts of
bacteria, however, were observed under more types of trees planted with
Jatropha. Total heterotrophic bacterial counts from the rhizosphere tended to
increase with plant diversification. The importance of microbial diversity in
soil habitats is critical to the maintenance of soil health and quality. The
increased microbial populations with plant diversification, as observed in our
study, could pave the way to a faster improvement and rehabilitation of
heavy metal contaminated soils.
D. Translocation of heavy metals in Jatropha curcas
Elements can be classified based on their mobility: mob11e, intermediate and
immobile. Cadmium, for example, is classified as a mobile element, while
lead is immobile; and Cu and Zn exhibit intermediate mobility. Under
certain circumstances, the intermediate elements are mobile. Our results
showed that without mycorrhizal treatments, Cu ·tend to accumulate in the
stem; Zn in the roots; and Pb in the leaves. However, with mycorrhizal
treatments, high concentration of Cu, Zn and Pb were obtained in the roots.
This indicates that the translocation of these HMs to the upper portion of
Jatropha seedlings was regulated by mycorrhizal treatments. Several studies
have reported that mycorrhizal infection generally enhances metal uptake to
the roots of some plants but not to the shoots which means that HMs are
retained in mycorrhizal root systems. On the other hand, cadmium (Cd)
the Prnh!ems and Solutions of
uptake was nil to zero because the concentration of this HM in the soil was
already below the detectable limits.
The amount of HMs in the fruits was also below the detectable limits
indicating that the HMs were not and/or minimally translocated to the fruits.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings showed that Jatropha can be grown in an abandoned mine area
provided that soil amendments are applied. Compost alone can enhance the
growth of Jatropha. Although mycorrhizal application can enhance the
growth of Jatropha, its growth could be better improved if combined with
compost. The best growth of Jatropha, therefore, was observed when all
treatments were combined (i.e. lime + compost+ mycorrhiza). Total
heterotrophic bacterial counts from the rhizosphere tend to increase with
plant diversification. Mycorrhizal treatment increased the root/shoot barrier
of Jatropha for HMs and, thus, may play a role in regulating the
translocation of HMs like Cu, Pb and Zn, as well as enhancing the heavy
metal resistance of the plants.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank the UPLB Basic Research Program and
UPLB-DOST for funding this project.
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