SOIL QUALITY EVALUATION OF SPOLIC TECHNOSOLS. CASE STUDY FROM THE ABANDONED MINING SITE IN IMPERINA VALLEY (BELLUNO, ITALY)

Authors

  • Mohammad Wahsha Environmental Biochemistry Marine Science Station, University of Jordan, Aqaba
  • Andrea Ferrarini Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice
  • Lisa Vannuzzo Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice
  • Claudio Bini Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice
  • Silvia Fontana Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statisticsm, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2281-4485/3732

Keywords:

heavy metals, soil biological quality, humus

Abstract

Mining, milling and smelting operations are major causes of heavy metal contamination and constitute an increasing threat to the environment. The objective of this work was to investigate the relationships between soil metal pollution, humus development and microarthropod community structure, using a Biological Soil Quality (QBS-ar) method. Humus and soil samples (0-30cm) were collected during spring 2011 from an abandoned mixed sulphides mining area in Northeast Italy, under both forest and grassland ecosystems. The mine site is contaminated by several heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn and Fe). Humus forms varied from Dysmoder and Amphimus to the more developed Oligomull. The QBS-ar values presented a wide range (between 65 and 162). Moreover, results demonstrate that in the forest ecosystem the microarthropod communities showed a high biodiversity (richness). On the other hand, we observed stable community structures (evenness) in grassland sites. Humus forms do not have a significant correlation with QBS-ar values and classes of soil biological quality.
Anthropogenic activities influenced the microarthropod community, altering both quantity and quality of litter and chemical-physical structure of the microhabitats.
Preliminary data obtained in this study suggest that the application of QBS-ar index could be a useful tool for monitoring surface mine soils.

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Published

2012-12-07

How to Cite

Wahsha, M., Ferrarini, A., Vannuzzo, L., Bini, C., & Fontana, S. (2012). SOIL QUALITY EVALUATION OF SPOLIC TECHNOSOLS. CASE STUDY FROM THE ABANDONED MINING SITE IN IMPERINA VALLEY (BELLUNO, ITALY). EQA - International Journal of Environmental Quality, 9(9), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2281-4485/3732

Issue

Vol. 9 (2012)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2012 Mohammad Wahsha, Andrea Ferrarini, Lisa Vannuzzo, Claudio Bini, Silvia Fontana

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