Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

• Snežana Brajević ¹
• Aleksandar Simić ²
• Vera Karličić ²
• Nikola Milanović ³
• Monika Stojanova ⁴
• Blažo Lalević ²
• Željko Dželetović ³

¹ Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy-INEP

² Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade

³ Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy-INEP, University of Belgrade

⁴ 3Open Science, Association for Scientific Research, Educational and Cultural Activities, Jane Sandanski, Ohrid

Abstract

Permanent mining generates substantial amounts of flotation tailings with highly unfavourable physical and chemical properties, often devoid of vegetation. Their stabilization relies on phytoremediation, particularly through the establishment of grass cover. Successful revegetation requires sufficient nutrient availability and the activity of soil microorganisms that transform nutrients into plant-accessible forms. However, the interactions between plants, nutrients, and microflora during this process remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the temporal dynamics and interrelationships within the plant–nutrient–microorganism system during the revegetation of flotation waste using four grass species—tall fescue, red fescue, meadow fescue, and perennial ryegrass. Plants were grown under controlled conditions on flotation tailings with different fertilizer treatments: organic (NPK 4:4:4) and mineral (NPK 20:20:20) fertilizers at varying concentrations (1% and 2% O; 0.25% and 0.5% M) and irrigation levels (50% and 75% of field water capacity). Microbial diversity (culturable bacteria, ammonifiers, fungi, and actinomycetes) was used as an indicator of remediation efficiency. Organic fertilization had the most pronounced effect, improving plant height, biomass yield, and microbial activity, particularly in tall fescue. Bacteria and ammonifiers responded positively to mineral fertilization under higher irrigation in red fescue and to organo-mineral treatment under lower irrigation in perennial ryegrass. The highest abundance of actinomycetes occurred under reduced irrigation in red fescue and perennial ryegrass. Overall, perennial ryegrass demonstrated the strongest correlation between cultivation conditions, microbial activity, and phytoremediation potential, highlighting its suitability for the ecological rehabilitation of flotation tailings.

Keywords

• culturable microbial populations
• grasses
• fertilisation
• flotation tailing
• irrigation

Main Subjects

• Environment