The Contribution of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Soil Enzyme Activity and the Performance of Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia in Soil Degraded by Scheelite Mining: Implications for Restoration

Kaio Gráculo Vieira Garcia, Murilo de Sousa Almeida, Francisco Luan Almeida Barbosa and Arthur Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira ()
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Kaio Gráculo Vieira Garcia: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Ceará, Av. Mister Hull, 2977, Fortaleza 60021-970, Brazil
Murilo de Sousa Almeida: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Ceará, Av. Mister Hull, 2977, Fortaleza 60021-970, Brazil
Francisco Luan Almeida Barbosa: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Ceará, Av. Mister Hull, 2977, Fortaleza 60021-970, Brazil
Arthur Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Ceará, Av. Mister Hull, 2977, Fortaleza 60021-970, Brazil

Resources, 2025, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Mining activity severely degrades soil, increases heavy metal contamination, and hinders ecological recovery. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) offer a promising strategy for restoration, but their use in Fabaceae plants, especially in mine-degraded soils, remains underexplored. This study evaluated AMF inoculation effects on soil enzymes and Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia growth in Scheelite-mining-degraded soil. In a 10-weeks greenhouse experiment, plants were grown with different AMF species ( Gigaspora margarita , Acaulospora foveata , Rhizoglomus clarum , and Mix—a combination of the three species) and without inoculation. Growth parameters, seedling quality, mycorrhizal attributes, enzymatic activity, and stoichiometry were assessed. Inoculated plants showed a greater growth compared with the control. The highest spore abundances occurred in Mix (2820), R. clarum (2261), and A. foveata (2318), with the mycorrhizal colonization highest in Mix (25.78%) and R. clarum (25.70%). The Dickson quality index was higher in R. clarum and A. foveata . The enzymatic activity varied compared with the control: β-glucosidase was higher in Mix (+62%) and A. foveata (+46%); arylsulfatase and urease increased in all AMF treatments; and acid phosphatase was highest in R. clarum (+121%). A stoichiometry and vector analysis indicated a lower P limitation in Mix and A. foveata , reflecting the trade-off between P availability and symbiotic costs. These findings highlight the biotechnological potential of AMF, particularly Mix and R. clarum , in enhancing the M. caesalpiniaefolia growth and soil enzymatic activity in mining-degraded areas.

Keywords: biotechnological restoration; mycorrhizal symbiosis; heavy metals; plant growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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