Assessment of mining soil improvement after construction and demolition wastes amendment additions evaluated by microbiological analysis

Resumen

Major environmental problems in metallic mining areas come from the hazard of metalpollution of surrounding areas. Therefore, an appropriated management of these soils isnecessary for minimizing the associated risks. Some properties of mining soils, such aselevated metal concentrations, pH and shortage of essential nutrients make them a poormedium for organism growth. Therefore, in order to make a stabilization of these miningareas, it is necessary to solve previously some adverse physical and chemical soil factorsmainly associated to toxic heavy metals and soil structure. Thus, some wastes such ascarbonate, demolition wastes and sewage sludge, were added to soils to provide the neededconditions for improving soil conditions. The aim of this research was to assess the soilevolution after amendments addition in a research area placed in the Cartagena-La UniónMining District, SE Spain. This assessment was carried out by means of microbial communityevolution and variation as an indicator of soil changes. Mining soils showed, in general, lownumbers of microorg