Giant reed (Arundo Donax L.) in technosol phytostabilization: preliminary results

Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a fast-growing, rhizomatous, perennial C3 grass. It is con-sidered a leading crop for biomass production on marginal and degraded soils with numerous unfavorable conditions such as high salinity, drought, water retention, high and low temperatures and high concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE). Tailings are a type of technosols con-sisting of the left-over materials from the processing of mined ores. They are characterized by a variety of unfavorable physical and chemical properties that limit or prevent the growth and de-velopment of plants. Tailings pose a potential threat to the environment as they are highly suscep-tible to wind and water erosion which can release significant amounts of PTEs into the environ-ment. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of establishing and maintaining the giant reed on the Pb, Zn and Cu mine tailings to facilitate phytostabilization of its surface. The experimental plot was established in 2019. After planting, the plants were fertilized with NPK (15:15:15) at a dosage of 650 kg/ha. The crop was not irrigated. After three years the concentra-tions of the following elements: N, K, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn were determined in the substrate and in the plant material. The highest content of macronutrients was found in the leaves. The ma-jority of PTE, except Mn and Zn were contained within roots, preventing transport to the aerial parts and potentially negative effects on various physiological processes. The preliminary results showed that it is possible to establish a self-sustaining crop of giant reed in a substrate such as mine tailings and provided a basis for future detailed research.