Vermicompost improves maize, millet and sorghum growth in iron mine tailings

The Fundão dam was designed to store iron mine tailings in the region of Mariana, MG, Brazil. When it ruptured, the tailings overflowed. These tailings affected the soil due to the formation of a thick crust as a result of drying (compaction) and hindered the natural revegetation process. In this context, the use of organic fertilizers, including vermicompost, is method of reducing the physical limitations on root growth caused by soil properties and changing soil-metal interactions. For this reason, vermicompost was added to iron mine tailings, and its morphological and physiological effects on maize, millet and sorghum plants were studied. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using 6 dm3 pots. The plants were subjected to three treatments: mine tailings, mine tailings + vermicompost, and a reference soil. From the V3 stage onwards, biweekly growth, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence evaluations were performed. At the end of the experiment, dry biomass and metal, macro- and micronutrient contents were quantified, and the root morphology was evaluated. The tailings created physical limitations on root growth and had low nutrient content as well as high concentrations of chromium, iron and manganese. The addition of vermicompost favored increases in shoot and root dry biomass, increases in root length, volume, surface area and diameter, and the absorption of macro- and micronutrients, which was reflected in the growth of the studied species. In addition, vermicompost led to greater investment in thick and very thick roots, and in general, the plants showed no symptoms of metal toxicity. Considering the characteristics of the studied tailings, it can be concluded that vermicompost favors the growth of plant species and may be a viable method for beginning the recovery process in areas containing iron mine tailings. [Display omitted] •Chromium, iron and manganese are at high concentrations in tailings.•Plant growth was reduced by cultivation in iron mining tailings.•The addition of vermicompost increased plant growth.•The vermicompost promoted greater investment in thick and very thick roots.•Mining tailings limitations are more related to root growth than to metal toxicity.