Manganese accumulation in plants of the mining zone of Hidalgo, Mexico

Soil, sediments, water and plant samples from the mining zone of Molango were collected and analyzed and Mn-tolerant and Mn-accumulator plants were identified. Soil and sediments presented moderately alkaline and reducing conditions, a normal electrical conductivity, a sandy texture and medium-to-high cation exchange capacities. These properties favored the presence of Mn2+, which is the form most easily assimilated by plants, and the total Mn concentration (11,637–106,104 mg kg−1 dried weight, DW) was at phytotoxic level. Water was also an important Mn source. Equisetum hyemale and Telypteris kunthii survived in the presence of such Mn concentrations using an exclusion strategy, while Cnidoscolus multilobus, Platanus mexicana, Solanum diversifolium, Asclepius curassavica L. and Pluchea sympitifolia employed an accumulation strategy. These plants could be useful to re-vegetate and stabilize Mn tailings in order to decrease the erosion effects.