Growth and Cu accumulation by plants grown on Cu containing mine tailings in Cyprus

The Skouriotissa Cu mine in the northern part of Cyprus has produced large amounts of mine waste. Phytoremediation could stabilise the erosion or extract the metals of this waste. The aim of this study was to find out if Pistacia terebinthus, Cistus creticus, Pinus brutia and/or Bosea cypria could grow and tolerate or maybe accumulate Cu from the mine waste containing up to 787 mg Cu (kg DW)−1. Another aim was to see if the liquid wine waste product Vinassa, containing organic acids and having a low pH, or chicken fertilizer could improve plant growth and/or Cu accumulation. The four species were planted at the mine waste site untreated or with the addition of Vinassa or chicken fertilizer as mine waste modifiers. After 3 months, shoot length growth was measured and the plants were analysed for Cu concentration. The pH and Cu concentration of the mine waste mixture in the different treatments was also measured. To find out if plants accumulated Cu to the highest extent in roots or shoot, a greenhouse study was undertaken where the plant species were cultivated for 3 weeks in Cu spiked soil. The results showed that all of the tested species survived and grew on the mine waste site, which indicates that they tolerate the high level of Cu at the mine waste site. The leaves of C. creticus had the highest Cu accumulation of all tested species. Copper accumulation varied with plant species. They seemed to have different distribution strategies for Cu: in Pistacia terebinthus and C. creticus most of the Cu was found in the roots, while B. cypria accumulated most of the Cu in the leaves. Addition of Vinassa and chicken fertilizer did not increase plant growth or Cu accumulation, but did affect the Cu distribution in B. cypria.