Effect of compost amendment on arbuscular mycorrhiza in relation to bioavailability of heavy metals in contaminated soils

Concentration of heavy metals in environment has been significantly affected by human since last century. This work presents the analysis of the influence of compost amendment on arbuscular mycorrhiza and accumulation of heavy metals in Lactuca sativa grown in contaminated soils. To demonstrate the effect of compost the pot experiment was performed. Eight variants of soils with different concentrations of pollutants with and without compost amendment were prepared. Contaminated soils we used in our experiment come from the Nord France region Noyelles - Godault. Main pollutants were Pb, Cd and Zn. The highest decrease of heavy metals content in plants was observed by the simultaneous applications of compost to contaminated soils, from 10% to 50% in comparison with the variants without compost amendment. Moreover, we found highest level of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhiza in compost amended variants where lowest content of heavy metals in plant tissues was observed. But these results are not significant. Based on these results, we conclude that application of organic waste compost has positive effect on immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils and also enhances arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization.