We know that Remediation strategies are capable to mitigate negative effects of heavy metals (HMs) that are mainly belonged to the transition metals block in the periodic table, on soils. The distribution of cooper (Cu), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni) was evaluated in a contaminated soil after adding biosolid compost (BC) and phosphate fertilizer (PF). Point source and diffuse contamination of soils by heavy metals (HMs) is an environmental problem worldwide. An important input pathway is anthropogenic activities, such as disposal of industrial and hazardous residues, mining activities, incidental accumulations, industries atmospheric deposition, energy generation, and agricultural chemicals.
A greenhouse assay and sequential extraction procedure were performed to determine the fractionation of HM in contaminated and remediated soil. In BC treatment, among 4 to 6% of Cu was associated with soil humic substances. Without amendments and with fertilizer application, Hg solubility increased by 15.4 and 8.4%, respectively, with experiment time. Although Ni was significantly adsorbed to the inorganic fraction, with compost application there was a transfer to organic fraction. A single amendment application is not suitable for immobilizing all metals of concern, because there are diverse union’s behaviors between
HM and soil matrix . As the organic matter and phosphate fertilizer were effective in reducing mobility of Cu, the organic matter was more effective in the immobilization of Ni, and inorganic amendment induced the Hg precipitation, results from this pilot study suggest a combined use of these two amendments for soil remediation strategies. However, liming may be further needed.