Phytochemical and rhizosphere microbial responses of crops on acidic post-gold-mining soils with low mercury levels in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

JUMIATI; Cico J.K. SIMAMORA; Febrina FEBY

doi:10.55779/nsb18112742

Authors

JUMIATI Universitas Tanjungpura, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Prof. Dr. H Hadari Nawawi Street, Pontianak, 78124 (ID) https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3500-9414
Cico J.K. SIMAMORA Universitas Tanjungpura, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agrotechnology, Prof. Dr. H Hadari Nawawi Street, Pontianak, 78124 (ID) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7810-8765
Febrina FEBY Universitas Tanjungpura, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agrotechnology, Prof. Dr. H Hadari Nawawi Street, Pontianak, 78124 (ID) https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5177-0969

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55779/nsb18112742

Keywords:

antioxidants, heavy metals, microorganisms, soil

Abstract

Former small-scale gold mining areas in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, are characterized by acidic, nutrient-poor sandy soils and potential residual mercury (Hg) contamination. The reuse of such land for agriculture raises concerns regarding soil degradation, heavy metal accumulation, and plant stress. This study evaluated phytochemical responses and rhizosphere functional microbes of rice, peanut, and oil palm cultivated on acidic post-gold-mining soils with low mercury levels. Soils were strongly acidic, low in nutrients, and exhibited low cation exchange capacity. Mercury concentrations in rhizosphere soils ranged from 0.006 to 0.015 mg/kg, while plant tissues were below the detection limit (<0.004 mg/kg), indicating negligible Hg accumulation. Despite low mercury levels, plants showed significant physiological responses associated with edaphic stress. Peanuts exhibited the most pronounced phytochemical response, reflected in high chlorophyll and phenolic metabolite accumulation. Oil palm showed limited Hg accumulation and stable physiological traits. Functional rhizosphere microbes were present in all crops, with higher densities in peanut and oil palm rhizospheres, reflecting active plant–microbe interactions under degraded soil conditions. Overall, crop adaptation in post-mining landscapes appears to be driven primarily by acidic and nutrient-deficient soils rather than by current mercury toxicity. Enhanced antioxidant metabolism together with functional rhizosphere microbes may support plant establishment and contribute to ecological rehabilitation of degraded post-gold-mining land.

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