The Potential of Salvia verbenaca for Phytoremediation of Copper Mine Tailings Amended with Technosol and Compost

Unreclaimed mine tailings sites are a worldwide problem. This study evaluates the potential of Salvia verbenaca for phytoremediation of copper mine tailings treated with technosol and compost. Ecophysiological results reveal the species ability to thrive in the assessed range of conditions, while the hydrogen peroxide assays exhibit the plant’s capacity to successfully respond to metal toxicity, supporting literature reports about its antioxidant capabilities. Furthermore, the results suggest a selective antioxidant response of S. verbenaca towards Cd, indicative of a protection mechanism against high concentrations of this element. Moderate concentrations of Cu in the roots, adequate translocation and bioconcentration factors, tolerance to metal toxicity, and ecophysiological characteristics classify S. verbenaca as a promising candidate for phytostabilization of mine tailings. The importance of the amendments in order to improve the overall phytostabilization performance is highlighted by the elevated correlations between the treatment properties and the extractable concentrations of trace metals.