Do tailings from the Mariana, MG (Brazil), disaster affect the initial development of millet, maize, and sorghum?

The collapse of the Fundão dam in Mariana, MG, in 2015 resulted in the overflow of more than 50 million m³ of mud containing mine tailings, leaving a path of destruction and immeasurable social and environmental consequences. Tailings’ chemical and physical assessments revealed the presence of some elements at levels higher than those allowed by Brazilian guidelines. The tailings also showed high density, which restricts vegetation recovery. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effects of mud containing mine tailings from the Fundão dam on the germination and initial growth and development of three plant species: millet, maize, and sorghum. These species were cultivated on substrates with five tailings proportions: 0 T (100% sand), 25 T (25% tailings + 75% sand); 50 T (50% tailings + 50% sand); 75 T (75% tailings + 25% sand); and 100 T (100% tailings). In experiment I, the germination and initial growth of seedlings (plants with 1 or none fully expanded leaf) in these substrates were evaluated. In experiment II, growth parameters, photosynthetic efficiency (gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence), metal accumulation, and plant root morphology of the same species were evaluated at the three fully expanded leaves vegetative stage (V3). Overall, the germination of seedlings and the initial growth of the three species analyzed were not affected by the presence of tailings. However, in plants at the V3 stage, morphophysiology variations differed among species, given that their growth, biomass accumulation, and root dynamics were altered. Proportions of tailings in the substrate did not influence the absorption of iron or manganese by the studied plants. At the V3 stage, maize was the most tolerant, with a more robust root system, and showed fewer morphological changes and greater water use efficiency than the other studied species.