| Plant growth is limited in arid and/or contaminated sites due to the adverse conditions coming from heavy metal (HM) contamination and/or water stress. Moreover, soils from these areas are generally characterised by poor soil structure, low water-holding capacity, lack of organic matter and nutrient deficiency. In order to carry out a successful re-afforestation, it is necessary to improve soil quality and the ability of plants species to resist this harsh environment. The symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi has been proposed as one of the mechanisms of plant heavy metal tolerance and water stress avoidance. On the other hand, addition of organic amendments to the soil can reverse degradation of soil properties. Agro-waste residues such as dry... |
