Remediation strategies are capable to mitigate negative effects of heavy metals (HMs) on soils. The distribution of cooper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and chromium (Cr) was evaluated in a contaminated soil after adding biosolid compost (BC) and phosphate fertilizer (PF). 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, Zn solubility increased by 15.4 and 8.4%, respectively, with experiment time. Although Cr 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 Cr, and inorganic amendment induced the Zn precipitation, results from this pilot study suggest a combined use of these two amendments for soil remediation strategies. However, liming may be further needed to prevent soil acidification on longer time scales. Also, we propose the use of chemical and biological remediation strategies for potential improvement of effectiveness. 1. Introduction 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 [2, 3]. High proportion of the contamination is retained by soil particles, so that is why this system is considered a vulnerable environment to being contaminated [4]. In addition, there is an increasing interest in HM contamination as a result of a continuous accumulation on top soil, with elevated availability to organisms [5]. Therefore, high concentrations of HM and their potential toxicity may affect soil ecology, agricultural production, and water quality, implicating risks for environment and human health [6]. In Argentine, soil contamination has been mostly recorded in urban and periurban areas. Reference [7] indicated that concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in urban soils exceeded the international standards referred to the human health, and according to [8], elevated levels
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