Former Mining Land in Sulawesi Holds Microbiome Potential

Former gold mining land in Poboya, Sulawesi, still holds microbiological potential. Researchers from the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) have found several microbes capable of surviving to assist in environmental recovery.

This finding was obtained through soil microbiome analysis using Oxford Nanopore Sequencing (ONT) technology and a metagenomic approach.

“Former mining land turns out not to be entirely devoid of species. Replanting or revegetation serves as a very potential pathway for microbial recovery in former mining lands,” said Rahadian Pratama, a researcher from the Department of Biochemistry at IPB University, in a written statement.

Researchers discovered a microbial consortium with metabolic toolkits that support survival in polluted environments. One such example is bacteria from the Variovorax group.

Genomic analysis results show that Variovorax possesses genes related to pollutant degradation, heavy metal resistance, and the production of siderophores to assist in iron absorption. The bacteria also possess genes that play a role in promoting plant growth.

“This genomic analysis provides concrete evidence regarding the native bioremediation potential of Sulawesi soil. This serves as a real indicator for restoring soil impacted by mining activities while simultaneously increasing the productivity of surrounding plants,” said Rahadian.

He stated that mining activities do not automatically eliminate the entire microbiological potential of the soil. Revegetation or replanting is also one of the factors related to the recovery of bacterial communities in former mining lands.

According to Rahadian, the Wallacea region possesses rich genomic resources that have not yet been extensively explored. Therefore, microbiome monitoring is also essential for lands that have been converted into agricultural areas.