Isolation and Characterization of Phosphate-Solubilizing Fungi from a Rehabilitated Nickel Post Mining Area in Sorowako, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Nickel mining, a major industry in Indonesia, leads to significant environmental degradation, making effective post-mining land rehabilitation crucial for ecosystem recovery. The application of Phosphate-Solubilizing Fungi (PSF) as biofertilizers presents a promising strategy to improve soil quality and accelerate revegetation on these challenging lands. This study aimed to isolate and identify indigenous PSF from a rehabilitated post-mining site at PT Vale Indonesia Tbk., Sorowako, and to quantitatively evaluate their phosphate solubilization capacity. Soil samples were collected from a plot that had been undergoing revegetation for eight years. Fungi were isolated and purified on Pikovskaya agar, followed by macroscopic and microscopic characterization to identify them. The ability to dissolve phosphate was assessed by calculating the Phosphate Solubility Index (PSI). A total of seven fungal isolates were successfully obtained from the soil samples. Microscopic identification confirmed the presence of fungi belonging to the genera Aspergillus sp . and Fusarium sp ., with a few isolates remaining unidentified. The quantitative assessment revealed that all isolates were classified in the “low” phosphate solubilization category. The highest PSI value recorded was 1.50, achieved by a Fusarium sp . isolate (PPBD 11/2). These indings confirm that indigenous fungi with phosphate-solubilizing potential are present in the rehabilitated soil.

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