Co-cropping vetiver grass and legume for the phytoremediation of an acid mine drainage (AMD) impacted soil
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Co-cropping vetiver grass and legume for the phytoremediation of an acid mine drainage (AMD) impacted soil. / Thomas, Glenna; Sheridan, Craig; Holm, Peter E.
I: Environmental Pollution, Bind 341, 122873, 2024.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Co-cropping vetiver grass and legume for the phytoremediation of an acid mine drainage (AMD) impacted soil
AU - Thomas, Glenna
AU - Sheridan, Craig
AU - Holm, Peter E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a form of environmental pollution from mining activity that can negatively affect soil environments by acidification, salinisation, and metal(loid) contamination. The use of plants to remediate (phytoremediation) these impacted environments while generating plant-based value is a promising approach to more accessible and cost-benefiting restoration of post-mining, marginal lands. In this study, a 3-month growth-chamber pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of co-cropping two plant species, Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver grass) and the legume Medicago truncatula (barrel clover) with a wheat straw biochar amendment on the phytostabilisation of metal(loid)s Cr, Zn, and As and the phytoextraction of rare earth element (REE) in an AMD impacted soil from a gold mining region in South Africa. The results showed that co-cropping with vetiver significantly lowered the legume's Cr, Zn, and As root contents by 80%, 32% and 54%, respectively, and improved the plant's overall metal(loid) tolerance by increasing its translocation from root to shoot tissue. The biochar further inhibited root uptake of Cr and Zn, by 71% and 36%, and increased the legume biomass by 40%. Both plant species and cropping treatments exhibited low REE extraction capabilities by shoot tissue, which accounted for less than 0.2% of total soil REE contents. The study shows that co-cropping with vetiver and biochar amendment are effective tools for the phytoremediation of AMD impacted soil mainly by lowering plant uptake and improving plant metal(loid) tolerance. Likely mechanisms at play include the alteration of rhizosphere chemistry and species-specific physiological and molecular responses. These effects offer support for the phytostabilisation of AMD impacted soil with the generation of plant-based value through dual (and safe) cultivation (phytoprotection) rather than through REE recovery from plant biomass (phytoextraction). These techniques could allow for the simultaneous restoration of post-mining, mining-impacted and marginal lands with agricultural production.
AB - Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a form of environmental pollution from mining activity that can negatively affect soil environments by acidification, salinisation, and metal(loid) contamination. The use of plants to remediate (phytoremediation) these impacted environments while generating plant-based value is a promising approach to more accessible and cost-benefiting restoration of post-mining, marginal lands. In this study, a 3-month growth-chamber pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of co-cropping two plant species, Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver grass) and the legume Medicago truncatula (barrel clover) with a wheat straw biochar amendment on the phytostabilisation of metal(loid)s Cr, Zn, and As and the phytoextraction of rare earth element (REE) in an AMD impacted soil from a gold mining region in South Africa. The results showed that co-cropping with vetiver significantly lowered the legume's Cr, Zn, and As root contents by 80%, 32% and 54%, respectively, and improved the plant's overall metal(loid) tolerance by increasing its translocation from root to shoot tissue. The biochar further inhibited root uptake of Cr and Zn, by 71% and 36%, and increased the legume biomass by 40%. Both plant species and cropping treatments exhibited low REE extraction capabilities by shoot tissue, which accounted for less than 0.2% of total soil REE contents. The study shows that co-cropping with vetiver and biochar amendment are effective tools for the phytoremediation of AMD impacted soil mainly by lowering plant uptake and improving plant metal(loid) tolerance. Likely mechanisms at play include the alteration of rhizosphere chemistry and species-specific physiological and molecular responses. These effects offer support for the phytostabilisation of AMD impacted soil with the generation of plant-based value through dual (and safe) cultivation (phytoprotection) rather than through REE recovery from plant biomass (phytoextraction). These techniques could allow for the simultaneous restoration of post-mining, mining-impacted and marginal lands with agricultural production.
KW - Acid mine drainage
KW - Arsenic
KW - Phytoremediation
KW - Rare earth elements
KW - Vetiver grass
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122873
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122873
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37949161
AN - SCOPUS:85177232235
VL - 341
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
SN - 0269-7491
M1 - 122873
ER -
ID: 382550999