Agronomic Approaches for Characterization, Remediation, and Monitoring of Contaminated Sites

Abstract

With a view to conserving or improving soil ecosystem services, environment-friendly techniques, such as bio- and phytoremediation, can effectively be used for the characterization, risk assessment, and remediation of contaminated agricultural sites. Polyannual vegetation (meadows, poplar, and cane stands) is widely considered the most efficient tool for remediation (extraction of bioavailable fraction of contaminants), for undertaking safety measures (reducing the mobility of contaminants towards other environmental compartments), and for restoring the ecosystem services of contaminated agricultural sites (biomass production, groundwater protection, C storage, landscape quality improvement, and cultural and educational services). The roles of agronomic approaches will be reviewed by focusing on the various steps in the whole remediation process: (i) detailed environmental characterization; (ii) phytoremediation for reducing risks for the environment and human health; (iii) agronomic management for improving efficiency of phytoremediation; and (iv) biomass recycling in the win-win perspective of the circular economy.

Short Rotation Intensive Culture of Willow, Spent Mushroom Substrate and Ramial Chipped Wood for Bioremediation of a Contaminated Site Used for Land Farming Activities of a Former Petrochemical Plant

“…Soil contamination with organic and inorganic pollutants is a widespread problematic around the world. Phytoremediation has been proposed as a cost-effective technique that uses plants and amendments to improve physical, biological and chemical soil properties, with the aim of reducing the risks for the environment and for human health [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Plants’ ability to remediate pollutants effectively differs according to species and cultivars, but also depends on the microbiome composition in the rhizosphere [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].…”

“…Phytoremediation has been proposed as a cost-effective technique that uses plants and amendments to improve physical, biological and chemical soil properties, with the aim of reducing the risks for the environment and for human health [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Plants’ ability to remediate pollutants effectively differs according to species and cultivars, but also depends on the microbiome composition in the rhizosphere [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Soil properties as well as the nature of contaminants and their bioavailability are important factors that affect the mechanisms and efficiency of phytoremediation [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Soil properties as well as the nature of contaminants and their bioavailability are important factors that affect the mechanisms and efficiency of phytoremediation [ 6 , 7 ]. Polluted areas can be improved with plants and their associated microorganisms by implementing one or more phytoremediation techniques, which include phytoextraction, phytoaccumulation, phytotransformation, phytostabilization, rhizofiltration, phytovolatilization, phytodegradation and rhizodegradation [ 3 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]. These plant-based remediation processes are lengthy compared to conventional approaches and the results are difficult to predict, requiring refinement to increase their efficiency.…”

“…Moreover, their tolerance to harsh conditions, such as contamination, pests and other stressors on the site must also be considered [ 2 ]. To date, several hundred plants have been studied around the world under different contaminated conditions, enabling identification of many herbaceous and woody plants able to improve the condition of contaminated sites [ 3 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

“…In Quebec (Canada), several studies conducted on agricultural land, abandoned farmland or contaminated land, have shown that ‘SX61’ and ‘SX64’ ( Salix miyabeana ) are two of the most biomass productive willow cultivars that thrive in eastern Canada [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Agronomic techniques that promote growth and tolerance of fast-growing species, and increase the mobility and bioavailability of contaminants, are of particular growing interest, because they could leads to overall better remediation [ 2 , 3 ]. Accordingly, several studies focused on inoculation with bacteria and both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi to enhance the phytoremediation efficacy of willows [ 8 , 22 , 37 , 39 ].…”