The Role of Organic and Inorganic Amendments in Carbon Sequestration and Immobilization of Heavy Metals in Degraded Soils

Abstract

To investigate the effect of organic and inorganic amendments on heavy metal immobilization in soil and organic carbon sequestration, a growth chamber study over a period of 18 months was conducted. Phytoremediation of two degraded soils, smelter-polluted soil and post-mining soil, was carried out using Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) and Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus x Giganteus). The increase in organic carbon content for lake chalk amended soils was noted. In addition, the largest root biomass production after fertilization of heavy metal contaminated soil with lake chalk was observed. This soil additive increases soil pH and reduces heavy metal mobility, which finally minimizes the harmful effect of metals on plant life and growth. Root biomass production of Giant Miscanthus was significantly higher than Scots Pine root biomass for both soils. This may indicate better phytosequestration properties of Giant Miscanthus, especially in the case of land degradation due to mining and destruction of soil profiles.

Energy efficiency of the phytoremediation process supported with the use of energy crops – P. arundinacea L. and Brassica napus L.

“…The implementation of plants into the system provides a possibility to preserve some amount of the emitted carbon within the growing biomass. Such an action is generally called carbon phytosequestration and should be more evaluated in more detail during the completion of future studies (Placek et al 2017).…”

Application of Brown Coal and Activated Carbon for the Immobilization of Metal Forms in Soil, along with Their Verification Using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs)

“…Major hazards can arise from a variety of sources, for example, industrially degraded sites that are contaminated by metals, which are often left without any remedial action. Various factors can lead to the transformation of metal forms and to an increase in their solubility and, consequently, their mobility, thus increasing their bio-and phytoavailability and resulting in their migration to groundwater [1,3,[10][11][12][13]. Particular hazards are represented by forms of metals that determine eco-and phytotoxicity and, if remaining in soil solutions, are absorbed by the plant root system and transported to the trophic chain [1,11,12,14].…”

“…Various factors can lead to the transformation of metal forms and to an increase in their solubility and, consequently, their mobility, thus increasing their bio-and phytoavailability and resulting in their migration to groundwater [1,3,[10][11][12][13]. Particular hazards are represented by forms of metals that determine eco-and phytotoxicity and, if remaining in soil solutions, are absorbed by the plant root system and transported to the trophic chain [1,11,12,14]. Effective improvements in the environmental situation and the reduction of risks in metal-contaminated areas can often be achieved through the use of relatively simple, fast and environmentally friendly methods [11,15].…”

Efficacy of Woodchip Biochar and Brown Coal Waste as Stable Sorbents for Abatement of Bioavailable Cadmium, Lead and Zinc in Soil

“…compost and FYM) (Beesley et al 2015). Even though a range of studies have reported significant reductions in HM bioavailability using conventional organic sorbents, their large labile OM pools are indicative of high mineralisation rates and tendency to release HMs into soil (Shaha et al 2012;Placek et al 2017). Generally, in soil amended with processed and stable OM sources, metals are easily transformed from their exchangeable forms to more stable organic phases (Lwin et al 2018).…”