Three years of phytostabilisation experiment of bare acidic soil extremely contaminated by copper smelting using plant biodiversity of metal-rich soils in tropical Africa (Katanga, DR Congo)

Shutcha, Mylor Ngoy; Faucon, Michel‐Pierre; Kissi, Ckeface C. Kamengwa; Colinet, Gilles; Mahy, Grégory; Luhembwe, Michel Ngongo; Visser, Marjolein; Meerts, Pierre Jacques

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.04.062

Cited by 39 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 39 publications

(52 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Results demonstrated high survival of R. altera on un-amended soil, suggesting that this species is a good candidate for phytostabilization, while liming ensured survival of C. dactylon and increased plant reproduction and reduced copper accumulation in leaves compared to compost. In a 3-year field experiment, Shutcha et al (2015) further evaluated the feasibility of two amendments (compost and lime) on spontaneous colonization of bare soil contaminated by copper smelting activities and growth of planted Microchloa altera (Rendle) Stapf in Katanga, DR Congo. Results showed that soil amendments, especially compost application, had the greatest positive effect on bare soil conditions (higher pH and nutrients and lower trace metals), which in turn facilitated natural plant establishment.…”

Section: Restoration Research and Practice In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Progresses in restoration of post-mining landscape in Africa

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mining alters the natural landscape and discharges large volumes of wastes that pose serious pollution hazards to the environment, to human health and to agriculture. As a result, the recent 2 decades have witnessed a global surge in research on post-mining landscape restoration, yielding a suite of techniques including physical, chemical, biological (also known as phytoremediation) and combinations. Despite the long history of mining in Africa, no systematic review has summarized advances in restoration research and practices after mining disturbance. Thus, the aim of this review was to document the state-of-knowledge and identify gaps in restoration of postmining landscape in Africa through literature review. We found that: (1) there has been substantial progress in identifying species suitable for phytoremediation; (2) few studies evaluated the feasibility of organic amendments to promote autochthonous colonization of mine wastelands or growth of planted species; and (3) restoration of limestone quarries in Kenya, sand mining tailings in South Africa, and gold mine wasteland in Ghana are successful cases of large-scale post-mining restoration practices in Africa. However, the pace of post-mining landscape restoration research and practice in Africa is sluggish compared to other parts of the global south. We recommend: (1) mainstreaming the restoration of mine wastelands in national research strategies and increased development planning to make the mining sector ''Green''; (2) inventory of the number, area, and current status of abandoned mine lands; (3) expanding the pool of candidate species for phytostabilization; (4) further evaluating the phytostabilization potential of organic amendments, e.g., biochar; (5) assessing the impacts of mining on regional biodiversity.

show abstract

Section: Restoration Research and Practice In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Progresses in restoration of post-mining landscape in Africa

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…According to these edaphic element contents, two soil types can be distinguished: (1) soils amended with lime; and (2) soils amended with organic matter or unamended. However, to conform with the test of Shutcha et al (2010Shutcha et al ( , 2015, the three categories were kept in the following results.…”

Section: Experiments In Controlled Conditions: Edaphic Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Phytostabilisation is a suitable technology to decrease the bioavailability of heavy metals in highly polluted soils (Berti and Cunningham 2000). While this method significantly reduces human and animal exposure to heavy metals (Zhang et al 2010;Kacprzak et al 2014;Shutcha et al 2015), large scale experiments often lead to the establishment of monospecific communities. The criteria used for species selection (high biomass production, dense root systems, or large quantity of propagules) greatly restrict the choice to a limited number of specialists (Rizzi et al 2004;Mench et al 2006;O'Dell and Claassen 2006;Mendez and Maier 2008;Shutcha et al 2010;Parra et al 2014;Boisson et al 2016a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using phytostabilisation to conserve threatened endemic species in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Boisson

Séleck

Stradic

et al. 2018

Ecological Research

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Outcrops in the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are recognized as some of the largest copper–cobalt orebodies in the world. They support a unique vegetation with nearly 600 metallophytes that include rare and endemic species. Mineral exploitation has increased considerably in the region since the 1900s, affecting both environmental and public health. Phytostabilisation of polluted areas represents an opportunity to decrease the bioavailability of heavy metals in the highly polluted soils that result from ore extraction. Such a technique has been successfully implemented near Lubumbashi with the grass Microchloa altera. However, long‐term maintenance requires a good understanding of interspecific relationships, such as competition and facilitation. This study tested the establishment success of four herbaceous species from the Katangan Copperbelt by assessing the potential role of Microchloa altera as a nurse species. Two annual and two perennial species were sown in an experiment designed to study the influence of soil amendment and vegetation cover on seedling emergence, growth, and survival. These variables were monitored during the vegetation growing season as well as resprouting success for perennials. Microchloa altera showed a distinct effect on the emergence and survival of annual and perennial species and negatively affected the growth of individuals belonging to both groups of species.

show abstract

“…Electrical conductivity (EC) measured with a HandylabpH/LF 12 conductometer (Schott, Germany), in a 1:2 soil/deionizedwater suspension (w/v). Phosphorus and potassium contentEgner-Riehm method [28], and magnesium content -atomicabsorption spectrometry method following extraction using the Schachtschabel method [14]. Soil/amendments mixtures were placed into pots and sown perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) variety Bokser on the surface.…”

Section: Experiments Set-upmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Main principles of phytoremediation are (1) improvement of the topsoil quality as an important ecological factor (2) phytoimmobilization of the heavy metals, (3) phytoextraction of heavy metals into roots and shoots of the plants, (4) minimization of seepage water formation by evapotranspiration and new soil formation [33]. Phytostabilization is a simple, cost-effective and less environmentally invasive approach to stabilize and reduce the bioavailability of contaminants by using plants [28]. It is important to mention that phytostabilization is not a technology for real clean-up of contaminated soils, but a management strategy for inactivating (stabilizing) heavy metals with a labile pool in excess leading to biological effects [7,19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aided Phytostabilization of Copper Contaminated Soils with L. Perenne and Mineral Sorbents as Soil Amendments

Radziemska

2017

Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present study was designed to assess phytostabilization strategies for the treatment of soil co-contaminated by increasing levels of copper with the application mineral amendments (chalcedonite, zeolite, dolomite). From the results it will be possible to further elucidate the benefits or potential risks derived from the application of different types of mineral amendments in the remediation of a copper contaminated soil. A glasshouse pot experiment was designed to evaluate the potential use of different amendments as immobilizing agents in the aided phytostabilization of Cu-contaminated soil using ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The content of trace elements in plants and total in soil, were determined using the method of spectrophotometry. All of the investigated element contents in the tested parts of L. perenne were significantly different in the case of applying mineral amendments to the soil, as well as increasing concentrations of copper. The greatest average above-ground biomass was observed for soil amended with chalcedonite. In this experiment, all analyzed metals accumulated predominantly in the roots of the tested plant. In general, applying mineral amendments to soil contributed to decreased levels of copper concentrations.

show abstract

Three years of phytostabilisation experiment of bare acidic soil extremely contaminated by copper smelting using plant biodiversity of metal-rich soils in tropical Africa (Katanga, DR Congo)

Cited by 39 publications

References 39 publications

Progresses in restoration of post-mining landscape in Africa

Progresses in restoration of post-mining landscape in Africa

Using phytostabilisation to conserve threatened endemic species in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Aided Phytostabilization of Copper Contaminated Soils with L. Perenne and Mineral Sorbents as Soil Amendments

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About