Assisted phytostabilization of soil from a former military area with mineral amendments

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2020 Jan 30:188:109934. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109934. Epub 2019 Nov 15.

Abstract

Due to the presence of toxic pollutants, soils in former military areas need remedial actions with environmentally friendly methods. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the aided phytostabilization of multi-heavy metals (HMs), i.e. Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, in post-military soil by Festuca rubra and three mineral amendments (diatomite, dolomite and halloysite). The amendments were applied at 0 and 3.0% to each pot filled with 5 kg of polluted soil. After seven weeks of the phytostabilization, selected soil properties, biomass yield of F. rubra and immobilization of HMs by their accumulation in plant and redistribution among individual fractions in soil were determined. In addition, ecotoxicology parameters of non-amended and amended soil were established using Phytotoxkit (Sinapsis alba) and Ostracodtoxkit (Heterocypris incongruens) tests. The addition of halloysite significantly increased F. rubra biomass. Diatomite significantly increased both the Cd, Cu, Pb and Cr concentrations in the roots and the pH of the soil. The application of halloysite significantly decreased the Cd and Zn contents of the soil after the completion of the experiment. Dolomite and halloysite were more effective in HM immobilization in soil by decreasing their content in an exchangeable fraction than diatomite. These soil amendments significantly differentiated the length of S. alba roots and had a positive effect on the development of H. incongruens.

Keywords: Ecotoxicological tests; Festuca rubra; Metal fractionation; Metal immobilization.

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Biomass
  • Calcium Carbonate / chemistry*
  • Clay / chemistry*
  • Environmental Restoration and Remediation / methods*
  • Festuca / chemistry
  • Festuca / growth & development*
  • Magnesium / chemistry*
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis*
  • Military Facilities*
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Calcium Carbonate
  • Magnesium
  • Clay
  • calcium magnesium carbonate