Abstract
In response to the growing threat to the quality of the soil environment, new technologies are being developed to protect and remediate contaminated sites. A new approach, namely, assisted phytostabilization, has been used in areas contaminated with high levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), using various soil additives. This paper determined the effectiveness of biochar-assisted phytostabilization using Dactylis glomerata L. of soil contaminated with high concentrations of the selected PTEs (in mg/kg soil): Cu (780 ± 144), Cd (25.9 ± 2.5), Pb (13,540 ± 669) and Zn (8433 ± 1376). The content of the selected PTEs in the roots and above-ground parts of the tested grass, and in the soil, was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The addition of biochar to the contaminated soil led to an increase in plant biomass and caused an increase in soil pH values. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn were higher in the roots than in the above-ground parts of Dactylis glomerata L. The application of biochar significantly reduced the total content of PTEs in the soil after finishing the phytostabilization experiment, as well as reducing the content of bioavailable forms extracted from the soil using CaCl2 solution, which was clearly visible with respect to Cd and Pb. It is concluded that the use of biochar in supporting the processes of assisted phytostabilization of soils contaminated with PTEs is justified.
Highlights
Increasing industrialization and traffic activities, the amount of deposited precipitation and the increasing use of chemicals have resulted in environmental pollution on a global scale [1,2]
potentially toxic elements (PTEs) immobilization is one of the important elements determining the effectiveness of assisted phytostabilization, and, for this purpose, it is necessary to obtain a dense and compact vegetation cover on the contaminated land surface [26]
As a result of the conducted research, it was confirmed that biochar is effective in developing Dactylis glomerata L. biomass since the yield of this plant was 28% higher after the assisted phytostabilization process
Summary
Increasing industrialization and traffic activities, the amount of deposited precipitation and the increasing use of chemicals have resulted in environmental pollution on a global scale [1,2]. Relatively large areas are represented by soils with a higher content of PTEs in relation to the geochemical background, which may include steel disposal dumps [12] These areas are characterized by a distinctive feature as remnants of industrial activity, and they attract attention mainly because of their characteristic buildings and visible degradation in the form of physical deformation of the earth’s surface [13]. These sites are used as repositories for metal production waste, various types of metal products and demolished elements of building structures or wrecked vehicles and machines. Soil from these areas are characterized by the presence of significant PTE contamination
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