Abstract
Phytoattenuation combines phytoextraction or phytostabilization with the economic valorization of the biomass produced on the contaminated soil. Sorghum bicolor is a suitable crop for this strategy, as it is known to be metal-tolerant and can be used for biogas or bioethanol production or in strategies toward biofortification. In the current investigation, two cultivars, Biomass 133 and Trudan Headless (HL), were studied in a metal-contaminated (Cd, Pb, Zn) field site located in northern France to assess their potential use in a phytoattenuation strategy. The biomass yield and the metal transfer in the produced biomass were monitored in three plots with different pollution levels. Both cultivars were tolerant to high levels of metal pollution in field conditions, with yields similar to that obtained on uncontaminated sites. Neither of the cultivars changed the metal mobility of the soil and both exhibited a metal-excluder behavior. Nevertheless, Cd concentration in the aboveground part of Trudan HL, and of Biomass 133 to a lesser extent, could restrict their use in some valorization options. However, biogas production was possible with the produced biomass, indicating anaerobic digestion to be a possible valorization route for sorghum grown on contaminated sites.
Highlights
Contaminated dust fallout from industrial activities has caused diffuse and long-term contamination of the soil surface on large areas [1]
As reported for other cultivars, we demonstrated tolerance of both cultivars to high levels of trace elements (TE) pollution in field conditions and, their relevance in a phytotechnology strategy
Our study pointed out promising valorization options for biomass cultivated on a TE-contaminated site, such as biogas production
Summary
Contaminated dust fallout from industrial activities has caused diffuse and long-term contamination of the soil surface on large areas [1]. Sediment landfill sites, as a result of canal-dredged sediments, have been impacted by trace elements (TE), directly by the dust fall or indirectly by soil surface erosion or soil runoff These contaminations can create risks by their diffusion in environmental compartments or by the local exposure of humans, causing health problems [1]. Civil engineering remediation techniques have been developed, such as the excavation of the contaminated soil or soil washing These techniques are not adapted to large areas and suffer from high cost and high energy expenditure, besides destroying the local ecosystem and creating new waste streams to manage [5,6]
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