Sphagnum Research Articles

The impact of severe pollution from smelter emissions on carbon and metal accumulation in peatlands in Ontario, Canada

Peatlands are unique habitats that function as a carbon (C) sink and an archive of atmospheric metal deposition. Sphagnum mosses are key components of peatlands but can be adversely impacted by air pollution potentially affecting rates of C and metal accumulation in peat. In this study we evaluate how the loss of Sphagnum in peatlands close to a copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) smelter in Sudbury, Ontario affected C accumulation and metal profiles. The depth of accumulated peat formed during the 100+ year period of smelter activities also increased with distance from the smelter. Concurrently, peat bulk density decreased with distance from the smelter, which resulted in relatively similar average rates of apparent C accumulation (32–46 g/m2/yr). These rates are within the range of published values despite the historically high pollution loadings. Surface peat close to the smelters was greatly enriched in Cu and Ni, and Cu profiles in dated peat cores generally coincide with known pollution histories much better than Ni that increased well before the beginning of smelter activities likely a result of post-deposition mobility in peat cores.

Isotopic evidence for increased carbon and nitrogen exchanges between peatland plants and their symbiotic microbes with rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations since 15,000 cal. year BP.

Whether nitrogen (N) availability will limit plant growth and removal of atmospheric CO2 by the terrestrial biosphere this century is controversial. Studies have suggested that N could progressively limit plant growth, as trees and soils accumulate N in slowly cycling biomass pools in response to increases in carbon sequestration. However, a question remains over whether longer-term (decadal to century) feedbacks between climate, CO2 and plant N uptake could emerge to reduce ecosystem-level N limitations. The symbioses between plants and microbes can help plants to acquire N from the soil or from the atmosphere via biological N2 fixation-the pathway through which N can be rapidly brought into ecosystems and thereby partially or completely alleviate N limitation on plant productivity. Here we present measurements of plant N isotope composition (δ15 N) in a peat core that dates to 15,000 cal. year BP to ascertain ecosystem-level N cycling responses to rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We find that pre-industrial increases in global atmospheric CO2 concentrations corresponded with a decrease in the δ15 N of both Sphagnum moss and Ericaceae when constrained for climatic factors. A modern experiment demonstrates that the δ15 N of Sphagnum decreases with increasing N2 -fixation rates. These findings suggest that plant-microbe symbioses that facilitate N acquisition are, over the long term, enhanced under rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations, highlighting an ecosystem-level feedback mechanism whereby N constraints on terrestrial carbon storage can be overcome.

Elemental Composition of Reindeer Pasture Plants and Lichens in Nadym District (Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area)

Abstract—There are plans to expand reindeer husbandry in the Nadym District of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area. For this purpose, we studied the elemental composition of the dominant species of the tundra and open boreal woodland vegetation cover. We analyzed leaves of dwarf birch (Betula nana L.), dwarf shrubs of bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.), marsh Labrador tea (Ledum palustre L.), and leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench); sphagnum moss (Sphagnum sp. L.); and fruticose lichens (Cladina stellaris (Opiz.) Brodo). The X-ray fluorescence analysis was used to obtain data on the content of Ca, K, P, Si, Mg, Na, S, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, Ti, and Al. We defined the biogeochemical features of the reindeer forage plants. In vascular plants and sphagnum mosses, the content of almost all essential macroelements is low, while the content of most microelements (Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, and Mn) exceeds the world average values. The lichens are characterized by low concentration of Ca, K, Mg, and P, which is more than one order of magnitude lower than the world average values, and the deficiency of microelements. The results were compared with the results from similar studies in other geographical regions of the tundra zone, and it was found that tundra plants have a similar pattern of element accumulation. In particular, leaves of dwarf birch are distinguished by accumulation of Mg; the content of Al, Fe, and Si is increased in mosses; Mn is accumulated in dwarf shrubs and dwarf birch; lichens are characterized by the deficiency of most elements. Therefore, in order to prevent animal diseases, it is necessary to improve the elemental composition of reindeers feed by increasing the share of “green” forage in winter, when lichens dominate the diet.

Types of Irrigation Water and Soil Amendment Affect the Growth and Flowering of Petunia x alkinsiana ‘Bravo Pinc’

Water insufficiency is the hampering feature of crop sustainability, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. So, the effectual usage of all water resources especially underground brackish water represents the core priority in Saudi Arabia. The present study aimed to recognize the influence of different types of water irrigation (tap water as a control, salinized well water, and magnetized salinized well water) with or without soil amendments (soil without any amendment as a control, peat-moss, ferrous sulfate, and peat-moss plus ferrous sulfate) on petunia plant growth and flowering as well as ion content. Irrigating Petunia plants with saline well water adversely affected growth and flowering as compared to tap water and magnetized saline well water. Additionally, plants irrigated with magnetized water showed a significant enhancement in all the studied vegetative and flowering growth parameters as compared to those irrigated with salinized well water. Furthermore, mineral contents and survival of Petunia plants irrigated with magnetized well water were higher than those irrigated with tap water. Irrigation with magnetized well water significantly reduced levels of Na+ and Cl− ions in leaves of Petunia plants indicating the role of magnetization in alleviating harmful effects of salinity. In conclusion, we recommend the utilization of magnetized saline well water for irrigating Petunia plants either alone or in combination with soil amendments (peat moss plus ferrous sulfate).

Notes on distribution and habitat preferences of Sphagnum inexspectatum and S. mirum in Western Siberia

New records of two rare moss species, Sphagnum inexspectatum Flatberg (4) and S. mirum Flatberg & Thingsgaard (9) are reported from Western Siberia, and discuss them in context of their habitat preferences in region as well as general range. Their distribution in Russia is considered and re-assessed. Geobotanical relevés of plant communities with Sphagnum inexspectatum and S. mirum from Western Siberia are presented. It is shown that in the taiga zone S. inexspectatum occurence is closely related to communities of the alliance Stygio-Caricion limosae Nordhagen 1943, class Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae Tx. 1937, and similar Sphagnum carpets in meso-oligotrophic mires, where it grows as single stems among other peat mosses in poor conditions on slightly acidic substrates. In forest tundra and southern tundra this species occurs only in communities of the alliance Caricion stantis Matveyeva 1994. More diverse communities with S. mirum are assigned mainly to the alliance Sphagno-Caricion canescentis Passarge (1964) 1978, which comprises sedge-Sphagnum vegetation located in fens and transitional bogs in a wide variety of habitats from moderately poor to moderately rich in mineral nutrients and with slightly acidic substrate. This species occurs both with low (as single stems) and high abundance (frequently being dominant) in moss layer.

Dynamics of the heavy metals content (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu) during the decomposition of sphagnum moss at the drained and post-pyrogenic sites of oligotrophic bogs

The aim of the study. Assessment of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu) dynamic during the decomposition of Sphagnum fuscum L. in native, drained and post-pyrogenic oligotrophic peatlands. Location and time of the study. The study was carried out in 2019–2021 in two oligotrophic bogs: “Bakcharskoye” (field station “Vasyuganye” (IMCES SB RAS)) and “Iksinskoye”, which are the north-eastern spurs of the Great Vasyugan mire and located in the Bakcharsky district of the Tomsk region. Methods. Decomposition rate of Sph. fuscum L. was determined by the method of partially isolated samples, which is widely used to study the processes of transformation of plant material and peat. In the original and decomposed samples of sphagnum moss and peat soil (in layers 0-10, 10-20, 20-30), the ash content of peat was determined according to GOST-11306-83. The percentage of total carbon and nitrogen in samples of peat (up to 30 cm from the surface) and plant residues was determined together with the determination of isotopic composition using EA-IRMS (Elemental Analyzer/Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry). The concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu) in samples of peat and plant residues were determined by stripping voltammetry. Results. Three-year experiment on decomposition of Sph. fuscum in four ecosystems (natural – VASnat, drained – VASdry, post-pyrogenic – Iksa 1 and Iksa2) showed that fire affected the decomposition rate: on average, mass loss in post-pyrogenic bogs was 1.4–1.6 times lower compared to the natural site. For almost all sites, a relationship was found between the mass loss and the concentration of heavy metals, with the exception of Cd during the first year of the experiment. The concentration of all elements in moss residues decreased during the decomposition process at all study sites. During moss decomposition the similarity in the release of biogenic elements Cu and Zn was recorded in the drained and post-pyrogenic sites (VASdry, Iksa1, Iksa2), while for Cd and Pb, which are not biogenic elements, such similarity was not revealed. Conclusions. Peat fires affect plant residue decomposition by decreasing its rate of decomposition. The study revealed incremental dynamics of HMs content in plant residues: at the initial stage, HMs are released, whereas during the second and third years, in some cases, the accumulation of HMs is observed. However, by the end of the experiment, the release of heavy metals during decomposition was observed for all elements.

ГОЛОЦЕН СРЕДНЕТАЕЖНОЙ ПОДЗОНЫ ЗАПАДНОЙ СИБИРИ ПО ПАЛИНОЛОГИЧЕСКИМ ДАННЫМ РАЗРЕЗА В ДОЛИНЕ Р. МУЛЫМЬИ

The purpose of the research was a comprehensive palaeoecological study of peat deposits from a core in the floodplain of the Mulymya river, reconstruction of changes in climatic parameters and vegetation in the Holocene according to spore-pollen analysis (SPA) and radiocarbon dates. In the course of the study, new data were received from the SPA of the Mulymya core, provided with a series of AMS dates, which made it possible to record changes in climatic parameters and the transformation of forest formations of the Konda left-bank middle taiga province for the period 10180–2720 BP / 8463–977 BC. In the late glacial period (up to 10,000 BP / 8250 BC), the territory represented open spaces with widespread permafrost. In the Early Holocene, 9750–8200 BP / 7750–650 BC, the expansion of woody vegetation began: there was an expansion of forest areas from sparse forests to closed forests. From the beginning, woody vegetation grew in islands of open spruce forests with an admixture of larch and birch with a moss-shrub cover. Pine and birch dominated in the composition of forests by the Middle Holocene, spruce, larch, fir and Siberian cedar were found in admixtures. The instability of the climate is reflected in the variegated stratigraphy of the peat deposit: the alternation of sedge-cotton grass and woody peat with the participation of sphagnum mosses indicates to the hydrological regime fluctuations. The Late Holocene (from 4760–3670 BP / 2850–1650 BC) is characterized by relatively stable climatic conditions; spruce-cedar-pine forests grew in the territory under consideration. The floodplain communities were represented by sedge-cotton grass associations. From 3670 to 2900 BP / 1650–1100 ВС, the floodplain was afforested, which is indicated by the remains of wood in the peat.

The Effect of Propagation Substrate on Pythium Root Rot Severity and the Efficacy of Biopesticides

Modern greenhouse crop production utilizes soilless substrates that range from inorganic substrates (Oasis foam and rockwool) to blends of organic substrates (sphagnum peat moss, coconut fiber, bark mulch, wood chips, and wood products). Additionally, greenhouse growers utilize beneficial microorganisms in the form of commercial biopesticides to reduce disease. Few research studies have examined the effect of propagation substrate on the efficacy of commercial biopesticides under greenhouse production conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of propagation substrates on commercially available microbial biopesticides (Rootshield WP, Cease, and Regalia) applied during propagation and at transplant for management of Pythium root rot. In this study, cucumber and calibrachoa were used as model crops. Over both cropping systems, plants propagated in Oasis foam had lower root rot compared with plants propagated in coconut coir. Across all biopesticide treatments, cucumber plants propagated in Oasis foam had 52% less root rot compared with plants propagated in coconut coir. In both infested and noninfested calibrachoa plants, plants propagated in Oasis foam had 45 to 67% less disease, and plants propagated in peat had 25 to 40% less disease compared with plants propagated in coconut coir. There was no effect of biopesticide on Pythium root rot severity, except for a reduction seen in calibrachoa plants propagated in coconut coir and treated with Rootshield WP. This research suggests that propagation substrate is important for root disease management.

Fire in the bog: responses of peatland vegetation in the Australian Alps to fire

Context Peatlands in the Australian Alps are important ecologically and recognised in national environmental legislation. Increasing fire frequency over the past 40years has put the community at greater risk of degradation.Aims Using published studies of fire effects in peatlands and new data, we investigate general responses of peatlands to fire so that risk can be evaluated and appropriate management adopted.Methods We present four case studies that employ repeated measures of floristic composition or chronosequences to assess fire-related changes.Key results Cover of frequently-occurring species declined after fire but most had returned to pre-fire cover after 10years. Recovery of the obligate seeder shrub Dracophyllum continentis (B.L.Burtt) S.Venter and the dominant moss Sphagnum cristatum Hampe was much slower, but variable for the latter, apparently depending on fire intensity and post-fire moisture availability; both species favoured less frequently burnt peatlands with high soil moisture. Some herbs (including non-native species) benefitted from fire, briefly becoming abundant soon afterwards. Overall species richness and diversity were unaffected by fire.Conclusions Peatlands in the Australian Alps tend to be resilient to single fires with effects on species composition being short-lived. However, species cover (especially Sphagnum cristatum) requires perhaps 20years between fires for full recovery. Fire can cause localised community extinction and this is likely to be exacerbated by other pressures such as trampling and drought.Implications Fire will be difficult to manage in peatlands but resilience might be built by removing other pressures such as trampling by feral animals.

무동력 수경재배 장치의 상추 생육과 수확 후 포장에 따른 품질 특성

The research was aimed to improve pre-harvest methods to maintain marketability in postharvest leaf lettuce. In this study, the effect of hydroponics on the growth and post-harvest storage characteristics of ‘Chongchima’ lettuce grown in peat mass medium hydroponic system using a non-powered culture device or deep water culture (DWC) was evaluated. There was no difference in fresh weight, leaf number, SPAD, moisture content, and C/N ratio between peat moss growing medium hydroponic and DWC methods except plant height. It was found that lettuce cultivation by a nonpowered hydroponics method is easier than the existing DWC. The quality parameters, such as fresh weight loss, SPAD value, and general appearance of lettuce were investigated after harvest. There was no significant difference in fresh weight loss and general appearance during storage of lettuce by the hydroponics methods. However, with the increased storage time of SPAD, which is related to chlorophyll content, was slightly higher in peat moss medium hydroponic was than DWC. When crops such as lettuce are grown under favorable conditions without any agronomic abnormalities, it is suggested that post-harvest storage is not significantly affected by peat moss growing medium hydroponic and DWC.

LEUCOBRYUM GLAUCULUM MOSS AS A BIOSORBENT FOR REMOVAL OF WATER HARDNESS

Water hardness and deposition of incrustation is a problem in households and industry. In this regard, several technologies have been developed with the purpose of water softening and preventing the deposition of incrustation. The ion exchange method is the most commonly used method and is considered a conventional method. However, due to the shortcomings of this method, there is a need to develop adequate alternative methods. The potential of the method using biosorbents such as moss Leucobryum glaucum and Spaghnum peat moss for the purpose of removing water hardness has recently become the subject of intensive research with growing interest. In this study, the method using Leucobryum glaucum as a biosorbent was tested and a comparison was made with the conventional method and previously conducted studies that used other biosorbents.

Effects of Bed Soils and Plant Growth Regulators on Root Growth of <italic>Hibiscus syriacus</italic> L.

Background and objective: As the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the entire world and people found themselves spending more time at home, many households began gardening, and purchased various ornamental plants. Many cultivars of <i>Hibiscus syriacus</i> are grown for their showy flowers, or used as landscape shrubs. <i>H. syriacus</i> is generally known for its high rate of asexual reproduction. However, it is known that the effectiveness of propagation by cuttings can have big differences depending on internal and external factors. This study was conducted to determine the effects of optimal rooting bed soil composition and auxin on the rooting of <i>H. syriacus</i> cuttings.Methods: Cuttings used in this study were from 17 cultivars. As types of bed soil for propagation by cutting, gardening bed soil, sand, mixed soil 1, and mixed soil 2 were used, and the plant growth regulators of IBA and NAA were applied at 500, 1000, and 1500 mg⋅L<sup>-1</sup> concentrations.Results: The rooting rate and number of roots were highest with the combination of perlite and vermiculite. On the other hand, the gardening bed soil showed an extremely low rooting percentage. The root growth was improved in most cultivars when treated by plant growth regulator. The highest rooting rate was verified at IBA 500 mg⋅L<sup>-1</sup> treatment while the number of roots and root length showed good result in IBA 1500 mg⋅L<sup>-1</sup> treatment.Conclusion: In many cultivars, it was observed that the rooting rate and number of roots differed depending on the bed soil. The most suitable bed soil for the cuttings was a mixture of peat moss and vermiculite, and it was possible to increase the efficiency through treatment with a growth regulator, and the efficiency of IBA was better than that of NAA. However, it is necessary to identify which detailed growth regulator treatment is suitable for the root development of each cultivar, because plant growth regulator was less effective and even problematic in some cultivars.

Drought stress, water table and photosynthetic activity of peat moss measured by fast fluorescence in alpine peatlands

Drought stress, water table and photosynthetic activity of peat moss measured by fast fluorescence in alpine peatlands

Impact of Using Blue Crab Shell Powder (BCSP) on Alteration of EC, pH, Leaf Greenness, and Growth of Cucumis melo var. Hamigua TA215 Seedlings

Seedling is the most important starting material for muskmelon production. Healthy seedling production can be addressed by finding appropriate seedling substrates. Blue crab shell powder (BCSP) has been used as a substrate additive to increase the growth and yield of agricultural produce. This research aimed to investigate the impact of using BCSP on the alteration of EC, pH, leaf greenness, and growth of Cucumis melo var. Hamigua TA215 seedlings. The substrates making up the treatments were 5, 10, and 15% BCSP, and peat moss was used as a control. Four treatments replicated three times were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The results showed that increasing EC and pH were attributed by increasing the BCSP. After 9 days of watering, a reduction of EC was found. On the contrary, pH in 15% BCSP adding treatment was gradually increased and reached the highest point at day 9. Alteration of EC and pH affected leaf greenness. The highest point of leaf greenness was found on day 1, consistent with increasing EC. Final growth was most significant for seedlings grown in peat moss (control) and tended to decrease as the percent BCSP increased. These are indicative that essential elements in BCSP resulted in leaf greenness appearance. It was growing of pH impact growths of seedlings. Reduction of the amount of BCSP might provide favorable conditions around root environments for the seedling development of muskmelon with healthy growth.

Radicle Emergence as Seed Vigour Test Estimates Seedling Quality of Hybrid Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Cultivars in Low Temperature and Salt Stress Conditions

This work was conducted on the use of the RE (radicle emergence) test to estimate the seedling emergence (SE) and quality (seedling shoot weight (SSW), seedling root weight (SRW) and seedling height (SH)) of twelve hybrid cucumber seed lots with high germination (>95%) at low temperature conditions, high salt conditions and a combination of the two. The percentages of RE, which is a 2 mm radicle protrusion at 25 °C in the dark, were counted between 18 h and 32 h. The seeds were sown in peat moss in trays and kept at 15 °C (low temperature stress), or salty water was applied as 100 mM NaCl at 25 °C (salt stress) for three days, and both were applied in a combined-stress environment. Seedling emergence and quality parameters were reduced by both stress environments and their combination. SE, SSW, SRW and SH values ranged between: 91–100%, 614–844 mg, 102–143 mg, 6.8–8.8 cm at low temperature; 90–98%, 598–904 mg, 101–154 mg, 6.5–7.8 cm at salt stress; and 76–92%, 464–608 mg, 97–133 mg, 5.8–6.9 cm at their combination. The RE values with great differences seen among the lots (20–28 h) were regressed with seedling emergence and quality values. RE 24 h had the highest R2 and significant values in all stress environments as R2 = 0.596–0.858, p < 0.05–0.001 at low temperature; R2 = 0.620–0.827, p < 0.05–0.001 with salt; and R2 = 0.686–0.842, p < 0.05–0.001 with combined stresses. We concluded that RE as a vigour test can be used successfully to estimate the seedling quality of highly germinating hybrid cucumber seed lots. Use of the RE test in hybrid cucumber seeds and its influence on high-quality seedling production were discussed.

Methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the forest floor of a black spruce forest on permafrost in interior Alaska

High-latitude warming has stimulated CO2 and CH4 emissions from permafrost peatland. This study evaluated growing season CH4 and CO2 emissions from a forest floor of a lowland black spruce forest on permafrost in interior Alaska using automated-closed chambers, anaerobic incubation of peat soils and next-generation sequencing. The CH4 emissions from May to October were 723 ± 432 mg C m−2 and 829 ± 628 mg C m−2 from the two Carex wet plots, 124 ± 76 mg C m−2 from the Sphagnum moss plot, and 11 mg C m−2 from the lichen plot (± denotes standard deviation of different years). The CH4 emissions in the peak season showed diurnal variations with a single peak around noon or double peaks depending on the plots. The CH4 emissions were an order of magnitude lower than those for other northern wetlands, possibly because deep, cold peats regulated CH4 production and oxidation at the dry aerobic surface layer. Low water table positions strongly inhibited CH4 emissions in 2018, suggesting the importance of dissolved CH4 pool at the bottom of the active layer. The future trajectory of CH4 emissions could substantially change with water conditions, deep soil temperatures, and sedge compositions.

Consistent centennial-scale change in European sub-Arctic peatland vegetation toward Sphagnum dominance-Implications for carbon sink capacity.

Climate warming is leading to permafrost thaw in northern peatlands, and current predictions suggest that thawing will drive greater surface wetness and an increase in methane emissions. Hydrology largely drives peatland vegetation composition, which is a key element in peatland functioning and thus in carbon dynamics. These processes are expected to change. Peatland carbon accumulation is determined by the balance between plant production and peat decomposition. But both processes are expected to accelerate in northern peatlands due to warming, leading to uncertainty in future peatland carbon budgets. Here, we compile a dataset of vegetation changes and apparent carbon accumulation data reconstructed from 33 peat cores collected from 16 sub-arctic peatlands in Fennoscandia and European Russia. The data cover the past two millennia that has undergone prominent changes in climate and a notable increase in annual temperatures toward present times. We show a pattern where European sub-Arctic peatland microhabitats have undergone a habitat change where currently drier habitats dominated by Sphagnum mosses replaced wetter sedge-dominated vegetation and these new habitats have remained relatively stable over the recent decades. Our results suggest an alternative future pathway where sub-arctic peatlands may at least partly sustain dry vegetation and enhance the carbon sink capacity of northern peatlands.

Identification of Ensifer meliloti genes required for survival during peat-based bioinoculant maturation by STM-seq

Rhizobial inoculants are sold either as rhizobia within a liquid matrix; or as rhizobia adhered to granules composed of peat prill or finely ground peat moss. During the production of peat-based inoculants, a series of physiological changes occur that result in an increased capability of the rhizobia to survive on the seeds. The number of viable rhizobia on preinoculated seeds at the point of sale, however, is often a limiting factor, as is the inefficiency of the inoculant bacteria to compete with the local rhizobia for the host colonization. In the present work, we used STM-seq for the genome-wide screening of Ensifer meliloti mutants affected in the survival during the maturation of peat-based inoculant formulations. Through this approach, we were able to identify a set of mutants whose behavior suggests that persistence in peat inoculants involves a complex phenotype that is connected to diverse cellular activities, mainly related to satisfying the requirements of bacterial nutrition (e.g., carbon sources, ions) and to coping with specific stresses (e.g., oxidative, mutational). These results also provide a base knowledge that could be used to more completely understand the survival mechanisms used by rhizobia during the maturation of peat-based inoculants, as well as for the design and implementation of practical strategies to improve inoculant formulations.

Bioaccumulation and retention of Po-210 and Pb-210 in two species of mosses from the zone of influence of the former radium-extracting plants.

The presented study was aimed at assessing the ability to accumulate and retain 210Po and 210Pb in two species of the mosses Sphagnum girgensohnii Russow and Pleurozium schreberi (Willd. ex Brid.) Mitt. Mosses were collected in the zone of influence of the former radium-extracting plants (Komi Republic, Russia). 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in S. girgensohnii varied from 131 ± 15.4 to 221 ± 18.3Bqkg-1, and from 164 ± 18.6 to 309 ± 26.1Bqkg-1 respectively. In P. schreberi corresponding activity concentrations ranged from 107 ± 18.8 to 328 ± 29.2Bqkg-1 and from 117 ± 13.2 to 399 ± 31.1Bqkg-1. Activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb in autumn were higher than in summer. In the young parts of the mosses, they were lower than in the old parts. To assess the ability to retain accumulated radionuclides, watersoluble (distilled H2O), exchangeable (1M CH3COONH4), and acidsoluble (0.1M H2SO4) fractions of 210Po and 210Pb were isolated from the studied mosses by the method sequential extraction. It was revealed that these fractions in total contained up to 26% of 210Po and 39% of 210Pb. The results showed that the studied moss species are a good biogeochemical barrier and long-term storage for 210Pb and 210Po.

Removal of Heavy Metals from Industrial Wastewater using Low-Cost Waste Materials

The most serious environmental problem in the world is heavy metal pollution due to industrialization and urbanization. A special concern is to be taken for the removal of heavy metals in the environment. In developing countries, the price effectiveness might be a major factor in the removal of heavy metal toxicity which is a major threat to the environment for several decades. In this study, heavy metal contamination of water bodies has been reviewed here. The toxic effluents from the textile industry, shredding facilities, glass industry, metal industry, refinery, automobile industry, pharmaceutical industry, semiconductor industry, printing industry, catering industry landfill leakage contain a huge amount of heavy metals in their waste. The conventional methods are very expensive, energy-intensive and sometimes generate a toxic byproduct. The current review focuses on the adsorption technique of heavy metals removal using different adsorbent materials from waste naturally. Numerous low-cost adsorbents are widely used such as garlic peel, jack fruit peel, oil palm trunk fiber, rice bran and wheat bran, broad bean peel, groundnut shell, raw agricultural solid waste, papaya seeds, leaf biomass etc. explored for the removal of toxic heavy metal from wastewater. These absorbents materials naturally have their origin by themselves such as zeolites, clay, sphagnum moss and polysaccharide which are found to be efficient agents for the removal of toxic metals like lead Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Hg, Cr, etc. Numerous agricultural wastes like rice husk, neem bark, black gram, waste tea-coffee, walnut-shell, coconut coir, coconut husk, bagasse etc., are widely used for the heavy metal removal in a sustainable nature.