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Application of amendments for the phytoremediation of a former mine technosol by endemic pioneer species: alder and birch seedlings

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Abstract

Metal(loid) pollution of soils has important negative effects on the environment and human health. For the rehabilitation of these soils, some eco-innovative strategies, such as phytoremediation, could be chosen. This practice could establish a plant cover to reduce the toxicity of the pollutants and stabilize the soil, preventing soil erosion and water leaching; this technique is called phytoremediation. For this, plants need to be tolerant to the pollutants present; thus, phytoremediation can have better outcomes if endemic species of the polluted area are used. Finally, to further improve phytoremediation success, amendments can be applied to ameliorate soil conditions. Different amendments can be used, such as biochar, a good metal(loid) immobilizer, compost, a nutrient-rich product and iron sulfate, an efficient arsenic immobilizer. These amendments can either be applied alone or combined for further positive effects. In this context, a mesocosm experiment was performed to study the effects of three amendments, biochar, compost and iron sulfate, applied alone or combined to a former mine technosol, on the soil properties and the phytoremediation potential of two endemic species, Alnus sp. and Betula sp. Results showed that the different amendments reduced soil acidity and decreased metal(loid) mobility, thus improving plant growth. Both species were able to grow on the amended technosols, but alder seedlings had a much higher growth compared to birch seedlings. Finally, the combination of compost with biochar and/or iron sulfate and the establishment of endemic alder plants could be a solution to rehabilitate a former mine technosol.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank La Carbonerie (Crissey, France) for providing the biochar, the BRGM for giving the access to the contaminated site and Davide Pittiglio for his technical help.

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  1. Manhattan Lebrun and Romain Nandillon have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Orléans, INRA USC1328, LBLGC EA1207, Orléans, France

    Manhattan Lebrun, Romain Nandillon, Florie Miard, Sylvain Bourgerie & Domenico Morabito

  2. Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Pesche, IS, Italy

    Gabriella S. Scippa

  3. BRGM Centre Scientifique et Technique, Orléans, France

    Romain Nandillon

  4. IDDEA, Environmental Consulting Engineering, Olivet, France

    Romain Nandillon

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  1. Manhattan Lebrun
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  2. Romain Nandillon
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  3. Florie Miard
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  4. Gabriella S. Scippa
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  5. Sylvain Bourgerie
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  6. Domenico Morabito
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Correspondence to Domenico Morabito.

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Lebrun, M., Nandillon, R., Miard, F. et al. Application of amendments for the phytoremediation of a former mine technosol by endemic pioneer species: alder and birch seedlings. Environ Geochem Health 43, 77–89 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00678-0

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