Toxicity of arsenic in relation to soil properties: implications to regulatory purposes

Purpose

The present work evaluates the influence of different soil properties and constituents on As solubility in laboratory-contaminated soils, with the aim of assessing the toxicity of this element from the use of bioassays to evaluate the soil leachate toxicity and thereby propose soil guideline values for studies of environmental risk assessment in soil contamination.

Materials and methods

Seven soils with contrasting properties were artificially contaminated in laboratory with increasing concentrations of As. Samples were incubated for 4 weeks, and afterwards, soil solution (1:1) was obtained after shaking for 24 h. The soil leachate toxicity was assessed with two commonly used bioassays (seed germination test with Lactuca sativa and Microtox ® test with Vibrio fischeri).

Results and discussion

The relationship between soluble As and soil properties indicated that iron oxides and organic matter content were the variables most closely related to the reduction of the As solubility, while pH and CaCO₃ increased As solubility in the soil solutions. Toxicity bioassays showed significant differences between soils depending on their properties, with a reduction of the toxicity in the iron-rich soil (no observed effect concentration (NOEC)?=?150 mg kg^?1) and a significant increase in the highly carbonate samples (NOEC between 15 and 25 mg kg^?1).

Conclusions

Soil guideline values for regulatory purposes usually set a single value for large areas (regions or countries) which can produce over- or underestimation of efforts in soil remediation actions. These values should consider different levels according to the main soil properties controlling arsenic mobility and the soil leachate toxicity.     

Contribution of bricks to urban soil properties

Purpose

Bricks are regularly found in urban soils where they can strongly impact soil properties. The purpose of this study is to investigate abundance, especially in the fine earth fraction, and properties of bricks in urban soils, focusing on rooting, plant nutrition and contamination.

Materials and methods

Three different urban soils from the city of Berlin have been studied for their brick contents in the coarse and fine earth fractions by hand sorting. Light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to investigate bricks for proofs of rooting. Third, CEC, pH, EC, C_org, nutrient and contaminant storage and availability have been investigated for bricks and the fine earth fractions of the corresponding soil horizons.

Results and discussion

The fine earth fractions of the investigated soils contain 3 to 5 % of bricks, while the coarse fractions contain up to 50 %. The LM and SEM micrographs made the proof that roots enter brick pores or attach to brick surfaces. Therefore, they can use the water and nutrients stored in bricks and bypass pore system discontinuities between bricks and surrounding soil. The CEC of bricks is grain size dependent and reaches a maximum of 6 cmol_c kg^?1 for particles smaller than 0.063 mm. This dependency is the result of the restricted diffusion into the brick pore system due to the short shaking time in the CEC analysis protocol and of the rising surface with decreasing particle size. From the nutrient storage and availability, we conclude that bricks can better supply plants with K, Mg, Ca and S than the investigated sandy bulk soil.

Conclusions

The nutrient availability from bricks is low compared to control soils, except for Ca and S. Because of the water and nutrient storage, low contamination status and the possible rooting of bricks, they can be used for amelioration of poor sandy soils and for constructed Technosols, preferably employed in small grain sizes.     

The use of a microbial contact toxicity test for evaluating cadmium bioavailability in soil

Background, Aims and Scope

Bioavailability of toxic compounds in soil can be defined as the fraction able to come into contact with biota and to cause toxic effects. The contact toxicity tests may detect the total toxic response of all bioavailable contaminants present in a sample. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the use of microbial contact toxicity tests for cadmium bioavailability assessment and to evaluate the relationship between sorption, soil characteristics and cadmium bioavailability.

Methods

A test soil bacterium,Bacillus cereus, was put in direct contact with the solid sample. Four unpolluted soils were selected to provide solid samples with a variety of physicochemical characteristics. The toxicity and sorption behaviour of cadmium spiked to the soil samples were determined.

Results, Discussion and Conclusions

A significant correlation between contact toxicity test results and partitioning of cadmium in the soil samples (r²= 0.79, p <0.05; n = 26) was found. The results confirm that the bioavailability of cadmium in soil depends on its sorption behaviour. Cadmium sorbed to the cation exchange sites associated with fulvic acids is non-bioavailable in the toxicity test employed in this study. It is concluded that the microbial contact toxicity test is a suitable tool for detecting cadmium bioavailablity in the soils used in this study.

Outlook

The application of microbial contact toxicity tests for bioavailability assessment can be very useful for the risk identification and remediation of soil-associated contaminants.     

Effectiveness of amendments to restore metal-arsenic-polluted soil functions using Lactuca sativa L. bioassays

Purpose

Because the success of the stabilisation of contaminants from amendments depends on the pollutants involved and the amendments used, the goals of this study were to assess whether selected amendments are able to restore highly polluted soils and to advance the knowledge of both the most suitable amendments to restore polluted soils and the most appropriate bioassays to estimate soil toxicity.

Materials and methods

An acidic and polluted soil from mining waste was amended with marble sludge, compost and iron in nine different combinations. The soils were placed in plastic pots and bioassays, including the different stages in the development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), were carried out. Pore water was analysed at the different stages of the development of lettuce. At the end of the experiment, pollutant concentrations in lettuce leaf were analysed and the sequential extraction of trace elements was performed.

Results and discussion

The effectiveness of the amendments in reducing the toxicity of contaminated soils varied depending on the bioassay used. Marble sludge was the most effective in increasing pH and in reducing pollutant concentrations in pore water, clearly encouraging germination, root elongation and emergence. Throughout the emergence phase, marble sludge decreased in its effectiveness, probably because the pollutants precipitated as hydroxides and carbonates were taken up by the lettuce. In contrast, the compost began to improve the elongation of the seedling and the growth of lettuce. Although the amendments were effective in reducing the negative impact of pollutants in soils, none of them was able to successfully restore the functions of highly polluted soil.

Conclusions

The development of the plant until the end of the establishment phase is the best index to estimate soil phytotoxicity, although the effect on the health of potential consumers can only be evaluated from the toxic element concentrations in the plant. The uptake of pollutants stabilised by the amendments would explain why the reduction of easily available pollutant concentrations does not necessarily imply the restoration of the normal functioning of the ecosystem.     

Remediation of a diesel-contaminated soil from a pipeline accidental spill: enhanced biodegradation and soil washing processes using natural gums and surfactants

Purpose

This paper addresses the application of bioproducts produced by plants (locust bean, guar, and mesquite seed gums) to enhance remediation processes of different nature: soil washing and biodegradation methodologies.

Materials and methods

These natural gums were tested at laboratory scale to remove total petroleum hydrocarbons-diesel fraction (TPH-diesel) from oil-contaminated volcanic soils sampled from a polluted site in an agricultural area of western Mexico. TPH-diesel removal by natural gums was compared to common synthetic surfactants.

Results and discussion

There is a strong evidence of contamination caused by the presence of TPH-diesel at a concentration of 32,100 mg/kg, which is above the legal limit of 1,200 mg/kg for agricultural soils in Mexico. Regarding the surfactant soil washing experiments, ionic surfactants showed removal rates above the control test of about 78.51 % (Maranil LAB), 71.27 % (Texapon 40), 60.13 % (SDS), and 48.19 % (Surfacpol G). In contrast, some nonionic surfactants showed removal rates below soil-washing background rate (40 %). On the other hand, natural gums showed interesting and promising results. Guar gum and locust bean gum showed efficiencies of 54.38 % and 53.46 %, respectively. Biodegradation experiments confirmed the effectiveness of natural gums as biodegradation enhancers in diesel-contaminated soils. Specifically, guar gum showed an excellent performance. An 82 % TPH-diesel removal rate was achieved for a very low gum concentration (2 ppm). In this particular context, reported surfactant concentrations to assist biodegradation are, in general, higher.

Conclusions

This work demonstrated the applicability of natural gums as soil remediation enhancers in diesel-contaminated systems. Particularly, guar gum might represent a cost-effective alternative for biodegradation enhancement processes.     

Numerical approach to modelling pulse-mode soil flushing on a Pb-contaminated soil

Purpose

Soil flushing can represent a suitable technology in remediation of soils, sediments and sludge contaminated by persistent species (e.g. toxic metal). This paper presents a model specifically developed to evaluate the feasibility of chelating agent-enhanced flushing. The model, here applied to the remediation of real Pb-contaminated soils, was conceived also to simulate an innovative pulse-mode soil flushing technique.

Materials and methods

The soil flushing application was firstly carried out through columns laboratory experiments. Columns were filled with a real Pb-contaminated soil (3,000 mg kg^?1 of dry soil) and flushing was operated in a pulse mode with different chelating agent dosages (3 and 4.3 mmol kg^?1soil). Experimental results were used to calibrate and validate the developed reactive transport model that accounts for transport of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and EDTA–Pb chelate complexes, Pb residual concentration on soil and the reduction in permeability by soil dissolution. Determination of hydrodynamic and hydro-dispersive parameters was carried out through a numerical approach incorporating the use of neural network as interpolating function of breakthrough data obtained by a tracer test.

Results and discussion

The EDTA dosage strongly influenced the efficiency in Pb extraction and soil permeability. Cumulative extractions of Pb were found to be 20 and 29 % for the EDTA concentrations of 3 and 4.3 mmol/kg of dry soil, respectively. The soil dissolution caused a significant flow rate decrease, as a consequence of the increase in chelating agent concentration. Therefore the recovery phase duration increased from 738 to 2,080 h. The ability of the model in simulating all the examined phenomena is confirmed by a good fit with experimental results in terms of (a) soil permeability reduction, (b) eluted Pb and (c) residual Pb in the soil.

Conclusions

Results highlighted as the model, supported by a preliminary and careful characterization of the soil, can be useful to assess the feasibility of the flushing treatment (avoiding soil clogging) and to address the choice of the operating parameters (flow rate, chelating agent dosage and application method). On the basis of the present research results, a protocol is suggested for in situ soil pulse–flushing application.     

Techno-economic analysis of hydrocarbon-polluted soil treatment by using ex situ microwave heating: influence of soil texture and soil moisture on electric field penetration,operating conditions and energy costs

Purpose

Microwave (MW) heating has been identified as a potential cost-effective technique to remediate hydrocarbon-polluted soils; however, the soil texture and properties could have a great impact on its full-scale treatment. In addition, very limited energy and economical data on MW treatment are available, and this lack makes its real application very limited. In this work, a first experimental phase was performed simulating a MW of several hydrocarbon-polluted soils. Obtained data were elaborated for a techno-economic analysis.

Materials and methods

Four soil textures, corresponding to medium, fine silica sand (at different soil moistures), silt as silica flour and clay as kaolin, were artificially contaminated with diesel fuel and irradiated by MWs using a bench scale apparatus. Soil samples were treated applying four specific power values at different times. At the end, soil temperature was measured, whereas residual contaminant concentrations were measured and fitted considering and exponential decay kinetic model. Temperature data, as well as kinetic parameters obtained, were used for the techno-economic analysis. The changing of the internal electric field was calculated for all the soils and operating conditions, then considering initial contamination values ranging from 750 to 5000 mg kg^?1, the minimal remediation time, specific energy and costs for the remediation were assessed.

Results and discussion

At low powers, MW effectiveness is limited by low soil moistures or fine soil textures due to a limitation of the electric field penetration, whereas when high powers are used soil properties have a limited effect. Remediation time, as a function of the initial contamination level, follows a linear trend, except for dry soils, for which an exponential trend was observed. For powers higher than 30 kW Kg^?1, remediation times lower than about 100 min are needed, for all the moisturized soils, in order to treat a contamination of 5000 mg kg^?1. The variation of soil moisture or soil texture results in the range 20–160 € ton^?1, and doubled costs are required for the treatment of clayey soils respect to sandy soils.

Conclusions

The analysis performed suggests that soil layers lower than 70 cm should be considered for ex situ remediation. MW has been shown as a quick technique also for high hydrocarbon concentrations; however, for energy saving, the application of some powers should be avoid. Unmoisturized or fine texture soil treatment results in higher costs; however, a maximum cost of 160 € ton^?1 generally makes MW heating a quick and cost-effective ex situ technique.

     

Enhanced bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil by immobilized bacteria with plant residue and biochar as carriers

Purpose

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are largely accumulated in soils in China. The immobilized-microorganism technique (IMT) is a potential approach for abating soil contamination with PAHs. However, few studies about the application of IMT to contaminated soil remediation were reported. Due to recalcitrance to decomposition, biochar application to soil may enhance soil carbon sequestration, but few studies on the application of biochars to remediation of contaminated soil were reported. In this study, we illustrated enhanced bioremediation of soil having a long history of PAH contamination by IMT using plant residues and biochars as carriers.

Materials and methods

Two PAH-degrading bacteria, Pseudomonas putida and an unidentified indigenous bacterium, were selected for IMT. The extractability and biodegradation of 15 PAHs in solution and an actual PAH-contaminated soil amended with immobilized-bacteria materials were investigated under different incubation periods. The effects of carriers and the molecular weight of PAHs on bioremediation efficiency were determined to illustrate their different bio-dissipation mechanisms of PAHs in soil.

Results and discussion

The IMT can considerably enhance the removal of PAHs. Carriers impose different effects on PAH bio-dissipation by amended soil with immobilized-bacteria, which can directly degrade the carrier-associated PAHs. The removal of PAHs from soil depended on PAH molecular weight and carrier types. Enhanced bio-dissipation by IMT was much stronger for 4- and 5-ring PAHs than for 3- and 6-ring ones in soil. Only P400 biochar-immobilized bacteria enhanced bio-dissipation of all PAHs in contaminated soil after a 90-day incubation.

Conclusions

Biochar can promote bioremediation of contaminated soil as microbial carriers of IMT. It is vital to select an appropriate biochar as an immobilized carrier to stimulate biodegradation. It is feasible to use adsorption carriers with high sorptive capabilities to concentrate PAHs as well as microorganisms and thereby enhance dissipation of PAHs and mitigate soil pollution.     

Comparing chemical-enhanced washing and waste-based stabilisation approach for soil remediation

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of chemical-enhanced soil washing (with chelating agents, humic substances and inorganic acids) and soil stabilisation by inorganic industrial by-products (coal fly ash, acid mine drainage sludge and zero-valent iron) and organic resource (lignite) for timber treatment site remediation.

Materials and methods

Both remediation options were assessed in terms of extraction/leaching kinetics and residual leachability (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, TCLP) of the major risk drivers, i.e. Cu and As.

Results and discussion

In chemical-enhanced soil washing, chelating agents only minimised the Cu leachability. Humic substances were ineffective while inorganic acids reduced the As leachability to the detriment of the soil quality. For the waste-stabilised soil, the short-term leaching potential (72 h) and long-term TCLP leachability (9 months) revealed that Fe-/Al-/Ca-rich AMD sludge and coal fly ash sequestered As through adsorption and (co-)precipitation, while carbonaceous lignite stabilised Cu with oxygen-containing functional groups. The short-term and long-term leaching of Cu and As into the soil solution was negligible in the presence of the waste materials. However, the waste-stabilised soil did not maintain sufficient Cu stability in the TCLP tests, in which acetate buffer induced significant mineral dissolution of the waste materials.

Conclusions

These results suggest that chelant-enhanced washing (significant reduction of Cu leachability) may be augmented with subsequent stabilisation with inorganic waste materials (effective control of As leachability), thus minimising the environmental risks of both Cu (heavy metal) and As (metalloid) while preserving the reuse value of the soil. Additional tests under field-relevant conditions are required to provide a holistic performance evaluation.     

Fractions of Cu, Cd, and enzyme activities in a contaminated soil as affected by applications of micro- and nanohydroxyapatite

Purpose

With the rapid development of nanotechnology, hydroxyapatite-based nanoparticles have been applied in wastewater and soil remediation. However, limited studies have been conducted on the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils by microhydroxyapatite (MHA) and nanohydroxyapatite (NHA). Thus, we investigated the effects of MHA and NHA on soil pH values and fractions of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd). The changes of soil enzymes with application of MHA and NHA were also evaluated.

Materials and methods

Pots contained 200 g of the soil with MHA and NHA ranging from 1 % to 5 % incubated for 60 days under greenhouse condition, and maintained at 60 % of soil water holding capacity by adding deionized water. Soil pH, catalase, urease, and acid phosphatase were analyzed at incubation times of 7, 14, 30, and 60 days by chemical assays. The fractions of Cu and Cd were analyzed after 60 days by a sequential extraction procedure.

Results and discussion

Application of MHA and NHA significantly increased soil pH values. Especially, we found for the first time that soil pH values with 3 % (pH?>?7.90) and 5 % (pH?>?8.83) application rates of MHA were larger than that of MHA itself (pH?=?7.71). MHA was more effective than NHA in immobilizing Cu and Cd by significantly decreasing exchangeable fractions of Cu and Cd and transforming them from active to inactive fractions. Soil catalase and urease significantly increased, but acid phosphatase apparently decreased with increasing application rates of MHA. However, three enzymes activities changed slightly for NHA treatments.

Conclusions

MHA was more effective than NHA in immobilizing Cu and Cd. MHA had a more positive effect on soil catalase and urease activities than NHA. Furthermore, Pearson’s correlation coefficients showed that soil pH value was a key factor to influence the bioavailability of Cu and Cd and the activity of soil enzymes. The results of this study provided an efficient method for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils.     

Microwave heating remediation of soils contaminated with diesel fuel

Purpose

Diesel fuel represents a permanent source of soil pollution, and its removal is a key factor for human health. To address the limitations of conventional remediation techniques, microwave (MW) heating could be employed due to its great potentiality. This work presents the lab-scale experiments performed to study the potential of MW processing for diesel-polluted soils treatment and related modeling for the optimization of MW systems operating conditions.

Materials and methods

A sandy soil was artificially contaminated with diesel fuel, moisturized with different amounts of water content, and thermally treated by MW radiation using a lab-scale apparatus to investigate the effect of soil moisture on soil temperature profiles and contaminant removal kinetics. An operating power, ranging from 100 to 1,000 W, and treatment times of 5, 10, 18, 30, and 60 min were investigated. Contaminant residual concentration values were fitted using the first order kinetic model, and desorption parameters were calculated for each soil at different operating powers.

Results and discussion

Main results show that the operating power applied significantly influences the contaminant removal kinetics, and the moisture content in soil has a major effect on the final temperature reachable during MW heating. Minimal contaminant concentrations were achievable by applying powers higher than 600 W for a treatment time longer than 60 min. For remediation times shorter than 10 min, which result in a soil temperature of about 100 °C, the effect of the distillation process increases the contaminant removal, whereas for longer times, soil temperature is the main key factor in the remedial treatment.

Conclusions

MW thermal desorption of diesel-polluted soil was shown to be governed by pseudo-first-order kinetics, and it could be a better choice for remediation of diesel-polluted soils, compared to several biological, chemical–physical, or conventional thermal treatments, due to its excellent removal efficiency. The results obtained are of scientific and practical interest and represent a suitable tool to optimize the treatment operating conditions and to guide the design and the scale-up of MW treatments for full-scale remediation activities of diesel-polluted soils.     

Assessment of the stability of chromium in remedied soils by Pannonibacter phragmitetus BB and its risk to groundwater

Purpose

Acid rain can accelerate the acidification of the chromium-contaminated soils, resulting in chromium releasing into soil solution and causing ecological risk. The current study aims to investigate the release of chromium in the remedied soils by Pannonibacter phragmitetus BB under the simulated acid rain leaching and to assess its risk to groundwater.

Materials and methods

P. phragmitetus BB was utilized to remedy the Cr(VI)-contaminated soils at two levels (80 and 1,276 mg kg^?1) by the column leaching experiment, and the chemical remediation with ferrous sulfate was used as a control. The remedied soils by P. phragmitetus BB and ferrous sulfate were leached under the simulated acid rain to evaluate the release of chromium. Furthermore, the risk of chromium release from the remedied soils to the groundwater was assessed by a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method.

Results and discussion

The average concentrations of water-soluble Cr(VI) in the remedied soils by P. phragmitetus BB were reduced to less than 5.0 mg kg^?1. Under leaching situation with the simulated acid rain, the release of total chromium and Cr(VI) from the remedied soils by P. phragmitetus BB and ferrous sulfate declined rapidly with the extended leaching time. However, the release amounts of total chromium and Cr(VI) from the remedied soil by P. phragmitetus BB more efficiently deceased as compared with that by ferrous sulfate remediation. Carbonate-bounded, exchangeable, and organics-bonded chromium were the major chromium-releasing sources under the simulated rain leaching. After microbial remediation with P. phragmitetus BB and chemical remediation with ferrous sulfate, the risk grades of the remedied soils to groundwater declined from classes 11 to 5 and 6, respectively.

Conclusions

The risks of the remedied soils by both microbial remediation with P. phragmitetus BB and chemical remediation with ferrous sulfate to groundwater effectively decreased and microbial remediation more significantly declined the chromium risk to groundwater than chemical remediation.     

Effects of afforestation with four unmixed plant species on the soil–water interactions in a semiarid Mediterranean region (Sicily, Italy)

Purpose

An assessment of the effect of plant cover on the properties of four afforested soils in central Sicily was performed with the aim of discriminating among them after 60?years of afforestation.

Materials and methods

Chemical and biochemical soil analyses were coupled to fast field cycling (FFC) NMR relaxation investigations in order to monitor surface interactions of water in water-saturated soils.

Results and discussion

The traditional soil analyses revealed that the most stable soil properties such as soil texture and pH are not affected by 60?years of afforestation. Soils developed under eucalyptus trees showed larger amounts of hydrophilic organic matter as compared to the soils under pines and cypresses. FFC-NMR relaxometry data revealed that water, partitioned in clay-, loam-, and sand-type pores, showed longitudinal relaxation time values affected by the interactions with the soluble carbon content.

Conclusions

The results of the present study evidenced the potential of FFC-NMR relaxometry in differentiating the effect of diverse plant cover on chemical and hydrological properties of soils developed on the same parent material. In fact, in contrast with the traditional physicochemical and biochemical soil characterizations, which were unable to reveal differences among soils afforested with different plant species, FFC-NMR was capable of monitoring differences in water dynamics as affected by the presence of the most soluble soil organic material.     

Applying a GLM-based approach to model the influence of soil properties on the toxicity of phenmedipham to Folsomia candida

Purpose

Soil properties are the main explanation to the different toxicities obtained in different soils due to their influence on chemical bioavailability and the test species performance itself. However, most prediction studies are centred on a few soil properties influencing bioavailability, while their direct effects on test species performance are usually neglected. In our study, we develop prediction models for the toxicity values obtained in a set of soils taking into account both the chemical concentration and their soil properties.

Materials and methods

The effects on the avoidance behaviour and on reproduction of the herbicide phenmedipham to the collembolan Folsomia candida is assessed in 12 natural soils and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) artificial soil. The toxicity outcomes in different soils are compared and explanatory models are constructed by generalised linear models (GLMs) using phenmedipham concentrations and soil properties.

Results and discussion

At identical phenmedipham concentrations, the effects on reproduction and the avoidance response observed in OECD soil were similar to those observed in natural soils, while effects on survival were clearly lower in this soil. The organic matter and silt content explained differences in the avoidance behaviour in different soils; for reproduction, there was a more complex pattern involving several soil properties.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the need for approaches taking into account all the soil properties as a whole, as a necessary step to improve the prediction of the toxicity of particular chemicals to any particular soil.     

Chicken-manure-derived biochar reduced bioavailability of copper in a contaminated soil

Purpose

Copper (Cu) contamination has been increasing in land ecosystems due to economic development activities. Excessive amount of Cu in soils is toxic to both plants and microorganisms. Biochar (BC) is known to immobilize soil Cu. The objectives of this research were to investigate the effects of chicken-manure-derived BC (CMB) on Cu immobilization, and growth of native metallophyte Oenothera picensis in a Cu-contaminated soil.

Materials and methods

A Cu-contaminated sandy soil (338 mg Cu kg^?1) was spiked and equilibrated with additional Cu (0, 100, and 500 mg Cu kg^?1). The spiked soil was then amended with CMB (0, 5, and 10 % w/w) and incubated for 2 weeks. The metallophyte was grown on these treatments under greenhouse conditions for 3 months. Pore water solutions were collected from the plant pots every 30 days. After the harvest, soil and pore water pH, soil Cu fractions, pore water Cu concentration, soil microbial activity, plant biomass weight, and Cu concentration in plant parts were determined.

Results and discussion

The CMB increased the pH of soils and soil pore water, and probably also soil major nutrients. It reduced the exchangeable fraction of Cu but increased its organic matter and residual fractions. At the same time, it decreased the Cu concentration in the soil pore water. The CMB increased basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity. The CMB application produced up to three and seven times more root and shoot biomass, respectively. In addition, shoots accumulated lesser Cu than control but roots did more. Plants survived in soil that was spiked with 500 mg Cu kg^?1, only when CMB dose was 10 %.

Conclusions

The CMB affected the Cu uptake in plant by altering the mobility, bioavailability, and spatial distribution of Cu in soils. The increase in available nutrients and decrease in Cu toxicity facilitated plant growth. The increased microbial activity probably also promoted the plant growth and reduced the Cu bioavailability. Therefore, CMB can be used to remediate Cu-contaminated soils.

     

Field validation of chlordecone soil sequestration by organic matter addition

Purpose

The use of chlordecone (CLD) has caused pollution of soils, which are now a source of contamination for crops and ecosystems. Because of its long-term impacts on human health, exposure to CLD is a public health concern and contamination of crops by CLD must be limited. To this end, we conducted field trials on chlordecone sequestration in soil with added compost.

Materials and methods

The impact of added compost on chlordecone sequestration was measured in nitisols. After characterization of the soil, the transfer of chlordecone from soil to water was assessed in a leaching experiment and from soil to two crop plants in a nitisol plot. Finally, to understand the underlying processes, changes in CLD content were measured in soil fractions and soil porous properties were assessed after the addition of compost.

Results and discussion

A rapid seven-fold decrease in water extractable CLD was observed in amended soils. Five percent amendment led to a significant reduction in the contamination of crops by CLD; edible radish tubers were 50% more contaminated without added compost and cucumber fruits were 60% more contaminated. After the addition of compost, CLD content increased in the fraction of pre-humified or partially mineralized organic debris. Finally, in contrast to andosols, adding compost to nitisols did not affect the soil microstructure.

Conclusions

Increasing chlordecone sequestration by adding compost could be an alternative solution until soil decontamination techniques become available. This could be a provisional way to control further release of CLD from contaminated soils towards other environmental compartments.     

Effects of biochars derived from different feedstocks and pyrolysis temperatures on soil physical and hydraulic properties

Purpose

Biochar addition to soils potentially affects various soil properties, and these effects are dependent on biochars derived from different feedstock materials and pyrolysis processes. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of amendment of different biochars on soil physical and hydraulic properties.

Materials and methods

Biochars were produced with dairy manure and woodchip at temperatures of 300, 500, and 700 °C, respectively. Each biochar was mixed at 5 % (w/w) with a forest soil, and the mixture was incubated for 180 days, during which soil physical and hydraulic properties were measured.

Results and discussion

Results showed that the biochar addition significantly enhanced the formation of soil macroaggregates at the early incubation time. The biochar application significantly reduced soil bulk density, increased the amount of soil organic matter, and stimulated microbial activity at the early incubation stage. Saturated hydraulic conductivities of the soil with biochars, especially produced at high pyrolysis temperature, were higher than those without biochars on the sampling days. The treatments with woodchip biochars resulted in higher saturated hydraulic conductivities than the dairy manure biochar treatments. Biochar applications improved water retention capacity, with stronger effects by biochars produced at higher pyrolysis temperatures. At the same suction, the soil with woodchip biochars possessed higher water content than that with the dairy manure biochars.

Conclusions

Biochar addition significantly affected the soil physical and hydraulic properties. The effects were different with biochars derived from different feedstock materials and pyrolysis temperatures.     

Evaluation of palygorskite for remediation of Cd-polluted soil with different water conditions

Purpose

The study aimed at comparing the effects of different water managements on soil Cd immobilization using palygorskite, which was significant for the selection of reasonable water condition.

Materials and methods

Field experiment was taken to discuss the in situ remediation effects of palygorskite on Cd-polluted paddy soils, under different water managements, using a series of variables, including pH and extractable Cd in soils, plant Cd, enzyme activity, and microorganism number in soils.

Results and discussion

In control group, the pH in continuous flooding was the highest under three water conditions, and compared to conventional irrigation, continuous flooding reduced brown rice Cd by 37.9%, and brown rice Cd in wetting irrigation increased by 31.0%. In palygorskite treated soils, at concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 g kg^?1, brown rice Cd reduced by 16.7, 44.4, and 55.6%; 13.8, 34.5, and 44.8%; and 13.1, 36.8, and 47.3% under continuous flooding, conventional irrigation, and wetting irrigation (p < 0.05), respectively. The enzyme activity and microbial number increased after applying palygorskite to paddy soils.

Conclusions

Continuous flooding was a good candidate as water management for soil Cd stabilization using palygorskite. Rise in soil enzyme activity and microbial number proved that ecological function regained after palygorskite application.

     

A minimum data set for evaluating the ecological soil functions in remediation projects

Purpose

Soil functioning becomes a matter of growing concern in soil remediation projects as, apart from preparing contaminated land for construction purposes, some parts of the sites are usually transformed into green spaces for recreation and inspiration. The objective of this paper is to develop and apply a minimum data set (MDS) for evaluating the ecological soil functions for green areas in remediation projects.

Materials and methods

The MDS was chosen from the previous applications in literature. Using a nonlinear scoring algorithm to transform observed data into sub-scores for evaluating ecological soil functions, the MDS was applied on the Kvillebäcken site in Sweden. The mean sub-scores of the individual soil quality indicators (SQIs) were integrated into a soil quality index to classify the soil into one of the five soil classes. Monte Carlo simulations were used to treat the uncertainties in the predicted soil class resulting from spatial heterogeneity of SQIs, a limited sampling size, and analytical errors.

Results and discussion

The suggested MDS consists of soil texture, content of coarse material, available water capacity, organic matter content, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, pH, and available phosphorus. The high mean sub-score for organic matter at Kvillebäcken indicated that the soil was rich on organic matter thus having a good water storage and nutrient cycling potential. However, the low mean sub-score for potentially mineralizable nitrogen indicated limited biological activity in the soil. The low mean sub-score for the content of coarse fragments indicated plant rooting limitations. Further, the soil quality index (that integrates the sub-scores for SQIs) corresponded to soil class 3 and a medium soil performance with a high certainty.

Conclusions

The suggested MDS can provide practitioners with relevant basic information on soil’s ability to carry out its ecological functions. The suggested scoring method helps to interpret and integrate information from different SQIs into a decision-making process in remediation projects.