Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sang-Hwan Lee, Hyun Park, Jeong-Gyu Kim
Summary: As conventional ecological remediation technologies are often unreliable and inefficient, the use of phytoremediation, which involves using plants to restore damaged or polluted environments, has gained attention. Particularly for abandoned mines, phytoremediation is actively pursued due to its aesthetic benefits, environmental friendliness, use of solar energy, and low costs. This article reviews the current state of phytoremediation of abandoned mines in Korea, discusses the challenges, and highlights its potential for sustainable ecosystem management. Further research is needed to fully implement phytoremediation in old mining areas.
Article
Soil Science
Kristin M. Trippe, Viola A. Manning, Catherine L. Reardon, Ann M. Klein, Clara Weidman, Thomas F. Ducey, Jeff M. Novak, Donald W. Watts, Hannah Rushmiller, Kurt A. Spokas, James A. Ippolito, Mark G. Johnson
Summary: Addition of lime, biochar, and biosolids can enhance plant growth in mine tailings, but the influence of LSM on nutrient content and rhizosphere microbial community composition needs further investigation to determine its long-term impact on mine reclamation strategies.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Krzysztof M. Rostanski
Summary: This study describes the experimental transformation of a post-zinc industry spoil heap in Ruda Slaska, Silesia into a recreational area and evaluates its effects. The project aimed to reduce health risks, enhance safety, educate users on local history and cultural identity, and raise awareness on environmental protection. By following the remediation method proposed by Loures and Vaz, the project successfully achieved its goals through participatory workshops, evidence-based design, and a multi-layered structure based on the Modelling Nature Method.
Article
Microbiology
Miguel F. Romero, Diana Gallego, Arely Lechuga-Jimenez, Jose F. Martinez, Hugo R. Barajas, Corina Hayano-Kanashiro, Mariana Peimbert, Rocio Cruz-Ortega, Francisco E. Molina-Freaner, Luis D. Alcaraz
Summary: This study investigated the role of rhizosphere microbes in plant establishment, established a synthetic bacterial community cultured from mine tailings, obtained the final synthetic community through serial passes experiment, and conducted greenhouse experiments to validate the potential growth-promoting effects of the synthetic community on plants.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jesus D. Peco, Pablo Higueras, Juan A. Campos, Jose M. Esbri, Marta M. Moreno, Fabienne Battaglia-Brunet, Luisa M. Sandalio
Summary: Abandoned mine lands (AMLs) are considered one of the most dangerous anthropogenic activities in the world, and plant-based techniques have been widely accepted as an environmentally friendly alternative. Plants can be used for phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and phytovolatilization of potentially toxic elements, with on-site studies showing positive impacts on soil quality and biodiversity. Further characterization of potential plant candidates is needed to improve PTE extraction and reduce negative impacts on AMLs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiang Shi, Shufeng Wang, Wenxiang He, Yangdong Wang
Summary: The effect of citric acid and oxalic acid on the phytoremediation potential of Rhus chinensis in lead-contaminated soil was evaluated in this study. The results showed that the addition of citric acid and oxalic acid promoted plant growth and reduced lead toxicity. This has significant implications for the phytoremediation of lead-contaminated soil.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhijie Long, Yanhong Wu, Haijian Bing, He Zhu
Summary: The study found that H. contortus can grow in metal pollution sites and accumulate a certain amount of vanadium. With the increase of rehabilitation age, root vanadium concentrations in H. contortus decreased, while aerial part vanadium concentrations remained constant. Soil properties had little influence on the vanadium accumulation mode of H. contortus.
Article
Plant Sciences
Meryem El Berkaoui, Mariam El Adnani, Rachid Hakkou, Ahmed Ouhammou, Najib Bendaou, Abdelaziz Smouni
Summary: The study on the spontaneous vegetation around the phosphate cover at the Kettara mine revealed that certain native plants such as Scolymus hispanicus, Festuca ovina, Cleome brachycarpa, Carlina involucrata, and Peganum harmala have high tolerance to trace metals, making them suitable candidates for phytoremediation of the mine tailings.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mathiyazhagan Narayanan, Devarajan Natarajan, Gajendiran Kandasamy, Sabariswaran Kandasamy, Rajasree Shanmuganathan, Arivalagan Pugazhendhi
Summary: This research investigates the phytoremediation capability of short-term cereal crops on mine tailings, showing that some crops can remove metals from tailings within 56 days. The results also raise concerns about the possibility of metals entering human and animal bodies through consumption of crops cultivated in metal-polluted soil.
Article
Soil Science
Fayuan Wang, Peng Cheng, Shuqi Zhang, Shuwu Zhang, Yuhuan Sun
Summary: Fast-growing bioenergy crops have the potential to effectively remediate heavy metal-contaminated soils through microbial and chemical amendments. In this study, sweet sorghum plants were inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and treated with different soil amendments. The results showed that hydroxyapatite (HAP) was the most effective amendment in promoting plant growth and stabilizing heavy metals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sivakoti Ramana, Awadhesh Kumar Tripathi, Kollah Bharati, Amar Bahadur Singh, Ajay Kumar, Asha Sahu, Poonam Singh Rajput, Pradip Dey, Jayanta Kumar Saha, Ashok K. Patra
Summary: The study found that cotton plants have a certain tolerance to lead, but are not suitable as hyperaccumulators of lead. They mainly use an exclusion mechanism to cope with lead stress, and have very low bioconcentration and translocation efficiency for lead.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Courtney A. Creamer, Mary-Cathrine Leewis, Martina Kracmarova-Farren, Jakub Papik, Sean Kacur, John Freeman, Ondrej Uhlik, Andrea L. Foster
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of planting a native perennial grass with a consortium of diazotrophic microbial endophytes and municipal waste compost on plant growth and metal stabilization in tailings from a polymetallic mineral deposit. The results showed that the most effective treatment for improving soil acidity, nitrogen content, and organic carbon and biomass yields of grass was the simultaneous use of dolomite, compost, and endophyte seed coating. Compost reduced the concentrations of contaminant metals in the shoots and roots of the grass, while the endophytes increased the yields of certain metals in the leaves and mobilized others from the tailings.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Feiying Zhang, Hepeng Li
Summary: Abandoned lead and zinc mining wastes pose serious environmental and health risks. This study investigated the stability of Pb and Cd in soil at an abandoned mine site after landscape restoration. Results showed that soil organic matter and pH significantly influenced the metal distribution. Long-term afforestation led to continuous soil acidification, and Pb and Cd exhibited different migration behavior in pine trees.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luiz Guilherme Medeiros Pessoa, Luiz Filipe dos Santos Silva, Maria Betania Galvao dos Santos Freire, Sergio Luiz Ferreira-Silva, Colleen Heather Machado Green, Helio Fernandes de Melo, Josimar Gurgel Fernandes, Fernando Jose Freire
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of different soil conditioners on the growth and salt extraction ability of Salicornia under varying soil moisture conditions. The results demonstrate that soil conditioners can significantly enhance the growth and salt extraction ability of Salicornia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Junye Wang, Mojtaba Aghajani Delavar
Summary: Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and environmentally sound approach that uses plants to immobilize, extract, decay, or lessen toxicity and contaminants. However, there are barriers preventing it from becoming a widespread commercial approach. This paper examines these barriers and discusses the real costs of phytoremediation when considering time and land values.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Xiaoting Liu, Zhimin Lu, Jingui Wu, Yuchun Yang, Shuchun Li, Lin Wu, Qingshan Xu, Qi Yu, Li Zhao, Jian Sun, Wei Zheng, Mulualem Tigabu, Xiyang Zhao
Summary: To evaluate and select elite breeding materials, the growth and wood characteristics of 33-year-old Pinus koraiensis clones and families were measured and analyzed. The results showed significant variation in growth and wood traits, with clonal effects having a higher impact than family effects. The selected superior materials for improved growth and wood production were identified using the membership function method. The results provide valuable insights for improving breeding programs and genetic improvement of P. koraiensis.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Zhijun Huang, Qingqing Liu, Mulualem Tigabu, Shaofei Jin, Xiangqing Ma, Bo Liu
Summary: The study found that increasing shading led to lower growth and biomass allocation in most seedlings, with coniferous species showing more plasticity in growth traits and broadleaved species being more sensitive to shading in terms of growth and biomass allocation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenxia Zheng, Yuanfan Ma, Mulualem Tigabu, Zhigang Yi, Yuxuan Guo, Haichuan Lin, Ziyan Huang, Futao Guo
Summary: The study found that different tree species have varying abilities to capture smoke PM released during forest fires, and the roughness of leaf surface is the main factor affecting smoke PM purification. Cunninghamia lanceolata is better suited for purifying atmospheric smoke particles following forest fires compared to Schima superba.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ziyan Huang, Yuanfan Ma, Xiaoyu Zhan, Haichuan Lin, Chenyue Zheng, Mulualem Tigabu, Futao Guo
Summary: This study analyzed the emission characteristics of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from the combustion of herbaceous combustible materials with different moisture contents (0%, 15%, and 30%) using an indoor biomass combustion analysis device. The results showed that the PM2.5 emission factor significantly increased with the increase of moisture content of combustible materials, and the main elemental components of PM2.5 were K, Zn, Ca, Mg, and Na. Additionally, there was a correlation between the elemental composition of PM2.5 and that of herbaceous combustibles.
Article
Plant Sciences
Qi-yan Li, Chen-lu Zhu, Jun-bao Yu, Xin-yi Wu, Si-qi Huang, Fan Yang, Mulualem Tigabu, Xiao-long Hou
Summary: This study investigated the response of the soil bacterial community and physicochemical properties of D. dichotoma to different vegetation restoration stages using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed significant changes in soil physicochemical properties during vegetation restoration, while soil bacterial diversity increased but stability remained constant. Vegetation restoration influenced soil bacteria by improving soil physicochemical properties, leading to increased bacterial diversity.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Wenxin Chen, Huaying Hu, Kate Heal, Saran Sohi, Mulualem Tigabu, Weijuan Qiu, Chuifan Zhou
Summary: Studying the changes and linkages between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and microorganisms in soils during vegetation restoration helps to understand the role of vegetation restoration in soil carbon sequestration and improve understanding of the global soil carbon cycle.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rui Xu, Shundan Cheng, Jing Zhou, Mulualem Tigabu, Xiangqing Ma, Ming Li
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between leaf functional traits and C, N, P stoichiometry of Chinese fir from different geographical provenances, as well as their relationship with the main environmental factors. The results showed significant differences in intraspecific leaf traits among provenances, and these differences were related to geographical origin and environmental factors. These findings are important for evaluating the species' adaptation to climate change and developing long-term conservation strategies.
Article
Ecology
Song Yang, Aicong Zeng, Mulualem Tigabu, Guangyu Wang, Zhen Zhang, He Zhu, Futao Guo
Summary: Understanding the impact of drought on fire dynamics is crucial for assessing the potential effects of climate change on wildfire activity in China. This study used multiple linear regression models to link burned area during mainland China's fire season from 2001 to 2019 to concurrent drought, antecedent drought, and time trend. The findings indicate spatial variation in wildfire occurrence, with Northeast China, North China, and Central China regions being identified as the primary areas. Concurrent and antecedent drought conditions have varying effects across regions, and the regression models show notable predictive power.
Article
Ecology
Liyan Wang, Yangyang Sun, Jing Li, Mulualem Tigabu, Qingli Xu, Xiangqing Ma, Ming Li
Summary: This study analyzed the rhizosphere soil nutrients and bacterial diversity of four broad-leaved tree species underplanted in Chinese fir plantation with different stand density levels. The results showed that rhizosphere soil nutrient contents and bacterial diversity decreased with increasing stand density, and M. macclurei and S. superba had higher nutrient contents and bacterial diversity. Therefore, a low density (900 stems ha(-1)) Chinese fir plantation underplanted with M. macclurei and S. superba is suitable for establishing a mixed forest, which can promote better tree growth and maintain soil fertility for sustainable forest management.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Mao Wei, Xinbin Guo, Yuanfan Ma, Mulualem Tigabu, Wenxia Zheng, Mengxia Liu, Futao Guo
Summary: By analyzing the responses of tree rings to forest fires, specifically the radial growth and element concentrations, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between trees and fires.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Xiaoyu Zhan, Yuanfan Ma, Ziyan Huang, Chenyue Zheng, Haichuan Lin, Mulualem Tigabu, Futao Guo
Summary: This study analyzed the changes in emissions of water-soluble ions in fine particulate matter over time and in different southwest forest areas in China. By studying the spatiotemporal dynamics of these ions, the sources, distribution, and change patterns of water-soluble ions can be better understood, along with their impact on the atmospheric environment, ecosystems, and climate change. This information is crucial for predicting and managing air pollution, as well as developing effective forest management and environmental protection policies to respond to fires.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Forestry
David Kombi Kaviriri, Ling Yang, Chunli Zhao, Xiaona Pei, Zuoyi Fan, Jingyuan Wang, Liang Xu, Mulualem Tigabu, Xiangling You, Yuhua Li, Huan-Zhen Liu, Xiyang Zhao
Summary: This study aimed to analyze genetic variation and identify suitable morphological traits for family selection; establish trait correlations and family ordination based on phenotypic similarity; select elite families and suitable parent trees. Through research on 28 full-sib families established in a Chinese orchard, significant differences were found among families for all traits. Based on multi-trait comprehensive analysis, six elite families and six parents were selected, resulting in genetic gains of 5.6%, 16.9%, and 36.4% in tree height, diameter at breast height, and volume, respectively.
Article
Ecology
Haichuan Lin, Yuanfan Ma, Pingxin Zhao, Ziyan Huang, Xiaoyu Zhan, Mulualem Tigabu, Futao Guo
Summary: This study investigates the migration paths of nitrogen and the stress response of plant leaves to PM2.5 smoke deposition during forest fires. The results show that nitrogen from combustibles can be transported to plant leaves via PM2.5 smoke during combustion and can be allocated and assimilated in various parts of the plant. Different tree species exhibit variations in the migration pathways of nitrogen and the stress effects of PM2.5 on leaves, with a significant correlation observed between leaf nitrogen accumulation and stress response.
Article
Biology
Xiang Li, Kewei Cai, Qinhui Zhang, Xiaona Pei, Song Chen, Luping Jiang, Zhiming Han, Minghui Zhao, Yan Li, Xinxin Zhang, Yuxi Li, Shikai Zhang, Su Chen, Guanzheng Qu, Mulualem Tigabu, Vincent L. Chiang, Ronald Sederoff, Xiyang Zhao
Summary: In this study, a high-quality chromosome-scale reference genome assembly of Juglans mandshurica was generated, providing new insights into the evolution and potential utilization value of the walnut genome. Key genes and regulatory factors related to juglone biosynthesis and lipid biosynthesis were also identified.
Article
Horticulture
Anran Sun, Xiaona Pei, Shikai Zhang, Zhiming Han, Ying Xie, Guanzheng Qu, Xiaoqing Hu, Mulualem Tigabu, Xiyang Zhao
Summary: In this study, the molecular mechanism of leaf color change in Acer triflorum Komarov was revealed through the combined analysis of metabolome and transcriptome. The study identified anthocyanin metabolites significantly correlated with color development and found that several structural genes and regulators were highly expressed in red leaves. These findings provide insights for further improvement in ornamental qualities of A. triflorum.