Assisted phytostabilization of soil from a former military area with mineral amendments

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2020-01, Vol.188, p.109934, Article 109934
• Main Authors: Radziemska, Maja, Bęś, Agnieszka, Gusiatin, Zygmunt M., Cerdà, Artemi, Jeznach, Jerzy, Mazur, Zbigniew, Brtnický, Martin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradation, Environmental; Biomass; Calcium Carbonate - chemistry; Clay - chemistry; Ecotoxicological tests; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Festuca - chemistry; Festuca - growth & development; Festuca rubra; Magnesium - chemistry; Metal fractionation; Metal immobilization; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Military Facilities; Plant Roots - growth & development; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109934

Due to the presence of toxic pollutants, soils in former military areas need remedial actions with environmentally friendly methods. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the aided phytostabilization of multi-heavy metals (HMs), i.e. Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, in post-military soil by Festuca rubra and three mineral amendments (diatomite, dolomite and halloysite). The amendments were applied at 0 and 3.0% to each pot filled with 5 kg of polluted soil. After seven weeks of the phytostabilization, selected soil properties, biomass yield of F. rubra and immobilization of HMs by their accumulation in plant and redistribution among individual fractions in soil were determined. In addition, ecotoxicology parameters of non-amended and amended soil were established using Phytotoxkit (Sinapsis alba) and Ostracodtoxkit (Heterocypris incongruens) tests. The addition of halloysite significantly increased F. rubra biomass. Diatomite significantly increased both the Cd, Cu, Pb and Cr concentrations in the roots and the pH of the soil. The application of halloysite significantly decreased the Cd and Zn contents of the soil after the completion of the experiment. Dolomite and halloysite were more effective in HM immobilization in soil by decreasing their content in an exchangeable fraction than diatomite. These soil amendments significantly differentiated the length of S. alba roots and had a positive effect on the development of H. incongruens. •Phytostabilization of six heavy metals was assisted with diatomite, dolomite, halloysite and Festuca rubra.•Ecotoxicity of amended soils determined with Phytotoxkit and Ostracodtoxkit tests.•Halloysite-assisted decreased in the accumulation of heavy metals in plants.•Dolomite and halloysite immobilized heavy metals in soil more efficiently than diatomite.