Phytostabilization of coal mine overburden waste, exploiting the phytoremedial efficacy of lemongrass under varying level of cow dung manure

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2021-01, Vol.208, p.111757, Article 111757
• Main Authors: Pandey, Bhanu, Singh, Siddharth, Roy, Lal Babu, Shekhar, Sameer, Singh, Ranjeet Kumar, Prasad, Bably, Singh, Krishna Kant Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biomass; Cattle; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Coal; Coal Mining; Cow manure; Cymbopogon - growth & development; Cymbopogon - physiology; Lemongrass; Manure; Metals; Mine waste; Photosynthesis; Phytostabilization; Plant Development; Plant Roots - chemistry; Plants; Soil; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - metabolism
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111757

A pot study was performed to assess the phytoremedial potential of Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Staf. for reclamation of coal mine overburden dump wastes, emphasizing the outcome of amendment practices using cow dung manure (CM) and garden soil mixtures on the revegetation of over-burden wastes (OB). Wastes amendment with cow dung manure and garden soil resulted in a significant increase in soil health and nutrient status along with an increment in the phytoavailability of Zn and Cu which are usually considered as micronutrients, essential for plant growth. A significant increment in the total biomass of lemongrass by 38.6% under CM20 (OB: CM 80:20) was observed along with improved growth parameters under amended treatments as compared to OB (100% waste). Furthermore, the proportionate increases in the assimilative rate, water use efficiency, and chlorophyll fluorescence have been observed with the manure application rates. Lemongrass emerged out to be an efficient metal-tolerant herb species owing to its high metal-tolerance index (>100%). Additionally, lemongrass efficiently phytostablized Pb and Ni in the roots. Based on the strong plant performances, the present study highly encourages the cultivation of lemongrass in coal mining dumpsites for phytostabilization coupled with cow-dung manure application (20% w/w). [Display omitted] •Phytoremedial potency of lemongrass has been explored for coal dumps reclamation.•Amendment of coal wastes with cow dung was found to be most effective in ratio 80:20.•Addition of cow dung manure resulted to subsequent improvement of soil quality.•Improvement in soil nutrient status boosts the performance of lemongrass.•Lemongrass efficiently phytostablized heavy metals like Ni and Pb in its root.