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Phytoremediation and Safe Production Technology of Agricultural Contaminated Soil

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant–Soil Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2023) | Viewed by 12066

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Prof. Dr. Huashou Li

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Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China
Interests: environmental chemistry; ecotoxicology; food safety; phytoremediation; biochar; intercropping; sustainable farming; organic agriculture

Dr. Junhao Qin

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Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China
Interests: arsenic; reactive oxygen species; soil interface chemistry; eco-restoration
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Dear Colleagues,

Heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics pose a significant threat to agricultural soil around the world and has posed serious threats to human health and agricultural production. Exploiting the phytoremediation and safe production technology for the remediation of heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics and establishing these phytoremediation strategies are suitable options for managing agriculturally contaminated soils. Furthermore, the combination of these phytotechnologies with a sustainable, cost-effective, and safe manner to the many benefits that can be obtained during the phytoremediation of agricultural contaminated sites, such as the restoration of important ecosystem services, e.g., safe production, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, water flow regulation, erosion control, water purification, fertility maintenance, etc. This Special Issue on phytoremediation and safe production technology will explore the plant intercropping remediation mode, establishing phytoremediation technologies combined with agronomic measures and physical–chemical remediation to ensure safe production in agricultural contaminated soils.

Prof. Dr. Huashou Li
Dr. Junhao Qin
Guest Editors

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Keywords

phytoremediation
safe production
heavy metals
pesticides
herbicides
antibiotics
contaminated soil

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytoextraction and Migration Patterns of Cadmium in Contaminated Soils by Pennisetum hybridum

by Canming Chen, Zebin Wei, Kuangzheng Hu and Qi-Tang Wu

Plants 2023, 12(12), 2321; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122321 - 15 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1083

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify soil cadmium (Cd) removal pathways and their contribution rates during phytoremediation by Pennisetum hybridum, as well as to comprehensively assess its phytoremediation potential. Multilayered soil column tests and farmland-simulating lysimeter tests were conducted to investigate the Cd phytoextraction and migration patterns in topsoil and subsoil simultaneously. The aboveground annual yield of P. hybridum grown in the lysimeter was 206 ton·ha⁻¹. The total amount of Cd extracted in P. hybridum shoots was 234 g·ha⁻¹, which was similar to that of other typical Cd-hyperaccumulating plants such as Sedum alfredii. After the test, the topsoil Cd removal rate was 21.50–35.81%, whereas the extraction efficiency in P. hybridum shoots was only 4.17–8.53%. These findings indicate that extraction by plant shoots is not the most important contributor to the decrease of Cd in the topsoil. The proportion of Cd retained by the root cell wall was approximately 50% of the total Cd in the root. Based on column test results, P. hybridum treatment led to a significant decrease in soil pH and considerably enhanced Cd migration to subsoil and groundwater. P. hybridum decreases Cd in the topsoil through multiple pathways and provides a relatively ideal material for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated acid soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Safe Production Technology of Agricultural Contaminated Soil)

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16 pages, 1736 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Effects of Senescence on the Phloem Exports of Cadmium and Zinc from Leaves to Grains in Rice during Grain Filling

by Chengfeng Hu, Bofang Yan, Yating Liu, Chen Gong, Man Zhao, Rongliang Qiu and Yetao Tang

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1902; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091902 - 6 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2013

Abstract

In rice, non-essential toxic cadmium (Cd) and the essential nutrient zinc (Zn) share similar transport pathways, which makes it challenging to differentially regulate the allocation of these elements to the grain. The phloem is the main pathway for the loading of these elements into rice grains. It has long been accepted that tissue senescence makes the nutrients (e.g., Zn) stored in leaves available for further phloem export toward the grain. Whether senescence could drive the phloem export of Cd remains unclear. To this end, the stable isotopes ¹¹¹Cd and ⁶⁷Zn were used to trace the phloem export and the subsequent allocation of Cd and Zn from the flag leaves, where senescence was accelerated by spraying abscisic acid. Furthermore, changes upon senescence in the distribution of these elements among the leaf subcellular fractions and in the expression of key transporter genes were investigated. Abscisic acid-induced senescence enhanced the phloem export of Zn but had no impact on that of Cd, which was explained by the significant release of Zn from the chloroplast and cytosol fractions (concentrations decreased by ~50%) but a strong allocation of Cd to the cell wall fraction (concentration increased by ~90%) during senescence. Nevertheless, neither Zn nor Cd concentrations in the grain were affected, since senescence strengthened the sequestration of phloem-exported Zn in the uppermost node, but did not impact that of phloem-exported Cd. This study suggests that the agronomic strategies affecting tissue senescence could be utilized to differentially regulate Cd and Zn allocation in rice during grain filling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Safe Production Technology of Agricultural Contaminated Soil)

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13 pages, 2856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low-Arsenic Accumulating Cabbage Possesses Higher Root Activities against Oxidative Stress of Arsenic

by Hanhao Li, Yongtao Li, Xing Li, Xun Wen Chen, Aoyu Chen, Li Wu, Ming Hung Wong and Hui Li

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1699; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081699 - 19 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1104

Abstract

Cabbage grown in contaminated soils can accumulate high levels of arsenic (As) in the edible parts, posing serious health risks. The efficiency of As uptake varies drastically among cabbage cultivars, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. We screened out low (HY, Hangyun 49) and high As accumulating cultivars (GD, Guangdongyizhihua) to comparatively study whether the As accumulation is associated with variations in root physiological properties. Root biomass and length, reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein content, root activity, and ultrastructure of root cells of cabbage under different levels of As stress (0 (control), 1, 5, or 15 mg L⁻¹) were measured As results, at low concentration (1 mg L⁻¹), compared to GD, HY reduced As uptake and ROS content, and increased shoot biomass. At a high concentration (15 mg L⁻¹), the thickened root cell wall and higher protein content in HY reduced arsenic damage to root cell structure and increased shoot biomass compared to GD. In conclusion, our results highlight that higher protein content, higher root activity, and thickened root cell walls result in lower As accumulation properties of HY compared to GD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Safe Production Technology of Agricultural Contaminated Soil)

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11 pages, 686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Different Sulfur Compounds on the Distribution Characteristics of Subcellular Lead Content in Arabis alpina L. var. parviflora Franch under Lead Stress

by Cui Xu, Li Qin, Yuan Li, Yanqun Zu and Jixiu Wang

Plants 2023, 12(4), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040874 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1441

Abstract

Sulfur plays a vital role in the phytoremediation of lead-contaminated soil. The effects of different sulfur forms (S Na₂S, and Na₂SO₄) on lead (Pb) absorption in hyperaccumulator Arabis alpina L. var. parviflora Franch were studied in a soil pot experiment. The subcellular sulfur and lead enrichment characteristics in A. alpina were studied by adding sulfur in different forms and concentrations (0, 75, and 150 mg·kg⁻¹) to Pb-contaminated soil. The results show that the root and shoot biomass increased by 1.94 times under Na₂S and Na₂SO₄ treatment, and the root–shoot ratio of A. alpina increased 1.62 times under the three forms of sulfur treatments, compared with the control. Sulfur content in cell walls and soluble fractions of the root and shoot of A. alpina significantly increased 3.35~5.75 times and decreased 5.85 and 9.28 times in the organelles under 150 mg·kg⁻¹ Na₂SO₄ treatment. Meanwhile, Pb content in the root and shoot cell walls of A. alpina significantly increased by 3.54 and 2.75 times, respectively. Pb content in the shoot soluble fraction increased by 3.46 times, while it significantly reduced by 3.78 times in the shoot organelle. Pb content in the root organelle and soluble fraction decreased by 2.72 and 2.46 times. Different forms and concentrations of sulfur had no regularity in the effect of Pb and sulfur content in the subcellular components of A. alpina, but the bioconcentration and translocation factors of A. alpina increased compared with the control. Under different concentrations of Na₂SO₄, there was a significant positive correlation between the contents of sulfur and Pb in the subcellular components of the root of A. alpina (p < 0.05). These results indicate that sulfur application can enhance the Pb resistance of A. alpina by strengthening the cell wall fixation and vacuolar compartmentalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Safe Production Technology of Agricultural Contaminated Soil)

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16 pages, 4327 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Response of Cd, Zn Translocation and Distribution to Organic Acids Heterogeneity in Brassica juncea L.

by Yumeng Liao, Zuran Li, Zhichen Yang, Jixiu Wang, Bo Li and Yanqun Zu

Plants 2023, 12(3), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030479 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1327

Abstract

In order to investigate the translocation, distribution, and organic acid heterogeneity characteristics in Brassica juncea L., a pot experiment with the exogenous application of Cd and Zn was conducted to analyze the effects of Cd, Zn, and organic acid contents and heterogeneity on the translocation and distribution of Cd and Zn. The results showed that the Cd and Zn contents of B. juncea were mainly accumulated in the roots. The Cd content in the symplast sap was 127.66–146.50% higher than that in the apoplast sap, while the opposite was true for Zn. The distribution of Cd in xylem sap occupied 64.60% under 20 mg kg⁻¹ Cd treatment, and Zn in xylem sap occupied 60.14% under 100 mg kg⁻¹ Zn treatment. The Cd was predominantly distributed in the vacuole, but the Zn was predominantly distributed in the cell walls. In addition, oxalic and malic acids were present in high concentrations in B. juncea. In the vacuole, correlation analysis showed that the contents of Cd were negatively correlated with the contents of oxalic acid and succinic acid, and the contents of Zn were positively correlated with the contents of malic acid and acetic acid. The contents of Cd and Zn were negatively related to the contents of oxalic acid and citric acid in xylem sap. Therefore, Cd in B. juncea was mainly absorbed through the symplast pathway, and Zn was mainly absorbed through the apoplast pathway, and then Cd and Zn were distributed in the vacuole and cell walls. The Cd and Zn in B. juncea are transferred upward through the xylem and promoted by oxalic acid, malic acid, and citric acid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Safe Production Technology of Agricultural Contaminated Soil)

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17 pages, 3859 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Application of Ethylenediamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA) Improves the Growth and Yield of Brown Mustard (Brassica juncea) by Modulating Photosynthetic Pigments, Antioxidant Defense, and Osmolyte Production under Lead (Pb) Stress

by Rafia Urooj Saman, Muhammad Shahbaz, Muhammad Faisal Maqsood, Nian Lili, Usman Zulfiqar, Fasih Ullah Haider, Nargis Naz and Babar Shahzad

Plants 2023, 12(1), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010115 - 26 Dec 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2849

Abstract

Lead (Pb) toxicity imposes several morphological and biochemical changes in plants grown in Pb-contaminated soils. Application of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in mitigating heavy metal stress has already been studied. However, the role of EDTA in mitigating heavy metal stress, especially in oilseed crops, is less known. Therefore, the study aimed to explore the potential effect of foliar application of 2.5 mM EDTA on two different varieties of Brassica juncea L., i.e., Faisal (V1) and Rohi (V2), with and without 0.5 mM Lead acetate [Pb(C₂H₃O₂)₂] treatment. Statistical analysis revealed that Pb stress was harmful to the plant. It caused a considerable decrease in the overall biomass (56.2%), shoot and root length (21%), yield attributes (20.16%), chlorophyll content (35.3%), total soluble proteins (12.9%), and calcium (61.7%) and potassium (40.9%) content of the plants as compared to the control plants. However, the foliar application of EDTA alleviated the adverse effects of Pb in both varieties. EDTA application improved the morphological attributes (67%), yield (29%), and photosynthetic pigments (80%). Positive variations in the antioxidant activity, ROS, and contents of total free amino acid, anthocyanin, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid, even under Pb stress, were prominent. EDTA application further improved their presence in the brown mustard verifying it as a more stress-resistant plant. It was deduced that the application of EDTA had significantly redeemed the adverse effects of Pb, leaving room for further experimentation to avoid Pb toxification in the mustard oil and the food chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Safe Production Technology of Agricultural Contaminated Soil)

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14 pages, 21402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Luffa cylindrica Intercropping with Semen cassiae—A Production Practice of Improving Land Use in Soil Contaminated with Arsenic

by Weizhen Chen, Yanan Yang, Dele Meng, Jidong Ying, Huiyin Huang and Huashou Li

Plants 2022, 11(23), 3398; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233398 - 6 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1417

Abstract

In recent years, research on the safe utilization and green remediation of contaminated soil by intercropping has become common. In this study, the growth of an intercropping system of Luffa cylindrica–Semen cassiae in soil contaminated with medium amounts of arsenic (As) was studied using field (91.60 mg kg⁻¹) and pot (83.34 mg kg⁻¹) experiments. The field experiments showed that intercropping significantly increased the yield per plant of L. cylindrica by 27.36%, while the yield per plant of S. cassiae decreased by 21.66%; however, this difference was not significant. Intercropping reduced the concentration of As in all organs of L. cylindrica but increased the concentration of As in all parts of S. cassiae. The accumulation of As per plant of L. cylindrica was reduced by 20.72%, while that in a single plant of S. cassiae was increased by 201.93%. In addition, the concentration of As in the fruit of these two crops in these two planting modes was low enough to meet the National Food Safety Standard of China (GB2762-2017). In addition, the land equivalent ratio and As metal removal equivalent ratio of the intercropping mode was 1.03 and 2.34, indicating that the intercropping mode had advantages in land use and As removal. In the pot experiment, the biomass and As concentration of L. cylindrica and S. cassiae were roughly consistent with those in the field experiment. During the sampling period, intercropping reduced the concentration of As in the rhizosphere soil solution of L. cylindrica by 3.1–23.77%, while it increased the concentration of As in the rhizosphere soil solution of S. cassiae by 13.30–59.40%. The changes in pH and redox potential were also closely related to the content of water-soluble As in the rhizosphere environment, which affects the absorption of As by plants. In general, the L. cylindrica–S. cassiae intercropping system is a planting mode that can effectively treat soil that is moderately contaminated with As and remove it from the soil to an extent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Safe Production Technology of Agricultural Contaminated Soil)

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