1,720,996 research outputs found
HYPERACCUMULATION OF Pb, Tl AND Zn BY A MOUNTAIN POPULATION OF BISCUTELLA LAEVIGATA SSP. LAEVIGATA
No full textPhytostabilization of Pb/Zn mine tailings and a polymetallic soil with Thlaspi caerulescens
No full textCaratterizzazione di un suolo contaminato da ceneri di pirite ai fini dell’applicazione di tecniche di phytoremediation nel sito nazionale “Laguna di Grado e Marano”
No full text
Biochar Effects on Ce Leaching and Plant Uptake in Lepidium sativum L. Grown on a Ceria Nanoparticle Spiked Soil
Full text linkThe increasing use of nanoparticles is causing a threat to the environment and humans. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of the quenching procedure of biochar production on the biochar capacity to retain the CeO2 nanoparticle (CeO2NP) in soil. The effects on Lepidium sativum L. (watercress) were considered. Two biochars were produced from fir wood pellets under the same pyrolysis conditions but with different quenching procedures: dry quenching and wet quenching. The two biochars (BCdryQ and BCwetQ) were separately added to a CeO2NP-spiked soil (1000 mg kg−1) at the dose 5%DW and placed in 12 lysimeters under controlled conditions. Lepidium sativum L. seeds were sowed on each lysimeter. The lysimeters were irrigated once a week for 7 weeks, and the leachates were collected. At the end of the experiment, the aboveground biomass was harvested; the total number of plants and the number of plants at the flowering stage were counted, and the height of the tallest plant and the total dry biomass were measured. The data showed that the quenching procedure influences the CeO2NP retention in soil, and BCdryQ can reduce the leaching of the nanoparticles. Biochar significantly increased the flowering in plants, and BCwetQ reduced the biomass production. This work highlights the importance of the biochar production process for soil applications. The production settings are crucial in determining the efficacy of the product for its ultimate use
Tools for Nano-Enabled Agriculture: Fertilizers Based on Calcium Phosphate, Silicon, and Chitosan Nanostructures
Full text linkThe Green New Deal requires a profound transformation of the agricultural sector, which will have to become more sustainable and ensure universal access to healthy food. Thus, it will be essential to introduce radical technological innovations. Nanotechnologies have the potential to produce a significant boost to the improvement of the food system. Within this context, in the
next years, a strong challenge will need to be faced regarding developing new and more efficient uses of nutrients in agriculture, being the nutrient use efficiency (NUE) paramount in sustaining
high crop productivity without depleting biodiversity, and altering both the natural and agricultural systems. Nutrients leaching causes environmental pollution and water eutrophication, while nutrient excess favors pest and weed widespread. Therefore, it will be mandatory to improve plant nutrition efficiency without affecting agricultural productivity and economic sustainability. A promising alternative consists of the introduction of the so-called nanomaterial enhanced fertilizers and plant growth stimulators. Such innovation includes nanotechnological solutions that can improve nutrient delivery for a more finely tuned, accurate, and saving-resources distribution of nutrients. This review provides a critical view of the latest advances in nanofertilizer research, mainly referring to nano-hydroxyapatite, silica nanoparticles, and chitosan-derived nanostructures
Are the reducing sugars the driving force for Ag nanoparticles biosynthesis in living plants?
No full textAccumulation of heavy metals by aquatic macrophytes in the Marano and Grado lagoon (Northern Adriatic sea, Italy)
No full textApproximately 3% of the Italian territory is included in the National Priority List of Polluted
sites. An example is represented by the “Laguna di Grado e Marano” which lies in Friuli
Venezia Giulia (NE Italy). It includes about 4,200 ha of dry land and ca. 6,800 ha of wetlands
and lagoons. The main pollutant, occurring particularly in wetlands and lagoon, is represented
by mercury. However, heavy metals and organic pollutants were recorded as well.
During Summer 2010, a survey was performed with the objective to observe, if any, the
bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the tissues of Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera marina,
Zostera nolti, aquatic macrophytes commonly found in the lagoon. Samples of sediments and
specimens of macrophytes, were collected and analyzed for the heavy metal content (Cd, Co,
Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn).
The in concentrations, with the exception of Hg, were quite low. The Hg levels found in the
sediments were comprised within the range 610-12,997 μg kg-1. In Cymodocea nodosa and
Zostera marina, Hg was mostly accumulated in the leaves; the average Hg concentrations
were, respectively, 44.5 and 61.8 μg kg-1. The opposite was found in Zostera noltii, being the
leaf concentration of Hg (183 μg kg-1) more than doubled when compared to the root
concentration (71 μg kg-1). For all the species, the bioconcentration factor was very low
(<<1)
Germination and seedling growth of Indian mustard exposed to cadmium and chromium
Full text linkTo make phytoremediation a technically viable option for large-scale applications we need plants that are able to guarantee high biomass yield as well as high accumulation of heavy metals in their aerial parts. The aim of this investigation was to study the performance of aquacultured plants of Indian mustard in the presence of different concentrations of cadmium and chromium since seed germination. The effects on germination and growth of seedlings of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern) cv. WNFP, Varuna and Barton, were investigated in/under hydroponic conditions during a 4-week experiment. Cadmium and chromium were provided since germination as cadmium nitrate Cd(NO3)2 and chromium bichromate K2Cr2O7 (0.5, 1 and 1.5 M). Plant biomass growth measured at the end of the experiments varied with the different metal concentrations in the nutrient solution and the accumulation of the elements in the plant fractions differed significantly among/between cultivars. Ability in the uptake of metals and their mobilization and storage in the aerial plant biomass, expressed by the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF), respectively, are the most important traits of plants with phytoextraction potential. Brassica juncea was confirmed as being a highly tolerant species, but poor metal translocation values were registered, therefore the high amount of Cd and Cr concentrated in the root systems did not migrate to the aerial, harvestable, part of the plant
Application of biochar on mine tailings: Effects and perspectives for land reclamation
No full textMine tailings represent a source of toxic pollutants, mainly heavy metals, which may spread to the surrounding
areas. Phytostabilization, a long-term and cost-effective rehabilitation strategy, can be achieved
by promoting the establishment of vegetation to reduce the risk of pollutant transfer. In this work, the
application of pyrolyzed biomass (biochar) was studied to evaluate the amelioration of the mine tailings
properties for potential use as a phytostabilization technology.
Four substrates were obtained by mixing the mine tailings from a dumping site in Cave del Predil (NE,
Italy) with biochar from orchard prune residues at four dosages (0%, 1%, 5% and 10% biochar in the mine
tailings). The physical and chemical properties were determined and the bioavailability and leachability
of the contaminants were estimated. The pH, the nutrient retention in terms of cation exchange capacity
and the water-holding capacity increased as the biochar content increased in the substrates and the bioavailability
of Cd, Pb, Tl and Zn of the mine tailings decreased. The changes promoted by the biochar seem
to be in favor of its use on mine wastes to help the establishment of a green cover in a phytostabilization
process
- …
