1,720,980 research outputs found
Nano-enabled agriculture and circular economy. Nature-derived materials as smart-delivery systems
Full text linkPhytoextraction of heavy metals by canola (Brassica napus) and radish (Raphanus sativus)
No full textRemoval of trace metals by Sorghum bicolor and Helianthus annuus in a site polluted by industrial wastes: A field experience
No full textUsing the perspective of full scale application of phytoremediation techniques, research is focusing on the optimization of agronomic practices. Two annual high biomass yield crops, Sorghum bicolor and Helianthus annuus, were grown in a polymetallic soil. The experimental site, polluted by pyrite cinders, is located in an industrial site that has been listed in the clean-up national priority list since 2001. Specific aims of this work were to observe the concentration of metals in plants during the crop cycle and to establish the amount of metal removed by the crops. The field trial, arranged in a randomized block design, started in 2005. The concentrations of heavy metals in the soil were: As 309, Cd 4.29, Co 50.9, Cu 1527 and Zn 980 mg kg1. The crops grown on the polluted soil received mineral fertilization (Fert) and organic amendment (Org), while plants in control soil (Ctrl) did not receive anything. The plots were watered during the crop cycle during two drought periods, using a sprinkler rrigation system. The phytoextraction potential of crops was estimated during the whole growth cycle and the plant biomass that was collected in each sampling date was ICP-analyzed. Plantebiomass growth curves were obtained. The concentrations of the metals in the shoots and in the total plant biomass were recorded. Finally, the metal removal was calculated for the harvestable parts of the crops. The amelioration of the nutritive status of the substrate that resulted, was highly effective for the biomass yield. However, fertilization and soil amendment did not heighten the concentration of metals in the harvestable tissue of the plants during the crop cycle. In some cases, organic matter appeared to bind the elements making them less available for the plants. The evaluation of the potential of phytoremediation of our plants compared to other crops in terms of metal removal was positive. Our results of metal removal are consistent with the results from other in situ experiments. The Zn removal by S. bicolor and H. annuus reached about 2000 g ha1 and 1000 g ha1, respectively
Linking phytotechnologies to bioeconomy; varietal screening of high biomass and energy crops for phytoremediation of Cr and Cu contaminated soils
Full text linkEnerbiochem was a project devoted to study new strategies of industrial valorisation of high biomass crops grown on brownfields
or contaminated soils not suitable for food production.
Chromium and copper accumulation and toxicity were examined in different species of agronomic interest. Cultivars of Brassica
carinata A. Braun (7), Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. (4), Brassica napus L. (4), Raphanus sativus L. (4), inbred lines of Helianthus
annuus L. (6) and cultivars of Nicotiana tabacum L. (3) were screened for the best genetic materials to be used with the aims: i)
to produce the highest biomass in contaminated soils; and ii) possibly to phytoremediate them. Cr and Cu accumulation in shoots
were evaluated on 16 days old plants grown for additional 5 days in the presence of either Cr (60 μM) or Cu (2 μM) in hydroponic.
They were characterised for Cr and Cu concentrations in roots and shoots, shoot biomass, and total chlorophyll as well.
Shoot biomass was significantly lower in Brassica species than in R. sativus, H. annuus and N. tabacum under Cr treatments.
On the contrary, under Cu treatments, N. tabacum produced the lowest biomass in respect to other species. Potentially toxic element
concentrations varied among genetic material and some genetic material resulted less affected (higher chlorophyll content
and shoot biomass) even under higher Cu or Cr concentrations in shoot. Potential candidates within each species, to be used for coupling
phytoremediation and biomass production on slightly Cr-Cu potentially contaminated soils are listed
Influence of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (nTiO2) on Crop Plants: A Systematic Overview.
No full textSmart-delivery systems in Nano-Enabled Agriculture. The current state-of-the-art on nanohydroxyapatite
Full text linkThe development of nanotechnologies in the last 25 years has considerably improved, even revolutionized, many technology and industry sectors: information technology, medicine, transportation, energy, environmental science, and everyday products, as well. Nano-enabled agriculture (NEA) describes the application of nanotechnology in agriculture to improve the performance of agrochemicals. NEA mainly focuses on improving the agrochemical uptake efficiency by crops, enhancing plant growth and food safety, and mitigating the environmental impacts of agriculture. However, nanotechnology applications in the agricultural chain are still marginal and have not yet made it to the market in comparison with other industrial sectors. Compared to other productive sectors, the main reason for the slow development of the NAE is due to the specific peculiarities of agriculture.
The use of renewable materials deriving from plant and animal waste biomass to produce nanosized delivery systems in NEA represents a crucial step towards the fulfillment of a circular economy. A paradigmatic example concerns the valorization of hydroxyapatite (nHAP). The paper provides updates on the use of nHAP for sustainable crop phosphorus fertilization and the development of nanohybrids to provide other macro-nutrients loaded on the nHAP structure
Nanotechnology support the next agricultural revolution: Perspectives to enhancement of nutrient use efficiency
No full textTrace elements uptake by metal accumulator species grown on mine tailings amended with three types of biochar.
No full textMine tailings are of great concern due to the risk their toxic inorganic elements pose to the environment. The application of biochar as an amendment may be a solution to reduce the risk of pollutant diffusion. The main purpose
of the research was to verify the effects of different types of biochar produced from different feedstocks
(pruning residues, fir tree pellets and manure pellets) on changing the substrate conditions to promote plant
growth for the phytostabilization of mine tailings. The SEM/EDX characterization showed different structures
in terms of porosity and granulosity as well as the element composition. The plants used in the pot experiment were Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. polyphylla (Dc.) Nyman, Noccaea
rotundifolium (L.) Moench subsp. cepaeifolium and Poa alpina L. subsp. alpina. The biochars were applied at three
doses: 0, 1.5 and 3%dw. Although to different extents, the biochars induced significant changes of the substrates
in terms of pH, EC, CEC and bioavailability of themetals. The biochar frommanure pellets and pruning residues reduced shoot Cd and Pb accumulations. The former also led to a higher biomass production that peaked at the1.5%
dose.
Biochar has great potential as an amendment for phytoremediation but its effects depend on the type of feedstock it derives from. The characteristics of the substrate to be treated are crucial for the biochar selection
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