Assessment of <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> for Phytoremediation Capacity of Laterite Mine Spoils
The phytoremediation potential of the halophytic plant, <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> (<i>T. smyrnensis</i>), was examined in toxic metal spoils assisted by biochar and irrigation by air nanobubbles. The substrate (spoil) used in the present study was derived from areas close to...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/491 |
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| author | Petroula Seridou Vasiliki Karmali Evdokia Syranidou Konstantinos Komnitsas Georgios Kolliopoulos Nicolas Kalogerakis |
| author_facet | Petroula Seridou Vasiliki Karmali Evdokia Syranidou Konstantinos Komnitsas Georgios Kolliopoulos Nicolas Kalogerakis |
| author_sort | Petroula Seridou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The phytoremediation potential of the halophytic plant, <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> (<i>T. smyrnensis</i>), was examined in toxic metal spoils assisted by biochar and irrigation by air nanobubbles. The substrate (spoil) used in the present study was derived from areas close to laterite (Ni-containing ores) mines. The efficiency of biochar addition in two rates (5 t/ha and 20 t/ha) to improve microbial properties and stabilize soil aggregates was also examined. Furthermore, the effect of irrigation with air-nanobubble-supplemented water was evaluated for the remediation of toxic metal spoils. The physiological condition of the plant species was investigated in terms of biomass, height, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzymes. The alkali and heavy metal accumulation and their distribution in the plant parts were assessed to explore whether toxic metals could accumulate in the root and further translocate to the aboveground tissues. The growth of <i>T. smyrnensis</i> was not adversely affected by its cultivation in lateritic spoil, and the highest rate of biochar exhibited a beneficial effect on plant growth in terms of weight (aerial and subterranean biomass). The highest biochar application rate led to significant increases in total chlorophyll content, showing a 97.6% increase when biochar is used alone and a 136% increase when combined with nanobubble irrigation. Remarkably, only when combining irrigation with air nanobubbles and low biochar supplementation did the translocation of the metals from soil to the aboveground tissues occur as the translocation factor was estimated to be greater than unity (TF > 1). The bioconcentration factors remained below 1.0 (BCF < 1) across all treatments, demonstrating limited mobilization from soil to plant tissues despite the application of soil amendments. Finally, the application of nanobubbles increased slightly but not substantially the total uptake of metals, which showed a significant decrease compared to the control groups when the lower dosage of biochar was utilized. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-ddca418ea9ec435485f5333f6665e0872025-08-20T02:12:33ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114349110.3390/plants14030491Assessment of <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> for Phytoremediation Capacity of Laterite Mine SpoilsPetroula Seridou0Vasiliki Karmali1Evdokia Syranidou2Konstantinos Komnitsas3Georgios Kolliopoulos4Nicolas Kalogerakis5School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, GreeceSchool of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, GreeceSchool of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, GreeceSchool of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, GreeceDépartement de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaSchool of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, GreeceThe phytoremediation potential of the halophytic plant, <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> (<i>T. smyrnensis</i>), was examined in toxic metal spoils assisted by biochar and irrigation by air nanobubbles. The substrate (spoil) used in the present study was derived from areas close to laterite (Ni-containing ores) mines. The efficiency of biochar addition in two rates (5 t/ha and 20 t/ha) to improve microbial properties and stabilize soil aggregates was also examined. Furthermore, the effect of irrigation with air-nanobubble-supplemented water was evaluated for the remediation of toxic metal spoils. The physiological condition of the plant species was investigated in terms of biomass, height, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzymes. The alkali and heavy metal accumulation and their distribution in the plant parts were assessed to explore whether toxic metals could accumulate in the root and further translocate to the aboveground tissues. The growth of <i>T. smyrnensis</i> was not adversely affected by its cultivation in lateritic spoil, and the highest rate of biochar exhibited a beneficial effect on plant growth in terms of weight (aerial and subterranean biomass). The highest biochar application rate led to significant increases in total chlorophyll content, showing a 97.6% increase when biochar is used alone and a 136% increase when combined with nanobubble irrigation. Remarkably, only when combining irrigation with air nanobubbles and low biochar supplementation did the translocation of the metals from soil to the aboveground tissues occur as the translocation factor was estimated to be greater than unity (TF > 1). The bioconcentration factors remained below 1.0 (BCF < 1) across all treatments, demonstrating limited mobilization from soil to plant tissues despite the application of soil amendments. Finally, the application of nanobubbles increased slightly but not substantially the total uptake of metals, which showed a significant decrease compared to the control groups when the lower dosage of biochar was utilized.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/491air nanobubblesbiocharhalophytesheavy metals |
| spellingShingle | Petroula Seridou Vasiliki Karmali Evdokia Syranidou Konstantinos Komnitsas Georgios Kolliopoulos Nicolas Kalogerakis Assessment of <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> for Phytoremediation Capacity of Laterite Mine Spoils Plants air nanobubbles biochar halophytes heavy metals |
| title | Assessment of <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> for Phytoremediation Capacity of Laterite Mine Spoils |
| title_full | Assessment of <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> for Phytoremediation Capacity of Laterite Mine Spoils |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> for Phytoremediation Capacity of Laterite Mine Spoils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> for Phytoremediation Capacity of Laterite Mine Spoils |
| title_short | Assessment of <i>Tamarix smyrnensis</i> for Phytoremediation Capacity of Laterite Mine Spoils |
| title_sort | assessment of i tamarix smyrnensis i for phytoremediation capacity of laterite mine spoils |
| topic | air nanobubbles biochar halophytes heavy metals |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/491 |
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