Advancing in the application of innovative phytomanagement strategies in polluted sites in Southwest Europe | |
NEWSLETTER #4 |
April 2023 | |
Phy2SUDOE Final ConferenceOn 30 and 31 March, the Phy2SUDOE project held its Final Event at the Palacio Europa (Vitoria-Gasteiz). More than 80 entities participated in the event, including several companies, public entities and research centres from several countries. The main topics were:
3rd Phy2SUDOE WorkshopParticipants had the opportunity to get insights and learn more about phytomanagement of contaminated soils, soil restoration and policy from renowned experts in the fields. The main topics were:
Phy2SUDOE latest newsFinal video of the Phy2SUDOE project The final video of the Phy2SUDOE project summarises the objectives and results achieved in the project. Publication of the Layman Report of the Phy2SUDOE project Before the Final Conference of the Phy2SUDOE project, the Layman Report was published and available on the website of the project, in Spanish and English. The participants at the Final Conference were able to take away the Layman Report in print version.
Phy2SUDOE attended the Iberian Soil Science Congress 2022 In July 2022, the IX Iberian Congress of Soil Sciences (CICS 2022) was held in Oeiras-Lisbon and our Interreg Sudoe Phy2Sudoe project was represented thanks to Juan Vilela, technician of the Environmental Studies Centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz, CEA. Vilela took advantage of his participation in this event to present the communication “Nature-based solutions for soil remediation in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain). The case of the Phy2Sudoe project”, with the participation of all partners. Monitoring of the plant community at the phytomanaged Durandeau site (NS1) In July and August 2022, the vegetation cover was monitored at the phytomanaged Durandeau site under the supervision of La Charente County and INRAE partners and the Jardins de l’Angoumois sub-contractor company. Each implanted plant species was investigated, notably for preparing the sampling and analysis of plant parts. The initial plant community (i.e. mycorrhized black poplars, goat willows, vetiver, Miscanthus x giganteus, Amorpha fruticosa, Agrostis capillaris, Festuca pratensis, Medicago sativa, and Lolium perenne) was developing very well (without pieces of evidence of phytotoxicity or deficiency on aboveground plant parts), thanks notably to the irrigation system (even with the fourth sequential heatwaves we experienced in France this summer.) We can expect this year 1 to promote the phytostabilization of metal(loid)s, Cd/Zn phytoextraction (by collecting poplar and willow leaves in autumn), and rhizo/biodegradation of organic xenobiotics, and to prevent wind erosion and water runoff. Leachates from lysimeters will be sampled by HPC Environment and analysed. Plant and soil sampling at the phytomanaged Durandeau site (NS1) In October 2022, soil and plants were sampled at the phytomanaged Durandeau site under the supervision of La Charente County and INRAE partners and HPC Envirotec and the Jardins de l’Angoumois sub-contractor companies. Changes in soil properties including inorganic and organic contaminants are under analysis. The influence of phytomanagement on soil mesofauna and microbial communities is under investigation. No invertebrate was detected during this sampling campaign, except one Tipula larva in one compost-amended lysimeter. Long-term field plots have been implemented at the St Médard d’Eyrans site (S1) to assess the phytomanagement of Cu/PAH-contaminated soils, notably with a mixed stand of poplars and willows. In early November 2022 (year 16), the INRAE researchers went to this site to collect grass and tree roots in plots untreated and amended with compost alone and combined with dolomite. The purpose was to identify the mycorrhizae potentially associated with these plant species. Root samples were sent to the Fertil’Innove Environment partner for further investigations. INRAE researchers harvested grasslands in November 2022 at the Chaban-Delmas site In November 2022, INRAE researchers were working at this site to harvest the grassy plant species in the field plots and to record the phytomanagement progress. The vegetation cover rate is still excellent (100%). A few snails were observed across the plots. The shoot biomass is currently air-dried in an oven to determine the shoot DW yields and shoot ionome depending on treatments. Evaluating the effect of the phytomanagement with soil health cards NEIKER is working on the development of parameters with soil health indicator potential. Within this framework, a decade ago it developed the Soil Health Cards. These are practical manuals that explain how to diagnose the state of health of different ecosystems. To do this, the Health Cards propose a set of indicators and how to measure them correctly. They explain the meaning of each indicator and the ranges considered as “good”, “fair” and “bad”. They end with a series of final tips on how to improve poorly diagnosed soils. Follow up on the bioremediation strategies applied in Gernika site During the last years, the UPV/EHU group and NEIKER have been applying in situ bioremediation strategies in soils amended with sewage sludges in the vicinity of Gernika. Within these strategies, the researchers carried out a battery of ecotoxicological tests and bioassays on earthworms, plants and bacteria. They concluded that the best elimination yields were obtained after the combination of plants, earthworms, and a consortium of bacteria. New samplings of invertebrates in Lanestosa mine On the 5th of July 2022, the University of Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU) group went to Lanestosa mine. The purpose of this study visit was to realise a new sampling of macroinvertebrates, part of the GT3 – Identification and conservation of endemic biodiversity of contaminated sites for their potential exploitation in biotechnological applications. More concretely, this work is part of Activity 3.4 – Collections of macroinvertebrate tissues with potential in environmental applications. In total, researchers collected 17 slugs and 6 snails and transported them to the Biscay Bay Environmental Biospecimen Bank (BBEBB). New publicationsMicroremediation with Agaricus Bisporus and Pleurotus Ostreatus Growth substrates for the recovery of a Pb and Y-HCH contaminated soilMycoremediation with mushroom growth substrates can be used for the recovery of mixed contaminated soils due to the benefits derived from the physicochemical characteristics of the substrates, the activity of extracellular enzymes secreted by the fungi, and the presence of the fungal mycelia. The objective of this work was to assess the potential of Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus growth substrates (inoculated mushroom substrates vs. spent mushroom substrates) for the mycoremediation of soils co-contaminated with lead and lindane (γ-HCH). We compared the efficiency of these mycoremediation strategies with the phytoremediation with Brassica spp. or Festuca rubra plants, in terms of both reduction in contaminant levels and enhancement of soil health. An enhanced soil health was achieved as a result of the application of mycoremediation treatments, compared to phytoremediation and control (untreated) treatments. The application of P. ostreatus inoculated substrate led to the most significant reduction in γ-HCH concentration (up to 88.9% compared to corresponding controls). In the presence of inoculated mushroom substrate, P. ostreatus fruiting bodies extracted more Pb than Brassica spp. or F. rubra plants. Mycoremediation with P. ostreatus growth substrates appears a promising strategy for the recovery of the health of soils co-contaminated with Pb and γ-HCH. 3rd Global Soil Biodiversity Conference 2023 Soil metal contamination is a worldwide problem of great magnitude. Phytomanagement is based on the use of plants to reduce and control risks arising from soil pollution while at the same time restoring and generating other wider site services. The Phy2SUDOE project maintains a network of contaminated sites that have been under phytomanagement for many years in Portugal, Spain and France. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of phytomanagement with Populus sp. on soil biodiversity and complexity at different levels of the trophic web. Nature-based solutions for soil remediation in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) To the west of Vitoria-Gasteiz, there are industrial areas whose rapid growth caused the ecological fragmentation of the surrounding territory. The working area (Mendebaldea, 30 ha) was in a state of abandonment and contaminated soils before the intervention, which prevented its public use and any activity. The restoration of the area was proposed using nature-based solutions to create a large green infrastructure that would provide various environmental benefits: climate change mitigation, soil recovery and landscape improvement. Seminar: Challenges in the Management and Sustainable Recovery of Soil As part of the commemoration of the World Soil Day established by FAO, and in the context of the Phy2SUDOE project, the School of Biotechnology/Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) promoted a seminar dedicated to the sustainable management and restoration of soil health. Participants had the opportunity to gain knowledge about the work done in these areas and to discuss the topic with the speakers. Contact and further informationContact detailsCarlos Garbisu Crespo (Coordinator) Neiker (Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario) Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia C/ Berreaga, 1, E-48160 Derio (Bizkaia) Spain +34 944 034 300 cgarbisu@neiker.eus | |
The project Phy2SUDOE (SOE4/P5/E1021) is supported |