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Phytomanagement axis

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Phytomanagement and ecorestoration of highly anthropized environments

 

S. Bourgerie, Y. Chafik, H. Hénaut, D. Morabito*, M. Sena-Velez

 

* contact : domenico.morabito@univ-orleans.fr

 

Aims & strategy
We develop phytomanagement strategies to rehabilitate sites (mining, post-industrial area and agricultural fields) polluted by anthropic activities. All these studies are declined under a descriptive and explanatory approach. We develop these themes through several disciplines ranging from soil sciences, plant physiology, ecophysiology, molecular biology and microbiology. The main objective of this axis is to develop an integrated approach of the physiology of trees, more particularly salicaceous plants and crops plants, in the face of variations in water availability and disturbances in soil quality due to the presence of metal(loid)s.

Objectives and goals: to design and study the feasibility of phytostabilization techniques (assisted or not), and to compare their efficiency and persistence, in order to reduce the toxicity of metal(loid)s in soil interface.


Methodology:

  1. Study the initial biodiversity of plants present near or on polluted sites (i) to identify plant species of interest for phytoremediation and (ii) characterize their response to exposure to metal contaminants: increase the number and availability of plant material with traits of interest.
  2. Research and quantify the effectiveness of organic and inorganic amendments to reduce the in situ bioavailability of metal contaminants and thus limit the exposure of plants and associated microorganisms: help the installation of a plant cover based on tolerant species and research the combinations of amendments x plant species giving the best performance to reduce the sources of exposure
  3. Study in mesocosms and from field pilots the effectiveness of phytoremediation techniques (phytostabilization, assisted phytostabilization): to reduce and absorb as much as possible the metallic contamination and to propose a persistent and socially acceptable solution, with low implementation and maintenance costs.

 

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Phytostabilization process

Figure 1: Representation of a phytostabilization process assisted by the application of an amendment in order to stabilize a site contaminated by potentially toxic elements (PTE) such as metals and metalloids.
(A) Before amendment, the soil is heavily polluted by PTEs and devoid of vegetation. It is subject to wind erosion and water leaching, which contaminates the surroundingenvironment.In addition to this direct exposure to pollution, metals can enter the food chain (fish, animals, crops) and thus affect human health.
(B) After the application of the amendment here of the biochar, the soil properties are improved and the ETPs are immobilized. This allows the establishment of a vegetation cover (trees and annual crops). Such vegetative cover will reduce leaching and erosion of contaminants, thus protecting the surrounding area and thus the population (Lebrun et al., 2022). 

Some outputs of our work:

 

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Experimental design set up

Figure 2: Experimental design set up from the technosols of the Abbaretz mine (France) showing the different biochar treatments tested in mesocosms tubes: non amended technosol (AB), technosol amended with 2% biochar added either on the top 33 cm of the tube (AB + 1/3 BC) or on the all tube length (AB + BC).

 

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different stages of the implementation

Figure 3: Photos of the different stages of the implementation of a phytomanagement strategy on the experimental plot located on the former mining site of Pontgibaud (P) (a) photo of the plot in its initial state, (b) photo of the plot after ploughing of the technosol, (c) photo of the experimental plot during the amendment of the blocks PB : P+biochar 2%, PC: P+compost 5%, PBC and PBCS: PBC+iron sulfate 0.15% and (d) photo of the experimental plot divided into 4 blocks with willow trees implantation.

 

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new bioremediation approach

Figure 4: A new bioremediation approach was carried out, coupling phytostabilization and bioaugmentation, by using metal(loid) tolerant microbial consortia and endemic metallicolous plant : microbial inoculation stimulated Agrostis growth and phytostabilization (from Lebrun et al. 2021).

 

Recent projects & collaborators:

  • BioFertil “Use of BIOchar to improve and optimize the supply of FERTILisers in agricultural areas subject to nitrate pollutions“


Consortium: Axereal, Chambre Agriculture Loiret, Jacobi, LEO (Univ Orléans), Centre-Sciences

Abstract: The Centre - Val de Loire Region has the largest useful agricultural area in France with nearly 2,311,400 ha, which corresponds to 60% of its territory and approximately 25,000 farms. It is the leading cereal-producing region in France and Europe, and the regional economy is strongly linked to the agricultural sector. However, this economy is highly dependent on environmental conditions, particularly climatic conditions, but also on international competition. This implies optimizing agricultural practices and reducing the ecological and financial impact of water and fertilizer use. For that, the project aims to study the effect of biochars, organic amendments resulting from the pyrolysis mainly of vegetable biomasses and whose incorporation in soils improves their biological and physicochemical qualities. This soil-biochar association would thus allow an improvement of the yields or at least a reduction of the use of fertilizers which have negative effects on the environment and health when they end up in the gravitational or surface waters. The biochar can also improve the biological life of the soil while retaining the possible fertilizers that it would gradually make available to the crops. Finally, the implementation of an economic sector linked to the production of biochar in the Centre - Val de Loire Region would allow to valorize the local wood production and would indirectly contribute to decrease the release of CO2 to greenhouse effect by immobilization in soils.

Financial support: Centre - Val de Loire Region (2019-2022)

 

  • PHC Toubkal

Consortium: University Mohammed Ier (Univ Oujda) and University Mohammed V (Univ Rabat), Morocco

Abstract: The general objective of this project is to define a methodology for the implementation and monitoring of a process of assisted phytostabilization of metallic pollutants present in a post mining technosol using biochar, clays and/or compost and plant species endemic to the study areas and capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen.

Financial support: Campus France (2020-2023)

 

  • REVIVIFI

Consortium: BBV (Univ Tours), ICMN (CNRS), ICOA (Univ Orléans/CNRS), IFV, LEO (Univ Orléans), EPLEFPA, Centre-Sciences

Abstract: The use of Bordeaux mixture and organic phytosanitary products in viticulture to fight vine diseases has led to the accumulation of large quantities of pollutants in vineyard soils. Although the quantities applied have decreased, the concentrations of copper and phytosanitary residues found in these soils remain high. It is therefore necessary to propose alternatives to the use of copper and phytosanitary products which represent a danger for the vineyard, for the living organisms in the soil and for our water resources. The REVIVIFI project aims to valorize and use the biosourced co-products of viticulture (vine shoots, pomace and grape seeds), transformed by pyrolysis into (i) carbonaceous amendments which will be used to stabilize the copper present in the vineyardl soils and (ii) bio-oil co-products of the pyrolysis which will be tested for their antifungal activities against mildew This will allow to decrease the use of copper in viticulture and will contribute to the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices based on a circular economy.

Financial support: Centre - Val de Loire Region (2023-2025)

 

Ph.D students:

  • 2020-2024

Sayyeda Hira Hassan (University of Molise, department of biosciences and territory, Isernia, Italy),
Title: Organ-specific comparative analyses of heavy metal responses in Arabidopsis thaliana and hypertolerant facultative metallophyte Arabidopsis halleri
Funding: Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), Italy
Supervision: Pr. Gabriella Stefania Scippa – Dr. Domenico Morabito
 

  • 2021-2023

Yassine Chafik (University Mohammed Ier, University of Oujda, Morocco)
Title: Use of amendments for the rehabilitation by phytomanagement of mining soils polluted by metallic trace elements.
Funding: Moroccan Excellence Scholarship and Toubkal program, Hubert Curien partnerships, Campus France. (Thesis in cotutelle)
Supervision: Pr. Azzouz Boukroute - Dr. Sabine Carpin - Dr. Domenico Morabito

  • 2019-2023

Mohamad El Hajjar (University of Orléans - LBLGC - Lamé)
Title: Impact of microorganisms on the behavior of bio-based materials for a healthy and sustainable rehabilitation of buildings.
Funding: Centre - Val de Loire Region
Supervision: Pr. N. Belayachi – Dr. Sylvain Bourgerie

  • 2014-2022

Lamia Benhabyles (University of Orléans – University of Alger)
Title: Impact of air and soil pollution on some spontaneous species. Application to biomonitoring and bioremediation.
Supervision: Pr. R. Djebbar – Dr. Sylvain Bourgerie

  • 2018-2021

Melissa Simiele (University of Molise, department of biosciences and territory, Isernia, Italy)
Title: Biological remediation of soil pollution
Funding: Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), Italy
Supervision: Pr. Gabriella Stefania Scippa – Dr. Domenico Morabito
 

  • 2016-2019

Manhattan Lebrun (University of Molise, department of biosciences and territory, Isernia, Italy)
Title: Biogeochemical and microbiological processes involved in the rhizospheric area of Salicaceae grown on an amended technosol polluted by inorganic toxic elements: a phytostabilization study.
Funding: Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), Italy
Supervision: Pr. Gabriella Stefania Scippa – Dr. Sylvain Bourgerie - Dr. Domenico Morabito
 
Ibrahim Alidou Arzika (University of Istanbul, Botany department)
Title: Use of biochar and Ailhantus altissima to phytoremediate Pb and As polluted soils.
Funding: Turkey Burslari Scholarship
Supervision: Pr. Gulriz Baycu University d’Istanbul, Turquie – Dr Domenico Morabito
 
Romain Nandillon (University of Orléans, CNRS-BRGM-IDDEA)
Title: Phytostabilization of metallic elements in a mining technosol vegetated by the genus Salix assisted by biochar.
Funding: CIFRE Scholarship
Supervision: Dr. Fabienne Battaglia-Brunet (BRGM) – Dr Domenico Morabito