Coupling bio/phytoremediation with switchgrass to biofuel feedstock production in mixed-contaminant soils
Abstract
Soil contamination with anthropogenic chemicals is a worldwide concern. The situation is complicated further by the presence of mixtures of chemicals at most contaminated sites. Potential exists for deploying bio/phytoremediation strategies with warm season perennial grasses (WSPGs) to ameliorate mixed contaminant (MC) soils with simultaneous production of bioenergy feedstocks. This study investigated the use of vermicompost (VC) and mycorrhizae - Glomus etunicatum (Ge) and Scutellospora heterogama (Sh), respectively, to enhance biomass productivities of model bioenergy feedstock switchgrass (SG) in MC soils. Designated portions of soils were contaminated with mixture of 50 mg˙kg–1 Cr and coal fly ash (10% FA (w/w)) representing inorganic contaminants, and with the nursery insecticide, bifenthrin (10 mg˙kg–1), representing an organic contaminant. After eight weeks of growth in moisture replacement soil microcosms (MRS), biomass productivity of switchgrass was not significantly inhibited by the presence of mixed contaminants in soil. The SG yield was enhanced slightly, but not significantly, by the application of VC amendment, mycorrhizal inoculation, or both to the MC soil (0.98 to 1.14, compared to unamended-MC soil, 0.96g). There was a significant decrease in Cr in the switchgrass rhizosphere with Ge inoculation alone, by combination of Ge inoculation and VC amendment, and by combination of Sh inoculation and VC amendment (64.4, 65.5, and 57.1 mg˙kg–1, respectively, compared to the initial Cr concentration in the MC soil, 76.67 mg˙kg –1). Accumulation of Cr in SG roots was significantly higher than Cr accumulation in SG shoots for all treatments. Roots of SG grown with VC amendment or AMF inoculation in MC soil contained less Cr than those grown in unamended MC soil. The above observation suggests the potential of VC and AMF in phytostabilization of Cr, and the importance of phytostabilization in the fate of Cr. Results also showed that between 41 and 50% of initially added bifenthrin to the MC soil had dissipated after eight weeks. This suggested strongly, the importance of bioremediation in the fate of bifenthrin in soil. Overall, the study shows that SG and associated rhizosphere microbial communities have the potential to bio/phytoremediate mixed contaminant soil and simultaneously produce biomass for biofuel feedstock.
Subject Area
Microbiology|Soil sciences|Environmental science
Recommended Citation
Oluwatosin Thompson Ogunmayowa,
"Coupling bio/phytoremediation with switchgrass to biofuel feedstock production in mixed-contaminant soils"
(2015).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI10003158.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI10003158