Long-term field metal extraction by pelargonium:phytoextraction efficiency in relation to plant maturity

The long length of periods required for effective soil remediation via phytoextraction constitutes a weak point that reduces its industrial use. However, these calculated periods are mainly based on short-term and/or hydroponic controlled experiments. Moreover, only a few studies concern more than one metal, although soils are scarcely polluted by only one element.In this scientific context, the phytoextraction of metals and metalloids (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu,and As) by Pelargonium was measured after a long-term field experiment. Both bulk and rhizosphere soils were analyzed in order to determine the mechanisms involved in soil-root transfer. First, a strong increase in lead phytoextraction was observed with plant maturity, significantly reducing the length of the period required for remediation. Rhizosphere Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and As accumulation was observed (compared to bulk soil), indicating metal mobilization by the plant, perhaps in relation to root activity. Moreover, metal phytoextraction and translocation were found to be a function of the metals’ nature. These results, taken altogether, suggest that Pelargonium could be used as a multi-metal hyperaccumulator under multi-metal soil contamination conditions, and they also provide an interesting insight for improving field phytoextraction remediation in terms of the length of time required, promoting this biological technique

Behavior and Impact of Zirconium in the Soil–Plant System: Plant Uptake and Phytotoxicity

Because of the large number of sites they pollute, toxic metals that contaminate terrestrial ecosystems are increasingly of environmental and sanitary concern (Uzu et al. 2010, 2011; Shahid et al. 2011a, b, 2012a). Among such metals is zirconium (Zr), which has the atomic number 40 and is a transition metal that resembles titanium in physical and chemical properties (Zaccone et al. 2008). Zr is widely used in many chemical industry processes and in nuclear reactors (Sandoval et al. 2011; Kamal et al. 2011), owing to its useful properties like hardness, corrosion-resistance and permeable to neutrons (Mushtaq 2012). Hence, the recent increased use of Zr by industry, and the occurrence of the Chernobyl and Fukashima catastrophe have enhanced environmental levels in soil and waters (Yirchenko and Agapkina 1993; Mosulishvili et al. 1994 ; Kruglov et al. 1996)

Signature organique des foyers archéologiques - Application au site Aurignacien de Régismont-le-Haut

International audienc

Interests of Rock-Eval® thermal analysis on soil organic matter

International audienc

Influences of management practices on soil organic carbon dynamics in French forest soil

International audienc

Development and implementation of a bioremediation plan for an Ile-de-France site

International audienc

Soil tillage impact on the relative contribution of dissolved, particulate and gaseous (CO2) carbon losses during rainstorms

Although the impact of water erosion on soil carbon losses has been widely investigated, little is known about the relative contributions of dissolved, particulate and gaseous losses, a prerequisite for understanding the mechanisms of carbon (C) export from soils and designing mitigation procedures. The main objective of this study was to quantify the losses of dissolved organic and inorganic C (DOC, DIC), particulate organic C (POC) and soil CO2 from runoff microplots on tilled (T) and no-tilled (NT) soils. The study was performed in the Beauce region in central France under Luvisols using 45 and 80 mmh(-1) artificial rains. At 45 mm h(-1), T plots produced C erosion at an average of 1189.7 +/- 114.8 mg C m(-2) h(-1) with 76.9% of it being POC (915.0 +/- 100.0 mg C m(-2) h(-1)), 21.7% DOC (258.3.0 +/- 7.6 mg C m(-2)h(-1)), 1.4% (16.3 +/- 7.2 mg C m(-2)h(-1)), DIC and 0.01% CO2. NT decreased total soil C losses by 95% (from 0.8 to 0.038 g C m(-2)h(-1)) and soil C losses were as CO2 only. At 80 mm h(-1) NT surprisingly increased C erosion by 40% compared to T (from 39.4 to 55.3 g C m(2) h(-1)), with 95.5% of the C losses being POC vs 88.7% for T. These results on rainstorm-induced C fluxes from soils controlled by tillage are expected to be of future value: (1) for selecting appropriate land management that will mitigate against C losses from soils and improve soil carbon sequestration and; (2) to better understand the Global Carbon Cycle and further develop the existing models

Preliminary recommendations and issues for application of Rock-Eval® analysis for soil samples

International audienc