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Soil Systems
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Soil Bioremediation
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Soil Bioremediation

A special issue of Soil Systems (ISSN 2571-8789).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 13509

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Luciano Procópio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Industrial Microbiology and Bioremediation Department, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 25245-390, Brazil
Interests: microbial ecology; bioremediation; petroleum; statistics; omic sciences

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The soil compartment constitutes a complex system involving different physical-chemical aspects, in addition to the presence of macro and microorganisms. The microorganisms that inhabit the soil constitute a considerable part of the biomass present in this compartment, representing about 1000 kg of carbon mass per hectare. Oil spills are among the most important contaminants and significantly impact different ecosystems. Over the years, numerous remediation techniques have been developed to recover or mitigate the damage caused by oil spills in the environment. However, despite their efforts, these methodologies have proven unsatisfactory in remediating the contaminated environment. In recent years, bioremediation approaches using microorganisms or their products, such as biosurfactants, have shown more promise, including in the remediation of complex environments, such as different types of soils.

Authors are invited to submit their manuscripts on the impacts of oil spills on soils, as well as the application of bioremediation techniques, including microorganisms and plants. An ecological approach is encouraged, including omics methodologies in descriptions of changes in indigenous communities at the contaminated site. In addition, complex and extreme environments, including coastal zones, seafloor, and mangroves, are also of particular interest.

Prof. Dr. Luciano Procópio
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Soil Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • soil
  • oil
  • microorganisms
  • bioremediation
  • ecology
  • omics techniques
  • extreme environments

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 3426 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Industrial Hemp Cultivar and Biochar Rate to Remediate Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Soil from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, USA
by Dietrich V. Thurston, Kristofor R. Brye, David M. Miller, Philip A. Moore, Jr., Donald M. Johnson and Mike Richardson
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040114 - 8 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 677
Abstract
Soil contamination by cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) at the Tar Creek superfund site in northeast Oklahoma, United States, remains a threat to the environment and local ecosystem. Phytoremediation with industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and the use of biochar [...] Read more.
Soil contamination by cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) at the Tar Creek superfund site in northeast Oklahoma, United States, remains a threat to the environment and local ecosystem. Phytoremediation with industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and the use of biochar (BC) have been independently shown to be effective methods to remediate heavy-metal-contaminated soils. The objective of this greenhouse study was to evaluate the effects of industrial hemp cultivar (‘Carmagnola’ and ‘Jinma’), biochar rate (0, 2, 5, and 10% by volume), soil contamination level (low, medium, and high), and their interactions on above- (AG) and belowground dry matter (DM) and AG tissue concentrations, as well as uptakes of Cd, Pb, and Zn after 90 days of growth in naturally contaminated soils from the Tar Creek superfund site. Aboveground DM was the largest (p < 0.01) in the low- (0.06 g cm−2) and smallest in the high-contaminated soil (0.03 g cm−2), and was unaffected (p > 0.05) by cultivar or BC rate. Averaged across BC rates, AG tissue Pb and Zn concentrations from the high-’Carmagnola’ and -’Jinma’ combinations were at least 2.4 times greater than from the other four soil–cultivar combinations. Averaged across cultivars, AG tissue Pb uptake in the high-5 and high-10% BC combinations were at least 2.7 times greater than in the high-0 and high-5% BC combinations, which did not differ. The results indicated that both ‘Carmagnola’ and ‘Jinma’ may be suitable choices for phytoremediation of mixed Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated soil when grown in combination with 5 or 10% (v/v) BC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Bioremediation)
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17 pages, 3247 KiB  
Article
Screening of As-Resistant Bacterial Strains from the Bulk Soil and the Rhizosphere of Mycorrhizal Pteris vittata Cultivated in an Industrial Multi-Polluted Site
by Giorgia Novello, Elisa Gamalero, Patrizia Cesaro, Daniela Campana, Simone Cantamessa, Nadia Massa, Graziella Berta, Guido Lingua and Elisa Bona
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(3), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8030087 - 3 Aug 2024
Viewed by 758
Abstract
Arsenic (As) contamination poses significant environmental and health concerns globally, particularly in regions with high exposure levels due to anthropogenic activities. As phytoremediation, particularly through the hyperaccumulator fern Pteris vittata, offers a promising approach to mitigate arsenic pollution. Bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi [...] Read more.
Arsenic (As) contamination poses significant environmental and health concerns globally, particularly in regions with high exposure levels due to anthropogenic activities. As phytoremediation, particularly through the hyperaccumulator fern Pteris vittata, offers a promising approach to mitigate arsenic pollution. Bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi colonizing P. vittata roots are involved in As metabolism and resistance and plant growth promotion under stressful conditions. A total of 45 bacterial strains were isolated from bulk soil and the rhizosphere of mycorrhizal P. vittata growing in an industrial As-polluted site. Bacteria were characterized by their plant-beneficial traits, tolerance to sodium arsenate and arsenite, and the occurrence of As-resistant genes. This study highlights differences between the culturable fraction of the microbiota associated with the rhizosphere of mycorrhizal P. vittata plants and the bulk soil. Moreover, several strains showing arsenate tolerance up to 600 mM were isolated. All the bacterial strains possessed arsC genes, and about 70% of them showed arrA genes involved in the anaerobic arsenate respiration pathway. The possible exploitation of such bacterial strains in strategies devoted to the assisted phytoremediation of arsenic highlights the importance of such a study in order to develop effective in situ phytoremediation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Bioremediation)
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16 pages, 2329 KiB  
Article
Impact of Biosolids-Derived Biochar on the Remediation and Ecotoxicity of Diesel-Impacted Soil
by Charles Chinyere Dike, Christian Krohn, Leadin S. Khudur, Alka Rani Batra, Mac-Anthony Nnorom, Aravind Surapaneni, Kalpit Shah and Andrew S. Ball
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020040 - 3 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1858
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the impact of biosolids-derived biochar on the remediation of Australian soil contaminated with diesel while investigating the role of biochar in the remediation. To achieve the latter aim, sodium azide (NaN3) was added to a separate [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the impact of biosolids-derived biochar on the remediation of Australian soil contaminated with diesel while investigating the role of biochar in the remediation. To achieve the latter aim, sodium azide (NaN3) was added to a separate biochar treatment (BN) to alter the bacterial community structure. Biochar (B) reduced detectable hydrocarbons by 2353 mg/kg compared to the control (C) treatment at week 24. However, the BN treatment reduced the hydrocarbon concentration by 3827 and 6180 mg/kg, relative to B and C, respectively. Soil toxicity significantly decreased at week 24 compared to the start of the remediation in B, but not in the control. Biochar and control treatments generally showed a similar bacterial community structure throughout the incubation, while the bacterial community structure in BN differed significantly. Biodegradation was found to play a significant role in hydrocarbon removal, as the variation in the bacteria community coincided with differences in hydrocarbon removal between B and BN. The increased removal of hydrocarbons in the BN treatment relative to B coincided with increased and reduced relative abundances of Gordonia and JG30-KF-CM45 genera, respectively. This study showed that NaN3 led to a transient and selective inhibition of bacteria. This study makes an important contribution towards understanding the use of NaN3 in examining the role of biochar in the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. Overall, we conclude that biochar has the potential to enhance the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil and that biodegradation is the dominant mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Bioremediation)
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21 pages, 2737 KiB  
Article
Remediation of Leachate-Metal-Contaminated Soil Using Selected Bacterial Consortia
by Chijioke Emenike, Patricia Omo-Okoro, Agamuthu Pariatamby, Jayanthi Barasarathi and Fauziah Shahul Hamid
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(1), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8010033 - 13 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2094
Abstract
Approximately 95% of urban solid waste worldwide is disposed of in landfills. About 14 million metric tonnes of this municipal solid waste are disposed of in landfills every year in Malaysia, illustrating the importance of landfills. Landfill leachate is a liquid that is [...] Read more.
Approximately 95% of urban solid waste worldwide is disposed of in landfills. About 14 million metric tonnes of this municipal solid waste are disposed of in landfills every year in Malaysia, illustrating the importance of landfills. Landfill leachate is a liquid that is generated when precipitation percolates through waste disposed of in a landfill. High concentrations of heavy metal(loid)s, organic matter that has been dissolved and/or suspended, and inorganic substances, including phosphorus, ammonium, and sulphate, are present in landfill leachate. Globally, there is an urgent need for efficient remediation strategies for leachate-metal-contaminated soils. The present study expatiates on the physicochemical conditions and heavy metal(loid)s’ concentrations present in leachate samples obtained from four landfills in Malaysia, namely, Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill, Jeram Sanitary landfill, Bukit Beruntung landfill, and Taman Beringin Landfill, and explores bioaugmentation for the remediation of leachate-metal-contaminated soil. Leachate samples (replicates) were taken from all four landfills. Heavy metal(loids) in the collected leachate samples were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The microbial strains used for bioaugmentation were isolated from the soil sample collected from Taman Beringin Landfill. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was used to analyze heavy metal(loid)s in the soil, prior to the isolation of microbes. The results of the present study show that the treatments inoculated with the isolated bacteria had greater potential for bioremediation than the control experiment. Of the nine isolated microbial strains, the treatment regimen involving only three strains (all Gram-positive bacteria) exhibited the highest removal efficiency for heavy metal(loid)s, as observed from most of the results. With regard to new findings, a significant outcome from the present study is that selectively blended microbial species are more effective in the remediation of leachate-metal-contaminated soil, in comparison to a treatment containing a higher number of microbial species and therefore increased diversity. Although the leachate and soil samples were collected from Malaysia, there is a global appeal for the bioremediation strategy applied in this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Bioremediation)
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14 pages, 4770 KiB  
Article
Potential of Calabash (Lagenaria siceraria) and Sweet Potato (Solanum tuberosum) for the Remediation of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane-Contaminated Soils in Tanzania
by Hamisi J. Tindwa and Bal Ram Singh
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8010001 - 21 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1686
Abstract
A study was conducted to test the potential of calabash, sweet potato, pumpkin, simsim and finger millet to phytoaccumulate dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites from NHC Morogoro- and PPO Tengeru-contaminated sites. Parallel field and screenhouse-potted soil experiments were performed to assess the efficacy [...] Read more.
A study was conducted to test the potential of calabash, sweet potato, pumpkin, simsim and finger millet to phytoaccumulate dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites from NHC Morogoro- and PPO Tengeru-contaminated sites. Parallel field and screenhouse-potted soil experiments were performed to assess the efficacy with which the test plants phytoaccumulate DDT from the soil. In the screenhouse experiment, treatments were laid out following a split-plot arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD), with the main plots comprising two DDT concentration levels–low (417 mg kg−1) or high (2308 mg kg−1)—and the plant species Cucurbita pepo, Lagenaria siceraria, Ipomoea batatus, Sesamum indicum and Eleusine coracana were considered as subplots. A field experiment with the same crop species as the treatments was laid out in a randomized complete block design, and both experiments were performed in triplicate. In addition to determining the concentration of persistent organic pesticides in the soil profile, parameters such as the total DDT uptake by plants, shoot weight and shoot height were monitored in both potted soil and open field experiments. Overall, calabash and sweet potato exhibited the highest (4.63 mg kg−1) and second highest (3.45 mg kg−1) DDT concentrations from the high residual DDT potted soil experiment. A similar trend was observed when the two plants were grown in low DDT soil. Sweet potato recorded the highest shoot height and weight in the potted soil experiments, indicating that increasing amounts of DDT had a minimal effect on the plant’s growth. Although sweet potato outperformed calabash in the amounts of DDT concentration in the shoots under open field experiments, the uptake of DDT by calabash was the second highest. Calabash—a wild non-edible plant in Tanzania—presents a potential phytoremediation alternative to edible and much studied pumpkin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Bioremediation)
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17 pages, 1744 KiB  
Article
Phytomanagement of Zn- and Cd-Contaminated Soil: Helianthus annuus Biomass Production and Metal Remediation Abilities with Plant-Growth-Promoting Microbiota Assistance
by Ana M. S. Paulo, Nidia S. Caetano, Paula M. L. Castro and Ana P. G. C. Marques
Soil Syst. 2023, 7(3), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7030069 - 31 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1958
Abstract
Mining and industrial activity are contributing to the increase in heavy metal (HM) pollution in soils. Phytoremediation coupled to selected rhizosphere microbiota is an environmentally friendly technology designed to promote HM bioremediation in soils. In this study, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was [...] Read more.
Mining and industrial activity are contributing to the increase in heavy metal (HM) pollution in soils. Phytoremediation coupled to selected rhizosphere microbiota is an environmentally friendly technology designed to promote HM bioremediation in soils. In this study, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was used together with Rhizophagus irregularis, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and Cupriavidus sp. strain 1C2, a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), as a phytoremediation strategy to remove Zn and Cd from an industrial soil (599 mg Zn kg−1 and 1.2 mg Cd kg−1). The work aimed to understand if it is possible to gradually remediate the tested soil while simultaneously obtaining significant yields of biomass with further energetic values by comparison to the conventional growth of the plant in agricultural (non-contaminated) soil. The H. annuus biomass harvested in the contaminated industrial soil was 17% lower than that grown in the agricultural soil—corresponding to yields of 19, 620, 199 and 52 g m−2 of roots, stems, flowers and seeds. It was possible to remove ca. 0.04 and 0.91% of the Zn and Cd of the industrial soil, respectively, via the HM accumulation on the biomass produced. The survival of applied microbiota was indicated by a high root colonization rate of AMF (about 50% more than in non-inoculated agricultural soil) and identification of strain 1C2 in the rhizosphere at the end of the phytoremediation assay. In this study, a phytoremediation strategy encompassing the application of an energetic crop inoculated with known beneficial microbiota applied to a real contaminated soil was successfully tested, with the production of plant biomass with the potential for upstream energetic valorisation purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Bioremediation)
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Review

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32 pages, 1155 KiB  
Review
Using Date Palm Residues to Improve Soil Properties: The Case of Compost and Biochar
by Victor Kavvadias, Elie Le Guyader, Mohamed El Mazlouzi, Maxime Gommeaux, Belkacem Boumaraf, Mohamed Moussa, Hafouda Lamine, Mahtali Sbih, Ines Rahma Zoghlami, Kamel Guimeur, Aissa Tirichine, Abid Adelfettah, Beatrice Marin and Xavier Morvan
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(3), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8030069 - 24 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2973
Abstract
Agricultural residues are generated during the production and processing of agricultural crops. Under modern date palm plantation practices, field operations generate huge quantities of residues, which are discarded with little valorization. The date palm agro-industry produces significant amounts of waste. The accumulation of [...] Read more.
Agricultural residues are generated during the production and processing of agricultural crops. Under modern date palm plantation practices, field operations generate huge quantities of residues, which are discarded with little valorization. The date palm agro-industry produces significant amounts of waste. The accumulation of these residues can cause ecological damage to the oasis ecosystems. There is a lack of comprehensive data on long-term research studies that aim to assess the impact of date palm waste management practices. Composting and/or pyrolysis of date palm residues showed benefits for improving soil physical and chemical properties, particularly in sandy soils. This claim holds particular significance for arid and semi-arid regions, which are characterized by low fertility and are susceptible to soil degradation, accentuated by ongoing climate change. This review summarizes the existing literature concerning the valorization of date palm residues with regards to compost and pyrolysis processes, as well as the impact of their application on soil quality. Further research is required to assess the effects of using date palm residues for better soil amendment management. Research should focus on composting and biochar technologies for date palm residues and their application in arid and semi-arid regions to combat soil erosion and degradation. Increasing the beneficial uses of date palm residues could lead to sustainable and economic growth in dry areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Bioremediation)
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