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Sustainability
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Phytoremediation and Ecosystem Restoration
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Phytoremediation and Ecosystem Restoration

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (12 May 2023) | Viewed by 16682

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Daizy R. Batish

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160 014, India
Interests: natural weed management; biology and ecology of invasive weeds; bioactivity of plant; essential oils; bioprospecting of wild plants
Prof. Dr. Harminder Pal Singh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
Interests: heavy metal toxicity; phytoremediation; plant-plant interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on ecosystem restoration has gained popularity and momentum concerning the mitigation of damaged ecosystems and addressing the biodiversity crisis. Indeed, the United Nations has proclaimed this decade (2021–2030) as “The Decade on Ecosystem Restoration”. One of the biggest threats to ecosystems nowadays is environmental pollution, as the ever-increasing contamination of soil, water, and air is wreaking havoc on the globe. Heavy metal contamination in particular has increased in recent years, causing irreversible effects on human health and ecosystems.

Phytoremediation, a solar energy-driven plant-based technology, has emerged as a low-cost, sustainable, and environmentally friendly technique. Phytoremediation has benefited from significant advancements that have enhanced its effectiveness and it has steadily become one of the most important subjects in environmental science.

This Special Issue attempts to bring together the most recent advances in phytoremediation of heavy metal pollutants in terrestrial and aquatic environments. We also welcome research investigating different methods and techniques for enhancing metal accumulation potential of hyper accumulator plants. High-quality reviews and innovative research on any phytoremediation-related issues are also welcome.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Daizy R. Batish
Prof. Dr. Harminder Pal Singh
Guest Editors

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • bioavailability
  • environmental pollutants
  • heavy metal contaminants
  • hyper accumulator plants
  • heavy metal toxicity
  • phytoextraction

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 712 KiB  
Article
Effects of Different Kinds of Fertilizers on the Vegetative Growth, Antioxidative Defense System and Mineral Properties of Sunflower Plants
by Mashail Nasser Alzain, Naglaa Loutfy and Amany Aboelkassem
Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10072; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310072 - 25 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 10185
Abstract
Long-term use of inorganic fertilizers can increase soil acidity, be harmful to the environment, and leaving bad effects on human health. Organic fertilizer application is one of the safer alternatives with numerous benefits, such as supplying nutrients for plant growth. Sunflower is one [...] Read more.
Long-term use of inorganic fertilizers can increase soil acidity, be harmful to the environment, and leaving bad effects on human health. Organic fertilizer application is one of the safer alternatives with numerous benefits, such as supplying nutrients for plant growth. Sunflower is one of the most important grown oilseed crops in the world. Sunflower plants need a supply of essential nutrients for their optimal growth. As a result, the aim of this research is to explore the effect and mechanism of two organic fertilizers from different sources (sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA), compost coupled with biofertilizer (CCB)) and NPK inorganic fertilizer as a control on enzyme activity, physiological traits, and the uptake of mineral contents and heavy metals in sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus L.). Fresh or dry mass (FM, DM), osmolytes and secondary metabolites, photosynthesis pigments, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules were all determined. Both sugarcane bagasse ash and compost coupled with biofertilizer resulted in a high value of fresh and dry mass, plant height, and chlorophyll content. The results revealed that the use of sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) and compost coupled with biofertilizer increased osmolyte contents (soluble proteins and soluble sugars), antioxidants system enzyme/molecule (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and TGS) and secondary metabolites. However, the highest value of proline, total free amino acids, and phenolic compounds in sunflower plants was determined after NPK fertilizer application. On the contrary, it lowered Na, Na/K ratio, and Cd content. Data showed that organic fertilizers enhanced the accumulation of Cl, PO4, and SO4 content in sunflower plants. Generally, CCB and SBA treatments increased Cu, Zn, and Pb accumulation in sunflower plants. Using organic fertilizers with chemical NPK fertilizer can improve the chemical, physical, and biological soil properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Ecosystem Restoration)
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18 pages, 4464 KiB  
Article
Exogenously Applied Sulphur Improves Growth, Photosynthetic Efficiency, Enzymatic Activities, Mineral Nutrient Contents, Yield and Quality of Brassica juncea L.
by Sajad Hussain Shah, Zubair Ahmad Parrey, Shaistul Islam, Anshika Tyagi, Ajaz Ahmad and Firoz Mohammad
Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14441; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114441 - 3 Nov 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2073
Abstract
Background: Due to increasing domestic and industrial demand, edible oil production is not keeping up with demand. To fill this gap, the productivity of oilseeds can be increased by applying adequate nutrients, particularly sulphur (S), at the crucial growth stage. Purpose: The present [...] Read more.
Background: Due to increasing domestic and industrial demand, edible oil production is not keeping up with demand. To fill this gap, the productivity of oilseeds can be increased by applying adequate nutrients, particularly sulphur (S), at the crucial growth stage. Purpose: The present study aims to explore the best concentration of S for its foliar application on various cultivars of mustard. Methods: A factorial randomized pot experiment was conducted to investigate the role of leaf-applied S on growth, physiobiochemistry, yield and quality traits of three cultivars of Brassica juncea L. (mustard). Five levels of S viz. 0 (water), 15, 30, 45 and 60 ppm S constituted one variant, and the three cultivars (Chutki, Nath Sona and Rohini) were the other variants. The various levels of S were sprayed at 50 and 70 days after sowing (DAS). The growth and physio-biochemical characteristics were studied at 90 DAS, and yield and quality attributes at 120 DAS (harvest). Results: The data indicated that increasing S levels up to 45 ppm S improved all parameters of mustard and thereafter (at the level above 45 ppm S) decreased. Cultivar Nath Sona, followed by Rohini and Chutki, performed best. Among the foliar spray treatment of different levels of S, the application of 45 ppm S increased plant dry weight by 40.21, 35.65 and 30.96%, photosynthetic rate by 28.27, 27.44 and 36.29%, pods of a plant by 15.23, 12.12 and 10.80%, seed yield of a plant by 7.54, 3.89 and 4.91%, oil content by 48.70, 46.31 and 43.15% and oil yield of a plant by 24.56, 23.93 and 22.35% in cultivar Nath Sona, Rohini and Chutki, respectively, compared with their respective water-treated plants. Moreover, the oil was examined by GC-MS technique for its various components. The analysis revealed that there were 36 compounds in the oil of the non-treated plants and 44 compounds in the oil of plants treated with 45 ppm S. The extra compounds resulted from the application of 45 ppm S. Conclusion: It may be concluded that two sprays of 45 ppm S proved effective in improving the growth, physio-biochemical characteristics, yield and quality of cultivars of mustard, particularly Nath Sona. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Ecosystem Restoration)
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Review

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17 pages, 3721 KiB  
Review
Ecological Restoration of Engineering Slopes in China—A Review
by Yifan Shen, Qi Li, Xiangjun Pei, Renjie Wei, Bingmei Yang, Ningfei Lei, Xiaochao Zhang, Daqiu Yin, Shijun Wang and Qizhong Tao
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5354; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065354 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3713
Abstract
As the protection of the environment gains more public attention in China, a large number of engineering slopes, which are not conducive to the growth of vegetation and are prone to natural disasters caused by constructions, are in urgent need of restoration. Herein, [...] Read more.
As the protection of the environment gains more public attention in China, a large number of engineering slopes, which are not conducive to the growth of vegetation and are prone to natural disasters caused by constructions, are in urgent need of restoration. Herein, we explain the theoretical basis for the ecological restoration of engineering slopes and introduce the technologies commonly used in this regard, including soil improvement, bioremediation, and ecological slope protection. The benefits and evaluation of the impact of ecological restoration of engineering slopes are also detailed. Finally, we discuss the current problems in ecological restoration and put forward some future research prospects. By summarizing the existing techniques and evaluation systems for ecological restoration, this study provides a reference for its implementation and evaluation, contributing to the long-term, stable, and rapid development of ecological restoration of engineering slopes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Ecosystem Restoration)
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