IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i2p397-d197579.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of Vegetation Pattern and Spontaneous Succession on Remediation of Potential Toxic Metal-Polluted Soil in Mine Dumps

Author

Listed:
  • Fuyao Chen

    (School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China)

  • Yongjun Yang

    (School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China)

  • Jiaxin Mi

    (School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China)

  • Run Liu

    (School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China)

  • Huping Hou

    (School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China)

  • Shaoliang Zhang

    (School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China)

Abstract

The ecological rehabilitation of potential toxic metal-contaminated soils in sites disturbed by mining has been a great challenge in recent decades. Phytoremediation is one of the most widely promoted renovation methods due to its environmental friendliness and low cost. However, there is a lack of in situ investigation on the influence of vegetation pattern and spontaneous succession on the rehabilitation of potential toxic metal-polluted soil. To clarify how the vegetation pattern in the early stage of restoration and the spontaneous succession influence the remediation of the soil, we investigated a metal mining dump in Sichuan, China, by field investigation and laboratory analysis. We determined the plant growth, soil fertility, and the capacity of potential toxic metals (PTMs) in metal mining soil under different initial vegetation patterns for different years to understand the role of vegetation pattern and spontaneous succession in PTM pollution phytoremediation projects. The results show that: (1) Phytoremediation with a simple initial vegetation pattern (RP rehabilitative plant pattern) which involves two rehabilitation plants, Agave sisalana and Neyraudia reynaudiana , achieves a PTM pollution index that is 9.28% lower than that obtained with the complex vegetation pattern (RP&LP rehabilitation plants mixed with local plants pattern), 21.86% lower in the soil fertility index, and 73.69% lower in the biodiversity index; (2) The phytoremediation with the 10-year RP&LP pattern was associated with a PTM pollution index that was 4.04% higher than that for the 17-year RP&LP pattern, a soil fertility index that was 4.48% lower, and a biodiversity index that was 12.49% lower. During the process of vegetation succession, if accumulator plants face inhibition of growth or retreat, the reclamation rate will decrease. The vegetation patterns influence the effect of phytoremediation. Spontaneous vegetation succession will cause the phytoremediation process to deviate from the intended target. Therefore, according to the goal of vegetation restoration, choosing a suitable vegetation pattern is the main premise to ensure the effect of phytoremediation. The indispensable manipulation of succession is significant during the succession series, and more attention should be paid to the rehabilitative plants to ensure the stable effect of reclamation. The results obtained in this study could provide a guideline for the in situ remediation of PTM-polluted soil in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Fuyao Chen & Yongjun Yang & Jiaxin Mi & Run Liu & Huping Hou & Shaoliang Zhang, 2019. "Effects of Vegetation Pattern and Spontaneous Succession on Remediation of Potential Toxic Metal-Polluted Soil in Mine Dumps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:2:p:397-:d:197579
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/2/397/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/2/397/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Luca Montanarella, 2015. "Agricultural policy: Govern our soils," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 32-33, December.
    2. United Nations, 2016. "The Sustainable Development Goals 2016," Working Papers id:11456, eSocialSciences.
    3. Lembke B., 1918. "√ a. p," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 111(1), pages 709-712, February.
    4. Li Hua & Xue Yang & Yajun Liu & Xiuli Tan & Yong Yang, 2018. "Spatial Distributions, Pollution Assessment, and Qualified Source Apportionment of Soil Heavy Metals in a Typical Mineral Mining City in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Huixuan Li & Yingru Li & Ming-Kuo Lee & Zhongwei Liu & Changhong Miao, 2015. "Spatiotemporal Analysis of Heavy Metal Water Pollution in Transitional China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Yuan Liu & Yujing Yang & Changxiao Li & Xilu Ni & Wenchao Ma & Hong Wei, 2018. "Assessing Soil Metal Levels in an Industrial Environment of Northwestern China and the Phytoremediation Potential of Its Native Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-15, July.
    7. Shanshan Li & Meng Wang & Zhongqiu Zhao & Changbao Ma & Shibao Chen, 2018. "Adsorption and Desorption of Cd by Soil Amendment: Mechanisms and Environmental Implications in Field-Soil Remediation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-14, July.
    8. Pura Marín Sanleandro & Antonio Sánchez Navarro & Elvira Díaz-Pereira & Francisco Bautista Zuñiga & Miriam Romero Muñoz & María José Delgado Iniesta, 2018. "Assessment of Heavy Metals and Color as Indicators of Contamination in Street Dust of a City in SE Spain: Influence of Traffic Intensity and Sampling Location," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Xiaolu Yan & Miao Liu & Jingqiu Zhong & Jinting Guo & Wen Wu, 2018. "How Human Activities Affect Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil and Sediment in a Long-Term Reclaimed Area of the Liaohe River Delta, North China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chen Li & Xiaohui Ji & Xuegang Luo, 2019. "Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Pollution: A Bibliometric and Scientometric Analysis from 1989 to 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-28, November.
    2. Jesús D. Peco & Pablo Higueras & Juan A. Campos & José M. Esbrí & Marta M. Moreno & Fabienne Battaglia-Brunet & Luisa M. Sandalio, 2021. "Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation by Plant Remediation Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-27, June.
    3. Beatriz E. Guerra Sierra & Jaider Muñoz Guerrero & Serge Sokolski, 2021. "Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals in Tropical Soils an Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-24, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sergei Rogosin & Maryna Dubatovskaya, 2017. "Letnikov vs. Marchaud: A Survey on Two Prominent Constructions of Fractional Derivatives," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. , Aisdl, 2019. "What Citizenship for What Transition?: Contradictions, Ambivalence, and Promises in Post-Socialist Citizenship Education in Vietnam," OSF Preprints jyqp5, Center for Open Science.
    3. Clarke, Matthew, 2011. "Innovative Delivery Mechanisms for Increased Aid Budgets," WIDER Working Paper Series 073, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Patrick E. Shea, 2016. "Borrowing Trouble: Sovereign Credit, Military Regimes, and Conflict," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(3), pages 401-428, May.
    5. Valerio Antonelli & Raffaele D'Alessio & Roberto Rossi, 2014. "Budgetary practices in the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Munitions in Italy, 1915-1918," Accounting History Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(2-3), pages 139-160, November.
    6. Karlsson, Martin & Nilsson, Therese & Pichler, Stefan, 2012. "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger? The Impact of the 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic on Economic Performance in Sweden," Working Paper Series 911, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    7. Ecker, Olivier & Hatzenbuehler, Patrick L. & Mahrt, Kristi, 2018. "Transforming agriculture for improving food and nutrition security among Nigerian farm households," NSSP working papers 56, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Roger R. Betancourt, 1969. "R. A. EASTERLIN. Population, Labor Force, and Long Swings in Economic Growth: The American Experience. Pp. xx, 298. New York: National Bureau of Economic Research (Distributed by Columbia University P," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 384(1), pages 183-192, July.
    9. Ilan Noy & Toshihiro Okubo & Eric Strobl, 2023. "The Japanese textile sector and the influenza pandemic of 1918–1920," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(5), pages 1192-1227, November.
    10. Singh, Nirupama & Kumari, Babita & Sharma, Shailja & Chaudhary, Surbhi & Upadhyay, Sumant & Satsangi, Vibha R. & Dass, Sahab & Shrivastav, Rohit, 2014. "Electrodeposition and sol–gel derived nanocrystalline N–ZnO thin films for photoelectrochemical splitting of water: Exploring the role of microstructure," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 242-252.
    11. Rathberger Andreas, 2014. "The “Piano Virtuosos” of International Politics: Informal Diplomacy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth Century Ottoman Empire," New Global Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 8(1), pages 9-29, March.
    12. Seán Kenny & Jason Lennard & Kevin Hjortshøj O’Rourke, 2020. "An annual index of Irish industrial production, 1800-1921," Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers _185, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    13. Jyotirmoy Banerjee, 1995. "Indo-Russian Relations: The Cryogenic Rocket Deal ∗," Jadavpur Journal of International Relations, , vol. 1(1), pages 121-129, June.
    14. Claudia Hanson & Sanni Kujala & Peter Waiswa & Tanya Marchant & Joanna Schellenberg, 2017. "Community-based approaches for neonatal survival: Meta-analyses of randomized trial data," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-137, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    15. Karlsson, Martin & Nilsson, Therese & Pichler, Stefan, 2014. "The impact of the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic on economic performance in Sweden," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 1-19.
    16. Eugenia Ganea & Valentina Bodrug-Lungu, 2018. "Addressing Inequality in Vocational/ Technical Education by Eliminating Gender Bias," Revista romaneasca pentru educatie multidimensionala - Journal for Multidimensional Education, Editura Lumen, Department of Economics, vol. 10(4), pages 136-155, December.
    17. Gallopín, Gilberto, 2018. "Back to the future," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 318-324.
    18. Pandey, Shanta, 2017. "Persistent nature of child marriage among women even when it is illegal: The case of Nepal," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 242-247.
    19. OGUNNOWO, Fatai Abiodun & Prof. F. A. OKWO & JULIUS, Deborah Nwanne, 2023. "Availability and Utilization of Security Facilities in Federal Tertiary Institutions of Enugu State, Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(5), pages 931-941, May.
    20. Kublik Walther, André, 2005. "Information and communication technology (ICT) for development of small and medium-sized exporters in Latin America: Colombia," Documentos de Proyectos 3677, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:2:p:397-:d:197579. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.