Advances in agronomic management of phytoremediation: methods and results from a 10-year study of metal-polluted soils

(in lingua inglese)

Phytoextraction alone is rarely an efficient process for remediation of metal-contaminated sites, as the time required for removing merely the most labile fraction of pollutants (bioavailable contaminant stripping) is generally very long. Zinc, Mn and Cu are the only metals which field crops can take up and translocate above-ground at relatively high rates, and inter- and intra-specific variability is worth exploring for suitable species and genotype selection. In several trials, we highlighted the key role of plant roots in phytoextraction and phytostabilisation, since more roots are expected to take up a greater amount of pollutants, and they represent a significant metal sink. In planta metal stabilisation may be a reliable way of reducing leaching risks, primarily through large coarse- and tap-root systems.