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Miscanthus × giganteus (M × g) is a promising energy crop in phytotechnology with biomass production. Despite considerable vegetation and harvest under varying climate conditions and across different soils, field-scale studies on utilising M × g remain scarce. Analysing the literature and our own findings, this study intends to highlight the potential of M × g phytotechnology for revitalising non-agricultural lands (NAL), including brownfields, and illustrate the expediency of applying biochar to enhance biomass yield, energy efficiency, and economic feasibility. To validate the feasibility of M × g production on brownfields, two scenarios within the value chain “biomass–biogas–electricity” for green harvest were examined. The assumptions were as follows: (1) a methane yield of 5134 m3 ha−1 y−1, and (2) substrate-specific methane yields of 247 and 283 mL (g oDM)−1 for the first and subsequent years, respectively. The findings suggest that Scenario 2 is better suited for cultivating M × g on brownfields/NAL, being more sensitive and eliminating inaccuracies and the generalisations of results. From the third year onward, the revenue of M × g production on biochar-amended brownfields showed greater potential for future profitability. Future research should confirm the positive trend in the energy efficiency ratio of M × g phytotechnology on a larger scale, particularly in real brownfield applications.

Use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) for cultivation of the biofuel crop Miscanthus × giganteus (Mxg) in post-military and post-mining sites is a promising approach for the bioremediation of soils contaminated by metals. In the present study, PGPB were isolated from contaminated soil and screened for tolerance against abiotic stresses caused by salinity, pH, temperature, and lead (Pb). Selected strains were further assessed and screened for plant growth-promoting attributes. The isolate showing the most potential, Bacillus altitudinis KP-14, was tested for enhancement of Mxg growth in contaminated soil under greenhouse conditions. It was found to be highly tolerant to diverse abiotic stresses, exhibiting tolerance to salinity (0–15%), pH (4–8), temperature (4–50 °C), and Pb (up to 1200 ppm). The association of B. altitudinis KP-14 with Mxg resulted in a significant (p ≤ 0.001) impact on biomass enhancement: the total shoot and dry root weights were significantly enhanced by 77.7% and 55.5%, respectively. The significant enhancement of Mxg biomass parameters by application of B. altitudinis KP-14 strongly supports the use of this strain as a biofertilizer for the improvement of plant growth in metal-contaminated soils.

The organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have raised concerns about being persistent and toxic to the environment. Phytoremediation techniques show promise for the revitalization of polluted soils. The current study focused on optimizing the phytoremediation potential of Miscanthus sinensis And. ( M. sinensis ), second-generation energy crop, by exploring two soil amendments: Tween 20 and activated carbon (AC). The results showed that when M. sinensis grew in OCP-polluted soil without amendments to it, the wide range of compounds, i.e., α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, 2.4-DDD, 4.4-DDE, 4.4-DDD, 4.4-DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, and endrin, was accumulated by the plant. The introduction of soil amendments improved the growth parameters of M. sinensis . The adding of Tween 20 enhanced the absorption and transmigration to aboveground biomass for some OCPs; i.e., for γ-HCH, the increase was by 1.2, for 4.4-DDE by 8.7 times; this effect was due to the reduction of the hydrophobicity which made pesticides more bioavailable for the plant. The adding of AC reduced OCPs absorption by plants, consequently, for γ-HCH by 2.1 times, 4.4-DDD by 20.5 times, 4.4-DDE by 1.4 times, 4.4-DDT by 8 times, α-HCH was not adsorbed at all, and decreased the translocation to the aboveground biomass: for 4.4-DDD by 31 times, 4.4-DDE by 2.8 times, and γ-HCH by 2 times; this effect was due to the decrease in the bioavailability of pesticides. Overall, the amendment of OCP-polluted soil by Tween 20 speeds the remediation process, and incorporation of AC permitted to produce the relatively clean biomass for energy.

The multiyear cultivation of Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deu ( M. × giganteus ) at the soils polluted by metal(loid)s were researched. The biomass parameters and concentrations of elements: Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, and Mo were determined in the plant’s organs at harvest. The same metal(loid)s were monitored in the plant’s leaves throughout three vegetation seasons. The principal component analysis and general linear model approaches were applied for statistical evaluation followed by Box-Cox transformation. The difference in the distribution of elements in the plant, the content of elements in the soil, various regime of uptake to the plant tissues, and the year of vegetation were analyzed as driving factors of the phytoremediation. The results showed that the leading promoter was the factor of the zone, which was the most essential for Ti, Fe, and Cu and the smallest for Mn. The factor of differences in soil pollution was essential for Zn and Mo, much less for As, Sr, and Mn, limited for Fe, and was not seen for Ti and Cu. The factor of the interrelation effects of the zone and experiment reflected the different regime of uptake for the plant tissues was seen for two elements: more prominent for Cu and smaller for Ti. While analyzing the dynamic of foliar concentrations of the metal(loid)s during 3 years, two groups were defined. Firstly, Fe, Ni, Mn, and Sr showed stable curves with limited distribution of the plant life cycle. Secondly, As, Zn, Cu, and Mo showed different fluctuations in the curves, which can be attributed to essential influence of those elements to the plant life cycle. Further research will be focused on the application of M. × giganteus to the polluted soil in a bigger scale and comparison results of laboratory and field experiments.

This editorial belongs to the Special Issue “Impact of Nutrients and Trace Elements in Soil on Plant Growth: Case of the Second-Generation Energy Crops” [...]

Background The pursuit of remediation strategies aligned with the principles of the circular economy and the Sustainable Development Goals has encouraged the use of soil organic amendments, including biochar. Biochar has the potential to enhance plant growth, improve soil fertility, and contribute to carbon sequestration. Its properties determined by the feedstock and pyrolysis conditions, and are typically characterized through proximate and ultimate analyses. However, comprehensive evaluations of biochars as soil amendments remain limited, complicating their appropriate selection for field-scale applications. The current study evaluated the properties of two commercial biochars—Ideale (IDL; derived from biomass waste) and Intermarcom (INT; derived from wood waste)—applied at 3%, 5%, and 7% rates, as influenced on soil properties and Zea mays L. growth. Soil parameters assessed included pH, total organic carbon (TOC), P 2 O 5 , NO 3 − , NH 4 + , K, Ca, electric conductivity, and permanganate oxidizable carbon. Plant performance was evaluated based on leaf area, yield, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant capacity in a pot experiment. Experimental treatments included soil-only, soil–biochar, soil–plant, and soil–biochar–plant systems to monitor biochar behavior under different conditions. Results Application of 3% IDL significantly promoted Z. mays growth, increasing biomass production by up to 73.2%. Higher application rates of IDL did result in further improvements. In contrast, INT negatively affected Z. mays development, reducing leaf and stem biomass by 30.7% and 49.9%, respectively. Both biochars increased soil pH and TOC but had contrasting effects on soil nitrogen dynamics. IDL incorporation led to a dose-dependent reduction in NH 4 + (up to 77.3%), while NO 3 − levels remained largely unaffected. Conversely, INT decreased NO 3 − content (up to 36.6%) and increased NH 4 + concentrations. Water adsorption–desorption tests confirmed the preferential adsorption of NO 3 -N by INT. Conclusions Optimal Z. mays growth was achieved with 3% IDL, whereas INT negatively impacted plant growth at all tested application rates. These findings underscore the importance for thorough pre-application assessment of biochar properties to ensure effective and sustainable field-scale utilization.

Wood biomass ash (WBA) from thermal power plants is often landfilled despite its potential as a secondary raw material. This study adopts a circular economy perspective to assess the physicochemical properties, valorization potential, and environmental risks of WBA, aiming to support its use in agriculture and environmental management. Comprehensive characterization included pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), proximate and elemental composition, and selected organic contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The WBA exhibited a strongly alkaline pH (10.55), moderate CEC (4.36 cmol kg−1), and high ash content (78.32%), with lower nutrient content than other biomass ashes. Major elements included Ca (6.84%), K (2.90%), and Si (3.19%), while nitrogen was absent. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as As, Cd, and Ni were below detection limits; Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn remained within most regulatory thresholds, although Zn exceeded some limits. ΣPAHs were low (0.05 mg·kg−1), indicating minimal environmental concern. Despite reduced nutrient richness, the ash demonstrated suitability as a liming agent and supplementary nutrient source, provided that Zn levels are managed and nitrogen is supplemented. These results support the redirection of WBA from disposal to beneficial use, advancing circular economy goals and contributing to more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) colonise the rhizosphere and root surfaces, enhancing crop development through a variety of mechanisms. This study evaluated microbial strains isolated from Triticum aestivum L. for key plant growth-promoting traits, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate and zinc (Zn) solubilisation, nitrogen (N2) fixation, and antifungal activity. Among 36 isolates, 3 (AS8, AS23, AS31) exhibited strong growth-promoting potential. IAA production, citrate assimilation, carbohydrate fermentation, and catalase activity were observed to a comparable extent among the selected strains. AS8 showed the highest protease, lipase, and amylolytic activity, while AS23 demonstrated superior phosphate and Zn solubilisation. Notably, AS31 emerged as the most promising multi-trait isolate, exhibiting the highest levels of IAA production, N2 fixation, antifungal activity against five phytopathogens (Fusarium graminearum, F. solani, F. oxysporum, Pythium aphanidermatum, and Alternaria alternata), potentially linked to its hydrogen sulphide (H2S) production, and cellulolytic activity. Molecular identification based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed the isolates as Stenotrophomonas indicatrix AS8, Pantoea agglomerans AS23, and Bacillus thuringiensis AS31. Seed germination assays confirmed the plant growth-promoting efficacy of these PGPR strains, with vigour index increases of up to 43.4-fold. Given their positive impact on seed germination and significant Zn-solubilising abilities, the selected strains represent promising candidates for use as bio-inoculants, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly strategy to enhance agricultural productivity in nutrient-deficient soils. Future research should validate the efficacy of these PGPR strains under pot conditions to confirm their potential for practical agricultural applications.

Management and destruction of obsolete pesticides and the remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil are significant global issues with importance in agriculture, environmental health and quality of life. Pesticide use and management have a history of problems because of insufficient knowledge of proper planning, storage, and use. This manuscript reviews recent literature with an emphasis on the management of obsolete pesticides and remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil. The rhizosphere of plants is a zone of active remediation. Plants also take up contaminated water and remove pesticides from soil. The beneficial effects of growing plants in pesticide-contaminated soil include pesticide transformation by both plant and microbial enzymes. This review addresses recent advances in the remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil with an emphasis on processes that are simple and can be applied widely in any country.

The phytoremediation of industrial crops is becoming popular for the revitalization of land contaminated by trace elements (TEs). This approach combines biomass production with the improvement of soil health. To implement phytoremediation and derive sufficient dry biomass, crop production must be adequately supported by agricultural practices, including the application of bioinoculants. The current study aims to test the influence of several plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), isolated from TEs-contaminated soil—i.e., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KP-13, Bacillus altitudinis KP-14, and Pseudomonas fluorescens KP-16 and their consortia on the phytoremediation of the industrial crop M. × giganteus cultivated in the same TEs-contaminated soil. Contrary to expectations, the effects of PGPB on the biomass harvest were low. The most significant increase was detected in leaf biomass treated with a consortium of tested PGPBs. More significant effects were detected in the uptake of individual TEs. The phytoparameters of translocation factor, comprehensive bioconcentration index and uptake index were used to characterize the behavior of the TEs; Cr; Mn; Ni; Cu; Zn; Sr; V; and Pb in the presence of isolates. Plants treated with PGPB strains accumulated minimal concentrations of Cu and Pb in their aboveground biomass, while a tendency for Zn accumulation in the leaves and stems, and Sr accumulation in the leaves was observed. The obtained results reveal the combinations of isolates that lead to the minimal uptake of TEs into the stems and the simultaneous increase in DW. This study provides more insight into the leading factors of phytoremediation supported by PGPB and can be helpful when M. × giganteus is grown on TEs-contaminated soils of different origins.