Phytoremediation of Camelina, Switchgrass, and Miscanthus In Mine Land Soils of PA Tyler Bowe 1 , Matthew Robinson 2 , Alison Shuler 3 , Edward Gerst 3 , Ben Tabatabai 3 , Matt Reitzel 3 , Shobha Potlakayala 3 , and Sairam Rudrabhatla 3 1 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, 1837 University Circle Cheyney, Pennsylvania 19319. 2 Tuskegee University of Alabama, 1200 W. Montgomery Rd, Alabama. 3 Penn State Harrisburg, 777 W. Harrisburg Pike Middletown, Pennsylvania 17057. http://harrisburg.psu.edu/reu/sustainable-bioenergy A seven week study based off of one replication was conducted with the intent to essentially remediate abandoned mine lands in Pennsylvania through the utilization of multiple biofuel crops. The study encompassed a green house component, where three different plant species; Camelina sativa, Miscanthus sinensis, and Switchgrass, were grown in three different contaminated soil types that were collected from Eastern Pennsylvania areas, to analyze the mineral and salinity uptake of each plant. It was hypothesized that biofuel crops would remediate the marginal soil. Each species was planted four times, one in each soil type; the fourth being the control. Once germinated above seed energy level, each plant’s growth cycle was recorded. Camelina in sites one and three died after seed energy level, and Switchgrass, that was initially germinating slowly, progressively increased and grew to be resilient. Each species grown in the control grew without fail. After six weeks, each plant’s soil was analyzed for the pH, salinity, and Al content, as well as the RCRA heavy Metal contaminants; Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se. Initial results were compared to the soil sample analysis at the end of the study. Base line sampling of native plant species on each site was taken for analysis of what contaminants were in the tissues. The tissue results were analyzed and compared to the initial contaminates that were found in the tissue for further study. The comparisons showed the concentration of how much contaminants have been removed from each species. The ending results provided evidence that not all three crops were suitable for metal uptake but are capable of phytoremediation. An abandoned mine land is an area of land or water where minerals and ores such as coal and rock have been removed for beneficial purposes. It is called abandoned because once mining was completed; the land was left un-managed, having the ability to pose threats to human health and the environment. The soil on the land becomes marginal due to the removal of the top soil. Marginal soil and layers of rock and earth above coal commonly contain iron, manganese, and aluminum, and have high metal concentrations. These undesirable characteristics along with a biotic stress, including salinity effect and growth constrain the production of crops significantly. Camelina, (Brassicaceae) commonly known as wild flax is an important biofuel crop due to its 30-40% oil by seed weight and its tolerance to cold and drought that requires little water or nitrogen to flourish, making it competent in being grown on marginal agricultural lands, while increasing the health in the soil. ( 2007. Janick and Whipkey.) Miscanthus is a rhizomatous plant that is another important biofuel crop due to it’s rapid growth, low mineral content, and its massive ethanol production. Miscanthus yields more than five hundred percent of the energy which gives it the ability to outperform corn in terms of biomass. (2000. Lewandowski. , J.C. Clifton-Brown, , J.M.O. Scurlock, , & W. Huismanst.) Miscanthus: European experience with a novel energy crop After harvest, it can be burned to produce heat and steam for power turbines. Switchgrass is a perennial, hardy, self-seeding, and low-input crop that can grow under a wide range of climate and soil conditions assisting in longer growth in drought conditions that is capable of producing bioenergy from farmland. (1914. Gibson Lance, Barnhart Steve.) The root system adds organic material to the soil, which can be beneficial in reclaiming marginal soil. Through germination and or vegetative production of these crops, many environmental benefits can transpire. In order for this to occur, the plants must be managed and analyzed, and the progress must be recorded; hence, the purpose of the study. Marginal soil samples (5 gallon buckets) were collected from three different abandoned mine land locations. The soil was mixed and screened, then used to fill nine three-quart pots. The first three pots contained soil from three different locations, where the seeds of Camelina were randomly assorted into to the soil, and a few centimeters under the surface. This step repeated for Switchgrass as well. The two plant’s seeds were then planted into the control. Miscanthus was planted through vegetative production (started at 7.2 centimeters), using its rhizomes. Soil number one was from the Office location, the second was from the Lumas Bank location, and the third was from the Honey Pot location; all from Eastern Pennsylvania areas. The fourth soil was the control; the virgin soil. The seeds of seeds of Camelina and Switchgrass were randomly assorted into to the soil, a few centimeters under the surface. Each plant was then placed into the green house to begin germination. Each pot was watered with 200 ml of water to be vigilant of overwatering. Progress and watering was recorded and managed every two days. Pictures were also taken weekly. With time, the amount of water was increased between either 50-250 ml depending on the moisture levels. National Science Foundation; Robert E. Hughes, Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation; Mr. Greg Shuler, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Mining Programs; Central PA Biofuels Laboratory faculty, staff, and students. •Marginal land can be reclaimed through utilization of cost effective biofuel crops. •Not all of the crops were suitable for metal uptake: • Camelina was the least; indicating that it was the least suitable for phytoremediation • Switchgrass was the medium; indicating potential for phytoremediation • Miscanthus was the greatest; indicating that it was the most suitable for phytoremediation As a future study, analysis can be done on the other forty-six different varieties of Camelina to determine if any would have the potential to induce phytoremediation. Statistical analysis can be done through additional plant tissue analysis of the three crop samples as well as the other varieties of Camelina to support the concept of the overall study, which is, biofuel crops can be grown on marginal lands for both economic and environmental impact. Burger, James A, and Carl Zipper. "How To Restore Forests On Surface-mined Land." 2002: 1a-b18. (2008). Green remediation—using sustainable environmental. Hazardous Waste Consultant, 26(4), 1.1 - 1.5. Salt, D. E., Smith, R. D., & Raskin, I. (1998). Phytoremediation. Annual Review Plant Physiological Plant Molecular Biology, (49), 643 - 668. Retrieved from www.annualreviews.org J. Janick. , & A. Whipkey, (2007). Camelina sativa, a montana omega-3 and fuel crop. Lewandowski. , Clifton-Brown., Scurlock J.M.O., & W. Huismanst, (2000). Miscanthus: European experience with a novel energy crop. (pp. 209-227). Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953400000325 Gibson Lance, Barnhart Steve, Using science to fuel and feed our global society; switchgrass. (pp. 1-2). Retrieved from http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/AG200.pdf Plant Tissue Analysis Soil Analysis
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Phytoremediation of Camelina, Switchgrass, and Miscanthus In Mine Land Soils of PA
Tyler Bowe1, Matthew Robinson2, Alison Shuler3, Edward Gerst3, Ben Tabatabai3, Matt Reitzel3, Shobha Potlakayala3, and Sairam Rudrabhatla3
1Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, 1837 University Circle Cheyney, Pennsylvania 19319. 2Tuskegee University of Alabama, 1200 W. Montgomery Rd, Alabama. 3Penn State Harrisburg, 777 W. Harrisburg Pike Middletown, Pennsylvania 17057.
http://harrisburg.psu.edu/reu/sustainable-bioenergy
A seven week study based off of one replication was conducted with the intent to essentially remediate abandoned mine lands in Pennsylvania through the utilization of multiple biofuel crops. The study encompassed a green house component, where three different plant species; Camelina sativa, Miscanthus sinensis, and Switchgrass, were grown in three different contaminated soil types that were collected from Eastern Pennsylvania areas, to analyze the mineral and salinity uptake of each plant. It was hypothesized that biofuel crops would remediate the marginal soil. Each species was planted four times, one in each soil type; the fourth being the control. Once germinated above seed energy level, each plant’s growth cycle was recorded. Camelina in sites one and three died after seed energy level, and Switchgrass, that was initially germinating slowly, progressively increased and grew to be resilient. Each species grown in the control grew without fail. After six weeks, each plant’s soil was analyzed for the pH, salinity, and Al content, as well as the RCRA heavy Metal contaminants; Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se. Initial results were compared to the soil sample analysis at the end of the study. Base line sampling of native plant species on each site was taken for analysis of what contaminants were in the tissues. The tissue results were analyzed and compared to the initial contaminates that were found in the tissue for further study. The comparisons showed the concentration of how much contaminants have been removed from each species. The ending results provided evidence that not all three crops were suitable for metal uptake but are capable of phytoremediation.
An abandoned mine land is an area of land or water where minerals and ores such as coal and rock have been removed for beneficial purposes. It is called abandoned because once mining was completed; the land was left un-managed, having the ability to pose threats to human health and the environment. The soil on the land becomes marginal due to the removal of the top soil. Marginal soil and layers of rock and earth above coal commonly contain iron, manganese, and aluminum, and have high metal concentrations. These undesirable characteristics along with a biotic stress, including salinity effect and growth constrain the production of crops significantly. Camelina, (Brassicaceae) commonly known as wild flax is an important biofuel crop due to its 30-40% oil by seed weight and its tolerance to cold and drought that requires little water or nitrogen to flourish, making it competent in being grown on marginal agricultural lands, while increasing the health in the soil. ( 2007. Janick and Whipkey.) Miscanthus is a rhizomatous plant that is another important biofuel crop due to it’s rapid growth, low mineral content, and its massive ethanol production. Miscanthus yields more than five hundred percent of the energy which gives it the ability to outperform corn in terms of biomass. (2000. Lewandowski. , J.C. Clifton-Brown, , J.M.O. Scurlock, , & W. Huismanst.) Miscanthus: European experience with a novel energy crop After harvest, it can be burned to produce heat and steam for power turbines. Switchgrass is a perennial, hardy, self-seeding, and low-input crop that can grow under a wide range of climate and soil conditions assisting in longer growth in drought conditions that is capable of producing bioenergy from farmland. (1914. Gibson Lance, Barnhart Steve.) The root system adds organic material to the soil, which can be beneficial in reclaiming marginal soil. Through germination and or vegetative production of these crops, many environmental benefits can transpire. In order for this to occur, the plants must be managed and analyzed, and the progress must be recorded; hence, the purpose of the study.
Marginal soil samples (5 gallon buckets) were collected from three different abandoned mine land locations. The soil was mixed and screened, then used to fill nine three-quart pots. The first three pots contained soil from three different locations, where the seeds of Camelina were randomly assorted into to the soil, and a few centimeters under the surface. This step repeated for Switchgrass as well. The two plant’s seeds were then planted into the control. Miscanthus was planted through vegetative production (started at 7.2 centimeters), using its rhizomes. Soil number one was from the Office location, the second was from the Lumas Bank location, and the third was from the Honey Pot location; all from Eastern Pennsylvania areas. The fourth soil was the control; the virgin soil. The seeds of seeds of Camelina and Switchgrass were randomly assorted into to the soil, a few centimeters under the surface. Each plant was then placed into the green house to begin germination. Each pot was watered with 200 ml of water to be vigilant of overwatering. Progress and watering was recorded and managed every two days. Pictures were also taken weekly. With time, the amount of water was increased between either 50-250 ml depending on the moisture levels.
National Science Foundation; Robert E. Hughes, Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation; Mr. Greg Shuler,
PA Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Mining Programs; Central PA Biofuels Laboratory faculty, staff, and
students.
•Marginal land can be reclaimed through utilization of cost effective biofuel crops. •Not all of the crops were suitable for metal uptake:
• Camelina was the least; indicating that it was the least suitable for phytoremediation
• Switchgrass was the medium; indicating potential for phytoremediation • Miscanthus was the greatest; indicating that it was the most suitable for
phytoremediation As a future study, analysis can be done on the other forty-six different varieties of Camelina to determine if any would have the potential to induce phytoremediation. Statistical analysis can be done through additional plant tissue analysis of the three crop samples as well as the other varieties of Camelina to support the concept of the overall study, which is, biofuel crops can be grown on marginal lands for both economic and environmental impact.
Burger, James A, and Carl Zipper. "How To Restore Forests On Surface-mined Land." 2002: 1a-b18. (2008). Green remediation—using sustainable environmental. Hazardous Waste Consultant, 26(4), 1.1 - 1.5. Salt, D. E., Smith, R. D., & Raskin, I. (1998). Phytoremediation. Annual Review Plant Physiological Plant Molecular Biology, (49), 643 - 668. Retrieved from www.annualreviews.org J. Janick. , & A. Whipkey, (2007). Camelina sativa, a montana omega-3 and fuel crop. Lewandowski. , Clifton-Brown., Scurlock J.M.O., & W. Huismanst, (2000). Miscanthus: European experience with a novel energy crop. (pp. 209-227). Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953400000325 Gibson Lance, Barnhart Steve, Using science to fuel and feed our global society; switchgrass. (pp. 1-2). Retrieved from http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/AG200.pdf
Plant Tissue Analysis
Soil Analysis
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