219
Conclusions and Recommendations
and the benefits of adding microbial populations. Plant–microbe associations
act to improve the growth of vegetation, and overall soil health.
In applications of phytoremediation with biomass production, it is useful
to have multiple approaches to reduce the effects of the contamination on
soil health and to improve soil health and biomass productivity. Chapter 6
reviews processes to improve soil health and enhance ecosystem services.
Soil amendments that add organic carbon and living organisms may help to
improve soil health, plant growth, and nutrient cycling.
Plant-feeding insects and nematodes have the potential to impact
Miscanthus growth and product yield. It is important to consider pest migration from one crop to another when fields are nearby. Chapter 8 provides
information on important plant-feeding insects and nematodes that have
been found in Miscanthus plantations and have been studied and reported
in published literature, including Miscanthus mealybugs, aphids, May beetles, plant parasitic nematodes, armyworms, and rootworms.
A forward-looking approach in economic aspects of phytoremediation
with biomass production is addressed in Chapter 9. This is followed by
alternative ways to convert Miscanthus biomass to energy (Chapter 10)
and to different bioproducts (Chapter 11). Economic aspects are introduced with full consideration of environmental, social, ecosystem, and
economic benefits associated with the improvement of each contaminated
site. A sustainable remediation approach is used along with options for
increasing the value chain of Miscanthus. The benefits of soil remediation with biomass production include risk reduction, improvements in soil
quality and soil health, biomass products, carbon sequestration, reduced
soil erosion, community aesthetic benefits, and better habitat for birds and
wild animals. The potential of Miscanthus to produce sustainable feedstock for energy, or to be converted to pulp, building materials and paper
is characterized.
The NATO project field site at Fort Riley, Kansas, has been used to investigate the growth of Miscanthus in soil that contains lead from past military
activities (Alasmary, 2020). Miscanthus establishment was successful, and
the crop grew well in the lead-contaminated soil under the climatic conditions at the site. Tilling and soil amendments were beneficial to growth and
crop yield. Lead uptake into the biomass was reduced by adding biosolids as
an amendment; simultaneously, soil health was improved, based on microbial numbers and composition, and organic carbon increased with time. The
soil health at Fort Riley field site was investigated by assessing the effects on
the nematode community of growing Miscanthus, tilling, and adding soil
amendments. Significant changes were observed in trophic group structure
with Miscanthus compared to the soil with mixed plant cover. Tilling the
soil prior to establishment of the Miscanthus and adding biosolids as an
amendment affected the nematode community and important soil processes.
Tilling and tilling plus adding biosolids affected the nematode community
the most. The most conserved population of the trophic structure was the
Conclusions and Recommendations
and the benefits of adding microbial populations. Plant–microbe associations
act to improve the growth of vegetation, and overall soil health.
In applications of phytoremediation with biomass production, it is useful
to have multiple approaches to reduce the effects of the contamination on
soil health and to improve soil health and biomass productivity. Chapter 6
reviews processes to improve soil health and enhance ecosystem services.
Soil amendments that add organic carbon and living organisms may help to
improve soil health, plant growth, and nutrient cycling.
Plant-feeding insects and nematodes have the potential to impact
Miscanthus growth and product yield. It is important to consider pest migration from one crop to another when fields are nearby. Chapter 8 provides
information on important plant-feeding insects and nematodes that have
been found in Miscanthus plantations and have been studied and reported
in published literature, including Miscanthus mealybugs, aphids, May beetles, plant parasitic nematodes, armyworms, and rootworms.
A forward-looking approach in economic aspects of phytoremediation
with biomass production is addressed in Chapter 9. This is followed by
alternative ways to convert Miscanthus biomass to energy (Chapter 10)
and to different bioproducts (Chapter 11). Economic aspects are introduced with full consideration of environmental, social, ecosystem, and
economic benefits associated with the improvement of each contaminated
site. A sustainable remediation approach is used along with options for
increasing the value chain of Miscanthus. The benefits of soil remediation with biomass production include risk reduction, improvements in soil
quality and soil health, biomass products, carbon sequestration, reduced
soil erosion, community aesthetic benefits, and better habitat for birds and
wild animals. The potential of Miscanthus to produce sustainable feedstock for energy, or to be converted to pulp, building materials and paper
is characterized.
The NATO project field site at Fort Riley, Kansas, has been used to investigate the growth of Miscanthus in soil that contains lead from past military
activities (Alasmary, 2020). Miscanthus establishment was successful, and
the crop grew well in the lead-contaminated soil under the climatic conditions at the site. Tilling and soil amendments were beneficial to growth and
crop yield. Lead uptake into the biomass was reduced by adding biosolids as
an amendment; simultaneously, soil health was improved, based on microbial numbers and composition, and organic carbon increased with time. The
soil health at Fort Riley field site was investigated by assessing the effects on
the nematode community of growing Miscanthus, tilling, and adding soil
amendments. Significant changes were observed in trophic group structure
with Miscanthus compared to the soil with mixed plant cover. Tilling the
soil prior to establishment of the Miscanthus and adding biosolids as an
amendment affected the nematode community and important soil processes.
Tilling and tilling plus adding biosolids affected the nematode community
the most. The most conserved population of the trophic structure was the