The total biomass harvested and metal content in the same decide the rate of metal
removal by the plants. The usage of nano-accumulator plants remediation of metals
is limited by their slow growth and smaller size. The low potentiality of metal
accumulation is often compensated by significant biomass production in common
nano-accumulators (Ebbs et al. 1997); hence, it was always debated about choosing
the remedial plant species between these two types (hyper-accumulator or nanoaccumulator).
8.2 Soil Fertilization and Conditioning
The practice of field management, which maintains soil structure and nutrient
balance, is always necessary for making soil fertile and healthy. The capacity of
water retention and infiltration with respect to water management and fertility
previously was highly preferred. The land is considered to be viable when it has
balanced nutrients to sustain microorganisms and plant growth; it should even
support beneficial soil dwellers such as the earthworm, which help nutrient cycling,
with other beneficial effects, and also restricting pathogenic microbial communities.
8.3 Enhancing Metal Bioavailability Using Soil Amendments
For enhancing plant growth, many materials are added to soils, called fertilizers or
soil amenders. Whether inorganic (10-10-10 fertilizers) or organic (bone meal),
many of these serve the purposes of both fertilizing and amending soils. To promote
healthy plant growth, soil amendments are mixed in the top layer of soil, providing
help in many ways such as changing soil pH or by improving nutrient supply. The
utilization of organic wastes as soil amendments dates back for centuries (Sims and
Pierzynski 2000; Burton and Turner 2003). Animal manures have drawn attention
for many decades as a good source of essential nutrients beneficial for plant growth
and maintaining soil fertility. Mostly organic wastes are significant pollutants that
have needed remediation in recent years; many types of industry and even increased
wastewater generation and livestock intensification result in the addition of some
organic contaminants into the environment, which vary according to their constitution and components (Sims and Pierzynski 2000; Burton and Turner 2003). A few
reports stated that some of the important contributors of organic wastes include paper
mill factories and olive mills (Edwards and Someshwar 2000; Suresh and
Ravishankar 2004).
8.3.1 Sowing
Sowing is the process of planting seeds. After the preparation of soil, the previously
selected seeds are scattered in the field. This is called sowing, which should be done
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removal by the plants. The usage of nano-accumulator plants remediation of metals
is limited by their slow growth and smaller size. The low potentiality of metal
accumulation is often compensated by significant biomass production in common
nano-accumulators (Ebbs et al. 1997); hence, it was always debated about choosing
the remedial plant species between these two types (hyper-accumulator or nanoaccumulator).
8.2 Soil Fertilization and Conditioning
The practice of field management, which maintains soil structure and nutrient
balance, is always necessary for making soil fertile and healthy. The capacity of
water retention and infiltration with respect to water management and fertility
previously was highly preferred. The land is considered to be viable when it has
balanced nutrients to sustain microorganisms and plant growth; it should even
support beneficial soil dwellers such as the earthworm, which help nutrient cycling,
with other beneficial effects, and also restricting pathogenic microbial communities.
8.3 Enhancing Metal Bioavailability Using Soil Amendments
For enhancing plant growth, many materials are added to soils, called fertilizers or
soil amenders. Whether inorganic (10-10-10 fertilizers) or organic (bone meal),
many of these serve the purposes of both fertilizing and amending soils. To promote
healthy plant growth, soil amendments are mixed in the top layer of soil, providing
help in many ways such as changing soil pH or by improving nutrient supply. The
utilization of organic wastes as soil amendments dates back for centuries (Sims and
Pierzynski 2000; Burton and Turner 2003). Animal manures have drawn attention
for many decades as a good source of essential nutrients beneficial for plant growth
and maintaining soil fertility. Mostly organic wastes are significant pollutants that
have needed remediation in recent years; many types of industry and even increased
wastewater generation and livestock intensification result in the addition of some
organic contaminants into the environment, which vary according to their constitution and components (Sims and Pierzynski 2000; Burton and Turner 2003). A few
reports stated that some of the important contributors of organic wastes include paper
mill factories and olive mills (Edwards and Someshwar 2000; Suresh and
Ravishankar 2004).
8.3.1 Sowing
Sowing is the process of planting seeds. After the preparation of soil, the previously
selected seeds are scattered in the field. This is called sowing, which should be done
102
M. K. Awasthi et al.