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Heavy Metal Phytoremediation: Microbial Indicators of Soil Health for the Assessment of Remediation Efficiency

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Advances in Applied Bioremediation

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 17))

Abstract

Phytoremediation is an effective, non-intrusive, inexpensive, aesthetically pleasing, socially accepted, promising phytotechnology for the remediation of polluted soils. The objective of any soil remediation process must be not only to remove the contaminant(s) from the soil but, most importantly, to restore the continued capacity of the soil to perform or function according to its potential (i.e., to recover soil health). Hence, indicators of soil health are needed to properly assess the efficiency of a phytoremediation process. Biological indicators of soil health, especially those related to the size, activity and diversity of the soil microbial communities, are becoming increasingly used, due to their sensitivity and capacity to provide information that integrates many environmental factors. In particular, microbial indicators of soil health are valid tools to evaluate the success of metal phytoremediation procedures such as phytoextraction and phytostabilization processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NEIKER-Tecnalia, Basque Institute of Agricultural Research and Development, Berreaga 1, E-48160, Derio, Spain

    Lur Epelde & Carlos Garbisu

  2. Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country/EHU, E-48080, Bilbao, Spain

    José Ma Becerril

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Basque Country/EHU, E-48080, Bilbao, Spain

    Itziar Alkorta

Authors
  1. Lur Epelde
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  2. José Ma Becerril
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  3. Itziar Alkorta
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  4. Carlos Garbisu
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Correspondence to Carlos Garbisu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Biology, University of Waterloo, University Avenue W. 200, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Canada

    A. Singh

  2. Fac. Inter-Disciplinary &, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India

    Ramesh C. Kuhad

  3. Dept. Biology, University of Waterloo, University Avenue W. 200, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Owen P. Ward

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Epelde, L., Ma Becerril, J., Alkorta, I., Garbisu, C. (2009). Heavy Metal Phytoremediation: Microbial Indicators of Soil Health for the Assessment of Remediation Efficiency. In: Singh, A., Kuhad, R., Ward, O. (eds) Advances in Applied Bioremediation. Soil Biology, vol 17. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-89621-0_16

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