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Risk management and regeneration of brownfields using bioenergy crops

  • Soils, Sec 5 • Soil and Landscape Ecology • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The potential of phytoremediation, as a cost-effective in situ alternative to conventional technologies for remediation of contaminated brownfields, has often been pointed out. Yet, phyto-technologies have failed to find widespread adoption in practice. To gain social and commercial acceptance of these technologies, there is a clear requirement of field studies that provide information on success and failures. The aim of this study was to investigate benefits and potential risks with phyto-stabilisation on brownfields using bioenergy-crops.

Materials and methods

Two field trials with willow (Salix Klara and Salix Inger) were set up aiming for phyto-stabilisation on metal-contaminated sites. By the use of a tiered risk assessment approach, the cultivation’s effect on ecological risks in different environmental compartments, such as soil, porewater and up-take to biota (including potential risks for wild grazers), was investigated before the cultivation was started and during following three growth seasons. Growth assessments were also made to evaluate the biomass’ potential revenue.

Results and discussion

The risks to the soil fauna proved to be unchanged or declining. The uptake in the plants was, as aimed for, low to moderate, and the growth rate depended on the soil texture rather than the contamination level of the sites. The low uptake indicated a negligible risk for wild grazers. The field trials were accomplished using no, or low, amounts of amendments, minimum soil interventions, no, or very simple, weeding control and conducted at sites with low annual temperature. Despite harsh conditions, the biomass production was high enough to potentially provide revenue.

Conclusions

This study shows that cultivation of brownfields using phytostabilising willow clones can reduce the ecological risks, improve the soil quality of the site and provide revenue if the biomass is sold for e.g. bioenergy production. By choosing phytostabilisation willow clones, potential risks associated with phytoextraction of metals, such as biomass combustion and food chain transfer of metals, were eliminated. Consequently, using bioenergy crops for phytostabilisation on brownfields can contribute to preserve and improve ecosystem services, create economic regeneration of these areas and at the same time be a sustainable risk management option.

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Notes

  1. Brownfields are abandoned or underused industrial and commercial facilities that may have real or perceived contamination problems and require interventions to be brought back to beneficial use (Ferber et al. 2006). Only within the European Union there are estimated to be close to one million potential brownfield sites that may be contaminated and unexploited (Oliver et al. 2005).

  2. YaraMila®: 11 % N (of which 4.4 % nitrate and 6.6 % ammonium), 4.6 % P (of which 3.5 % water-soluble), 17.6 % K (water-soluble), 1.6 % Mg (of which 1.1 % water-soluble), 10 % S (water-soluble), 1 % Ca, 0.05 % B, 0.08 % Fe, 0.03 % Cu, 0.25 % Mn, 0.002 % Mb, 0.04 % Zn and <1 % Cl.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from The Swedish Research Council Formas, Stichting Kennisoverdracht Bodem, the SNOWMAN- network and The ÅForsk Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI), SE 581 93 Linköping, Sweden

    Anja Enell & Jenny Vestin

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 12076, SE 402 21, Göteborg, Sweden

    Yvonne Andersson-Sköld

  3. Bioclear, PO Box 2262, 9704 CG, Groningen, Netherlands

    Marlea Wagelmans

  4. COWI AB, Skärgårdsgatan 1, SE 414 58, Göteborg, Sweden

    Yvonne Andersson-Sköld

Authors
  1. Anja Enell
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  2. Yvonne Andersson-Sköld
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  4. Marlea Wagelmans
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Correspondence to Anja Enell.

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Responsible editor: Arnaud Temme

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Enell, A., Andersson-Sköld, Y., Vestin, J. et al. Risk management and regeneration of brownfields using bioenergy crops. J Soils Sediments 16, 987–1000 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1264-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1264-6

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