“…4 b, the emissions of PC production were mostly due to spoils from coal mining with 64% of the total EP of PC. Coal spoils are acidic and contain metal contamination that can leach to ecosystems due to their low water holding capacity 64 . Figure 4 Eutrophication potential of the PC and EICP soil stabilization techniques: ( a ) total and individual emissions, and ( b ) highest contributing processes.…”
Integrating sustainability goals into the selection of suitable soil stabilization techniques is a global trend. Several bio-inspired and bio-mediated soil stabilization techniques have been recently investigated as sustainable alternatives for traditional techniques known for their high carbon footprint. Enzyme Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) is an emerging bio-inspired soil stabilization technology that is based on the hydrolysis of urea to precipitate carbonates that cement sand particles. A life cycle assessment (LCA) study was conducted to compare the use of traditional soil stabilization using Portland cement (PC) with bio-cementation via EICP over a range of environmental impacts. The LCA results revealed that EICP soil treatment has nearly 90% less abiotic depletion potential and 3% less global warming potential compared to PC in soil stabilization. In contrast, EICP in soil stabilization has higher acidification and eutrophication potentials compared to PC due to byproducts during the hydrolysis process. The sensitivity analysis of EICP emissions showed that reducing and controlling the EICP process emissions and using waste non-fate milk has resulted in significantly fewer impacts compared to the EICP baseline scenario. Moreover, a comparative analysis was conducted between EICP, PC, and Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) to study the effect of treated soil compressive strength on the LCA findings. The analysis suggested that EICP is potentially a better environmental option, in terms of its carbon footprint, at lower compressive strength of the treated soils.
“…4 b, the emissions of PC production were mostly due to spoils from coal mining with 64% of the total EP of PC. Coal spoils are acidic and contain metal contamination that can leach to ecosystems due to their low water holding capacity 64 . Figure 4 Eutrophication potential of the PC and EICP soil stabilization techniques: ( a ) total and individual emissions, and ( b ) highest contributing processes.…”
Integrating sustainability goals into the selection of suitable soil stabilization techniques is a global trend. Several bio-inspired and bio-mediated soil stabilization techniques have been recently investigated as sustainable alternatives for traditional techniques known for their high carbon footprint. Enzyme Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) is an emerging bio-inspired soil stabilization technology that is based on the hydrolysis of urea to precipitate carbonates that cement sand particles. A life cycle assessment (LCA) study was conducted to compare the use of traditional soil stabilization using Portland cement (PC) with bio-cementation via EICP over a range of environmental impacts. The LCA results revealed that EICP soil treatment has nearly 90% less abiotic depletion potential and 3% less global warming potential compared to PC in soil stabilization. In contrast, EICP in soil stabilization has higher acidification and eutrophication potentials compared to PC due to byproducts during the hydrolysis process. The sensitivity analysis of EICP emissions showed that reducing and controlling the EICP process emissions and using waste non-fate milk has resulted in significantly fewer impacts compared to the EICP baseline scenario. Moreover, a comparative analysis was conducted between EICP, PC, and Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) to study the effect of treated soil compressive strength on the LCA findings. The analysis suggested that EICP is potentially a better environmental option, in terms of its carbon footprint, at lower compressive strength of the treated soils.
“…Nutrient‐rich biochar, such as animal manures, could sustain plant growth for a longer period (Peltz & Harley, 2015). Biochar binds heavy metals (Fellet et al, 2011; Gascó et al, 2020; Ghosh & Maiti, 2020; Novak et al, 2020), decreases toxic chemical concentrations, and normalizes soil acidity improving soil health which facilitates vegetative cover minimizing soil and nutrient loss and many other negative environmental consequences (Ippolito et al, 2019; Rodriguez‐Franco & Page‐Dumroese, 2021). Biochar improves plant diversity, sequesters atmospheric carbon, and reduces nutrient leaching in amended soils (Page‐Dumroese, 2015).…”
Section: Impact Of Biochar On Land Developmentmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The physico-chemical and biological properties of the mine spoil or tailing dump are site-specific depending on the geological and geographical configurations. Mine sites are usually characterized by large rock fragments, undulating topography, compacted soil, high bulk density, no or very negligible organic carbon and plant nutrients, extremely low WHC, low CEC, acidic spoil reaction (pH), toxic metal contamination, poor drainage, site-specific mild radioactivity, algal bloom, no or poor vegetation, and poor microbial diversity, all of which create challenges for their reclamation (Ghosh & Maiti, 2020).…”
Biochar or pyrogenic carbon, obtained from the thermo‐chemical conversion of biomass in an anaerobic or oxygen‐limited environment, has been in use in agriculture perhaps as far back as the Neolithic. Its unique soil‐ameliorating properties render it suitable for environmental remediation as well as sustainable crop production. It improves soil physicochemical properties and plant nutrient availability, reduces toxic chemical load, facilitates biodiversity, and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases thereby subsiding global warming. The application of biochar can reduce soil erosion, improve soil hydrological properties, and help soil microbial dynamics. It has synergistic effects on plant growth, disease‐pest resistance, and crop yield per unit area and time. Due to its soil‐ameliorative effects and soil and water‐conserving ability, it can be used beneficially in organic farming, permaculture, dryland farming, conservation agriculture, and land remediation. Cheaper production cost, simple, and easy pyrolytic technologies, easy availability of feedstock and bio‐wastes in many developing countries, and its long‐term effects on soil not only build up the soil carbon pool but also help support small and marginal farmers in resource‐rich but economically deprived countries for sustainable agriculture and land development. In this review, efforts have been made to elucidate various uses of biochar, its characteristics and applications effects on soil systems, land development, and sustainable agricultural production toward achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN‐SDGs).
“…Kumar et al [37] and Masto et al [38] both reported that use of biochar made from invasive weeds, when added to agricultural soils, resulted in significant microbial biomass increases that corresponded to biochar amendment rate. These results led Ghosh and Maiti [39] to hypothesize that such biochars could be used to remediate coal mine spoils.…”
Even after remediation, mining impacted soils can leave behind a landscape inhospitable to plant growth and containing residual heavy metals. While phytostabilization can be used to restore such sites by limiting heavy metal spread, it is reliant on soil capable of supporting plant growth. Manure-based biochars, coupled with compost, have demonstrated the ability to improve soil growth conditions in mine impacted soils, however there is a paucity of information regarding their influence on resident microbial populations. The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of these soil amendments on microbial community structure and function in mine impacted soils placed under phytostabilization management with maize. To this aim, a combination of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and enzymatic analyses were performed. Results indicate that microbial biomass is significantly increased upon addition of biochar and compost, with maximal microbial biomass achieved with 5% poultry litter biochar and compost (62.82 nmol g−1 dry soil). Microbial community structure was impacted by biochar type, rate of application, and compost addition, and influenced by pH (r2 = 0.778), EC (r2 = 0.467), and Mg soil concentrations (r2 = 0.453). In three of the four enzymes analyzed, poultry litter biochar treatments were observed with increased activity rates that were often significantly greater than the unamended control. Overall, enzyme activities rates were influenced by biochar type and rate, and addition of compost. These results suggest that using a combination of biochar and compost can be utilized as a management tool to support phytostabilization strategies in mining impacted soils.
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