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Synergistic Effects of Lavandula angustifolia and a Bacterial Consortium on Bioremediation of a Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil

Summary

This study demonstrates how planting lavender combined with beneficial soil bacteria can effectively clean industrial contaminated soil. Over 90 days, this combined approach significantly reduced toxic lead and tin in the soil while improving overall soil health. The lavender plant works synergistically with the bacteria to create an ideal environment for metal removal and soil recovery, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional soil cleanup methods.

Background

Heavy metal contamination in soils from industrial sites poses significant threats to ecosystem health and food security. Traditional remediation methods are costly and unsustainable. Plant-assisted bioremediation using aromatic plants combined with microbial bioaugmentation represents a promising eco-sustainable alternative.

Objective

To assess the efficacy of combining Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) with a four-strain bacterial consortium (Gordonia amicalis, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Acinetobacter puyangensis, and A. tibetensis) in remediating multi-contaminated soil from a former industrial site in Southern Italy.

Results

The combined PLANT+BIOAUG treatment significantly reduced total Pb and Sn concentrations by 44.7% and 66.9% respectively, with increased soil pH and microbial abundance. The Soil Quality Index achieved the highest score (0.73) for PLANT+BIOAUG, compared to 0.58 for PLANT and 0.48 for BIOAUG alone.

Conclusion

The integrated strategy of plant-assisted bioremediation with lavender and bacterial bioaugmentation effectively reduces heavy metal contamination while restoring soil quality and microbial activity. This scalable, multifunctional approach aligns with ecological restoration and circular economy principles for sustainable contaminated site management.
  • Published in:Plants (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.3390/plants14172734, PMC12430180, PMID: 40941900
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