Research Keyword: Soil remediation

Advancements in biopile-based sustainable soil remediation: a decade of improvements, integrating bioremediation technologies and AI-based innovative tools

This review examines how biopile technology, which uses naturally occurring microorganisms to break down soil pollutants, has improved over the past decade. By optimizing conditions like moisture, temperature, and oxygen levels, and combining biopiles with sustainable materials like biochar and biosurfactants, scientists can effectively remove contaminants from soil while supporting carbon storage and ecosystem recovery. The approach offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional chemical remediation methods.

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Soil health alterations via compost additions to natural and remediated heavy metal-contaminated mineland soils

Abandoned mining sites in Missouri left contaminated soils that couldn’t support plant growth. Researchers tested whether adding compost could restore these soils to health comparable to natural prairie. They found that applying 180 tons of compost per hectare successfully restored soil quality and plant growth while keeping heavy metal levels safe for livestock, making it an effective and affordable solution for healing mining-damaged lands.

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Bioaccumulation and physiological changes in the fruiting body of Agaricus bisporus (Large) sing in response to cadmium

This research shows that button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) can absorb and accumulate harmful cadmium from contaminated soil. When exposed to cadmium stress, the mushrooms increase their protective chemical defenses, including antioxidant enzymes and organic acids, to survive the toxic conditions. The study demonstrates that these edible mushrooms could potentially be used as a practical and cost-effective method to clean up cadmium-polluted soils.

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Mycoremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil Using Native Ganoderma and Trametes Strains from the Ecuadorian Amazon

Researchers from Ecuador tested native fungi from the Amazon rainforest for their ability to clean up oil-contaminated soil. Five fungal species were found to remove over 96% of petroleum hydrocarbons in just 60 days through their natural enzymatic systems. These results show that fungi from biodiverse regions could offer an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional soil cleanup methods, particularly important for communities affected by oil extraction pollution.

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Gene duplication, horizontal gene transfer, and trait trade-offs drive evolution of postfire resource acquisition in pyrophilous fungi

Scientists studied fungi that thrive in burned soils after wildfires. They discovered these ‘fire-loving’ fungi have special genes for breaking down charcoal and acquiring nutrients, but this specialization comes at a cost—they grow more slowly than other fungi. The research identified three main evolutionary strategies these fungi use: duplicating useful genes, sexually reproducing to create genetic diversity, and occasionally borrowing genes from bacteria. These findings could help develop treatments to restore polluted or fire-damaged soils.

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