Transcriptome Analysis of Invasive Plants in Response to Mineral Toxicity of Reclaimed Coal-Mine Soil in the Appalachian Region.

Efficient postmining reclamation requires successful revegetation. By using RNA sequencing, we evaluated the growth response of two invasive plants, goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), grown in two Appalachian acid-mine soils (MS-I and -II, pH ∼ 4.

Chelant-enhanced heavy metal uptake by Eucalyptus trees under controlled deficit irrigation.

We tested the hypothesis that controlled deficit irrigation (CDI) of the fast growing, salinity resistant Eucalyptus camaldulensis tree with timely EDTA application can enhance sediment clean-up while minimizing leaching of metal complexes. 220-L lysimeters containing a sand-metal-polluted sludge mixture. Established saplings were irrigated with tap or desalinized (RO) water with/without 4-times daily addition of EDTA, EDDS and citric acid.

Chicken manure biochar as liming and nutrient source for acid Appalachian soil.

Acid weathered soils often require lime and fertilizer application to overcome nutrient deficiencies and metal toxicity to increase soil productivity. Slow-pyrolysis chicken manure biochars, produced at 350 and 700°C with and without subsequent steam activation, were evaluated in an incubation study as soil amendments for a representative acid and highly weathered soil from Appalachia. Biochars were mixed at 5, 10, 20, and 40 g kg into a Gilpin soil (fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludult) and incubated in a climate-controlled chamber for 8 wk, along with a nonamended control and soil amended with agronomic dolomitic lime (AgLime).

Role of organic matter in microbial transport during irrigation with sewage effluent.

Reduction of migration of fecal coliforms (FC) and streptococci (FS) by limiting the leaching in effluent-irrigated soil was tested in lysimeters packed with quartz sand without or with added biosolids compost or with one of two clayey soils. The 200-L, 70-cm-deep lysimeters were either planted with a Eucalyptus camaldulensis or an Oroblanco citrus tree (in the sand only), or not planted. The Eucalyptus was irrigated with oxidation pond effluent (OPE) and the Oroblanco with mechanical-biological treatment plant effluent (MBTPE).