Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Assessment of the efficacy of an organic and biotechnological approach to fly ash amendment and its subsequent phytostabilization using two different medicinally important plants |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Focus area : | Environmental Remediation |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Bhanu Pandey, CSIR- Central Institute Of Mining And Fuel Research, Jharkhand |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | bhanubot@gmail.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | India produced 228 million tonnes of fly ash in 2018-19, with 49 million tonnes remaining unused. Sustainable fly ash (FA) management is crucial for mitigating environmental pollution and health concerns due to toxic elements and organic compounds. Bioremediation of FA discharge sites and phytoextraction of metal-contaminated FA deposits using climate-resilient plant species can be promising approaches. We hypothesised that the combined effect of effluent-treated sludge (ETS) and isolated microorganisms may enhance the performance of the chosen phytoremediators and promote their growth in utrient-deficit FA soil samples. The primary objective of proposed research is to investigate the phytoremediation potential of lemongrass and periwinkle in FA waste remediation. The research aims to evaluate bioremediation technology and it's subsequent effect on plant physiological mechanism, and ultimately on their respective medicinal compounds in the selected test plants, and identify the most effective phytoremediator for FA soil. However, establishing plants in FA can be challenging due to factors like high pH, lack of micronutrients, high soluble salts, and elevated amounts of toxic elements. The proposed solution is to use an organic and biotechnological approach that incorporates biofertilizers and phytoremediators while adding organic matter to the FA amended soil. The study's originality lies in its emphasis on an integrated strategy to waste reclamation through the use of phytoremediators and unravelling the detailed mechanisms in these phytoremediators that could ultimately result in their yield alteration. The research will analyse soil from the rhizosphere of plants near FA dumpsites to isolate and identify microbes. Lemongrass and Periwinkle seeds or saplings will be planted in pots with different ratios of garden soil, FA amended soil with ETS and isolated microbial innoculum. Soil samples of respective treatment will be analysed to evaluate the effectiveness of the FA amended soil and ETS mixture for phytoremediation purposes. Effectiveness of these bioremediation treatments can be evaluated in terms of plant growth analysis, different gas exchange parameters, their biochemical attributes, and their respective medicinally important components. The study will also shed light to the underlying physiological mechanism and varying responses of the selected phytoremediators to these treatments. The comprehensive plan for utilizing the project's results includes identifying stakeholders, sharing outcomes through various channels, developing sustainable practices for fly ash reuse and vegetation covering, encouraging phytoremediation, developing microbial-based bioremediation techniques, promoting climate-resilient plant species, and regularly monitoring and evaluating practices. The ultimate goal of the plan is to create sustainable techniques that address environmental pollution and public health concerns related to FA and other waste types. |
Total Budget (INR): | 32,21,079 |
Organizations involved