Scientific research has found that heavy metals and mineral oil are the two most important substances that cause damage to the soil. If we do not protect the land, the land on which human beings rely for survival since ancient times may become waste soil, which will no longer be suitable for human habitation, nor can we provide the materials needed for human survival. Scientists have been looking for some plants that can repair the soil, and now have some gratifying results. Here is an introduction to 5 plants that can repair the soil.
Five kinds of plants with the function of soil restoration
1. Indian mustard
As published in the international journal Molecular Science, heavy metals not only affect industrial areas, but also pollute land and affect people's health. Cruciferae species are very effective in gathering specific metals, and also produce a lot of biomass in the process, while Indian mustard is the first.
Five kinds of plants with the function of soil restoration
It can remove three times more cadmium, 28% less lead and 48% less selenium than other species. It is also effective against zinc, mercury and copper. But what we don't know is that in the 1980s, people used Indian mustard to remove the reflective Cs137 (for phytoremediation of cesium contaminated soil in Chernobyl, Ukraine) from Chernobyl.
2. Willow
Water loving plants beautify the landscape, but they should not be limited to their appearance. They also have phytoremediation functions: their roots are powerful, they accumulate less heavy metals than mustard, and they can also deal with cadmium, nickel, and selenium, and survive in heavy metals such as diesel contaminated areas. You may remember westergas Fabriek garden in Amsterdam, which shows the recreational and restorative properties of willows through pools and water botanical gardens.
Five kinds of plants with the function of soil restoration
3. Poplar
The beneficial effects of poplar on Soil and groundwater have been widely studied. Their secret lies in the root system, which can hold a lot of water.
According to the research of National Environmental Health Science Institute, chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene or carcinogenic carbon tetrachloride are all organic pollutants, but hybrid poplar can deal with them well.
Five kinds of plants with the function of soil restoration
More importantly, the phytopet (bioremediation function of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems) database of bioremediation methods in Canada marks that poplar can degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene and o-xylene.
4. Indian grass
The study looked at how native plants in the Midwest of the United States benefited the soil and groundwater around them. Many people can find that Indian grass has been growing along the roadside, ignoring its ability to degrade common agricultural chemical residues, such as pesticides and herbicides.
Five kinds of plants with the function of soil restoration
Indian grass is one of nine gramineous family members divided by phytopet, which is used to repair petroleum hydrocarbon. The list also includes other grasses, such as the common Buffalo Grass or Western Wheatgrass.
5. Sunflower
The biodegradation of PAHs in soil by sunflower rhizosphere showed that sunflower could reduce PAHs in soil, but what really surprised people was the range of pollutants they collected.
Five kinds of plants with the function of soil restoration
Heavy metals such as lead, zinc (extracted from sunflowers and rapeseed), nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, cadmium, copper or manganese (corn, alfalfa and jujube and coconut trees planted between sunflowers absorb heavy metals) become their food, which is great because sunflowers can grow quickly and play a role.
In fact, one month old plants can remove 95% of uranium within 24 hours, demonstrating their ability to remove reflective metals such as cesium and strontium from groundwater. When sunflowers are intercropped with other species, some areas produce great results, such as abandoned mine areas.
In a word, the earth is everyone's, and we must start to protect the environment.