Scientists are testing energy crops in contaminated areas

High vegetation season is a period of intensive work carried out by the Environmental Remediation Team on the experimental plots of the Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas. The research work is focused on the use of energy crops on degraded and heavy metal contaminated soils. Researchers are testing, i.a. Miscanthus x giganteus, Spartina pectinata, Panicum virgatum, Sida hermaphrodita, and new genotypes of seminal Miscanthus.

“We have three research sites. In Bytom - it is agricultural soil contaminated with heavy metals. The experimental plots in Piekary Śląskie are located in the immediate vicinity of the former zinc and lead plant Orzeł Biały. The soil is contaminated with heavy metals, and long ago it was a fallow land. In Gliwice, we have a reference area, i.e. uncontaminated soil. In experimental plots several species of energy plants are cultivated. Our aim is to assess the usefulness of contaminated and degraded areas for production of biomass for energy purposes”, says Dr. Jacek Krzyżak.

The researchers not only carry out a number of advanced experiments and measurements, but also work in the field to take care of the plants and maintain the plantation  in good agricultural condition.

“We assess the degree of soil contamination, plant growth and biomass production in different soil contamination conditions. We conduct measurements of physiological parameters of plants, such as photosynthesis intensity, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigments in leaves. Moreover, the use of modern equipment allows us to assess the structure of the field or to measure the magnetic susceptibility of the soil. What should be emphasised here is that the equipment purchased under the IETU restructuring process allowed us to significantly extend the scope of research conducted so far, as well as publish the obtained results in reputable scientific journals”, says Dr. Krzyżak .

The work is being carried out under two international research projects:  PHYTO2ENERGY (www.phyto2energy.eu) and MISCOMAR (www.miscomar.eu), as well as under the statutory grant.