Mechanization in agriculture & Conserving of the resources
Vol. 69 (2025), Issue 3, pg(s) 70-72

MECHANIZATION IN AGRICULTURE

Phytoremediation of War-Induced Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils Using Humates from Ukrainian Lignite

  • 1 Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Priekuli, Latvia; Riga Technical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Riga, Latvia
  • 2 Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Priekuli, Latvia; Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Agriculture, Jelgava, Latvia
  • 3 Department of Oil, Gas & Solid Fuel Processing Technology, National Technical University Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute Kharkiv, Ukraine; Coal Department, State Enterprise Ukrainian State Research Institute for Carbochemistry (UKHIN), Kharkov, Ukraine
  • 4 Department of Oil, Gas & Solid Fuel Processing Technology, National Technical University Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute Kharkiv, Ukraine

Abstract

This study examines a combined remediation strategy that integrates humic acids derived from Ukrainian lignite with oat (Avena sativa L.) phytoremediation to restore soils contaminated with heavy metals as a result of military activities in Ukraine. Humic acids were extracted using an energy-efficient hydrocavitation method and applied to artificially contaminated peat at two dosages (1:5 and 1:10). The amendments markedly reduced the mobility and extractable concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, and Zn, with total decreases ranging from about 25% in the untreated control to nearly 47% under the highest humate application rate. Improved soil structure and stimulated root development contributed to enhanced plant tolerance and greater biomass production. Metal accumulation occurred predominantly in roots (68–90%), while only 10–32% was translocated into biomass, indicating effective stabilization within the soil–plant system and minimized risks for trophic transfer. These findings demonstrate that hydrocavitation-extracted lignite humates substantially reinforce phytoremediation efficiency and represent a scalable, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable solution for rehabilitating conflict-affected agricultural soils.

Keywords

References

  1. P. Pereira, F. Bašić, I. Bogunovic, and D. Barcelo, “Russian-Ukrainian war impacts the total environment,” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 837, p. 155865, Sep. 2022, doi: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2022.155865.
  2. O. Bonchkovskyi, P. Ostapenko, A. Bonchkovskyi, and V. Shvaiko, “War induced soil disturbances in north-eastern Ukraine (Kharkiv region): Physical disturbances, soil contamination and land use change,” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 964, p. 178594, Feb. 2025, doi: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2025.178594.
  3. J. K. Sharma, N. Kumar, N. P. Singh, and A. R. Santal, “Phytoremediation technologies and their mechanism for removal of heavy metal from contaminated soil: An approach for a sustainable environment,” Jan. 27, 2023, Frontiers Media S.A. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1076876.
  4. M. Jaskulak, A. Grobelak, and F. Vandenbulcke, “Modelling assisted phytoremediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals – Mainopportunities, limitations, decision making and future prospects,” Chemosphere, vol. 249, p. 126196, Jun. 2020, doi: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2020.126196.
  5. A. Piccolo, A. De Martino, F. Scognamiglio, R. Ricci, and R. Spaccini, “Efficient simultaneous removal of heavy metals and polychlorobiphenyls from a polluted industrial site by washing the soil with natural humic surfactants”, doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-12484-x/Published.
  6. Y. Zhang et al., “Optimal soil water content and temperature sensitivity differ among heterotrophic and autotrophic respiration from oasis agroecosystems,” Geoderma, vol. 425, p. 116071, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1016/J.GEODERMA.2022.116071.
  7. M. Olaetxea et al., “Root ABA and H+-ATPase are key players in the root and shoot growth-promoting action of humic acids,” Plant Direct, vol. 3, no. 10, Oct. 2019, doi: 10.1002/pld3.175.
  8. M. Zhylina, P. P. Karnozhytskyi, D. Miroshnichenko, V. Konohrai, V. Sterna, and J. Ozolins, “The effect of growth stimulants based on humic acids from Ukrainian lignite and biochar from agricultural residues on the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa),” Agronomy Research, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 571–584, 2025, doi: 10.15159/AR.25.013.
  9. Sobko, B.E., Shustov, A.A. and Belov, A.P. (2018). Potentsialnaya rol’ burogo uglya v energeticheskom balansye strany [The potential role of brown coal in the country’s energy balance]. Dnipro: National Mining University, Intechproekt, p. 42.
  10. Kulish, V.A. (2015). Dobycha burogo uglya v Dneprovskom basseine [Brown coal mining in the Dnieper basin]. Ugol Ukrainy, 6, pp. 17–22. Available at: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/ugukr_2015_6_5
  11. Pyshyev, S., Miroshnichenko, D., Shved, M., Korchak, B., and Lebediev, V. (2024). Reiestr rodovyshch buroho vuhillia Ukrainy, yaki rekomendovano vykorystovuvaty v “zelenykh” tekhnolohiiakh [Register of brown coal deposits in Ukraine recommended for “green” technologies]. Lviv: Spolom, 148 p. ISBN 978-617-8450-93-9. Available at: https://repository.kpi.kharkov.ua/handle/KhPI-Press/85228
  12. Tipping, E. (2004). Cation Binding by Humic Substances. Cambridge Environmental Chemistry Series, No. 11. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 434 p.
  13. Kravchenko, O., Miroshnichenko, D., Karnozhytskyi, P.P., Homan, V., et al. (2025). Intensifying the process of extraction of humic acids from brown coal using hydrocavitation activation methodology. International Journal of Energy for a Clean Environment, 26(4), pp. 61–75. https://doi.org/10.1615/InterJEnerCleanEnv.2024053521
  14. D. De Hita, M. Fuentes, V. Fernández, A. M. Zamarreño, M. Olaetxea, and J. M. García-Mina, “Discriminating the Short-Term Action of Root and Foliar Application of Humic Acids on Plant Growth: Emerging Role of Jasmonic Acid,” Front Plant Sci, vol. 11, Apr. 2020, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00493.

Article full text

Download PDF