Summary
This narrative review examines how plant biostimulants—substances commonly used in agriculture to enhance crop production and stress tolerance—can be repurposed to improve phytoremediation outcomes on contaminated sites. The authors synthesise published evidence across multiple biostimulant categories, demonstrating that these substances counteract the deleterious effects of pollutants on plants and increase remediation efficiency. The review indicates particularly strong potential for heavy metal remediation, positioning plant biostimulants as a cost-effective, green alternative to energy-intensive conventional remediation techniques.
UK applicability
The findings are potentially applicable to remediation of contaminated UK brownfield sites and agricultural land, particularly where heavy metal pollution is a concern. However, the review does not specifically address UK regulatory frameworks, soil conditions, or native plant species suitable for biostimulant-enhanced phytoremediation in temperate climates.
Key measures
Phytoremediation efficiency; plant stress tolerance and resistance to pollutants; effectiveness of biostimulant types in heavy metal and xenobiotic remediation
Outcomes reported
The review synthesised evidence on how plant biostimulants derived from humic substances, protein hydrolysates, inorganic salts, microbial consortia, seaweed extracts, plant extracts, and fungi improve phytoremediation effectiveness. The authors identified particularly promising prospects for heavy metal remediation using biostimulant approaches.
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