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Vidican Roxana

The Phytoremediation Potential of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. Grown in Soils Historically Polluted With Heavy Metals: A Case Study from Baia Mare, Romania

May 12, 2023 |

Roxana Vidican, Tania Mihăiescu, Anca Pleșa, Anamaria Mălinaș, Bianca Pop

ABSTRACT. The aim of this research is to evaluate the ability of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (LA) to accumulate and translocate heavy metals (HMs) from disturbed soils. The study was conducted on a site historically polluted with HMs, located in Baia Mare, Romania. Soil samples and underground (root) and aboveground parts of plants (leaves and stems) were collected from the study site and analysed for HM content (Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn) by XRF spectroscopy. The potential for phytoremediation of lavender was evaluated according to the bioconcentration (BCF) and the translocation (TF) factors. The results showed that LA efficiently accumulated Cd and Zn. A different partitioning of HM among plant tissues was observed, showing the highest content in the aboveground mass compared to that found in the root (except for Zn). The TF ranged between 0.62 and 3.59, with values higher than unity for Cd and Pb, revealing that this plant is a suitable candidate for phytoextraction of these two trace elements. According to the BCF values, it seems that lavender is able to bioaccumulate high amounts of Cd (6.66), Pb (1.09), and Zn (2.87). Although more research is necessary for conclusive results, our findings confirm the ability of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. to tolerate, accumulate, and translocate high levels of HMs from soil to the aerial parts of the plant.

Keywords: phytoremediation; lavender; heavy metals; bioconcentration and translocation factors.

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Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Dairy Farming Using the Cool Farm Tool

Mar 3, 2023 |

Roxana Vidican, Anamaria Mălinaș, Cristina Moldovan, Anca Pleșa, Mirela Ranta

ABSTRACT. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges mankind has ever faced and could lead to potentially devastating global problems, with a need for urgent mitigation and adaptation. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a major driver of climate change through its contribution to the total emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The dairy sector has been identified as an important source of GHG emissions, mainly via carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). In this study, total CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions were assessed from a dairy farm (65 dairy cows) located in Romania using the Cool Farm Tool calculator (CFT). We specifically aimed to calculate: (1) the total CO2 equivalent (CO2e) and CO2e per kg FPCM (fat- and protein-corrected milk); (2) methane emissions from enteric fermentation; (3) GHGs resulting from feeding practices; (4) GHGs from manure management; and (5) a simulation of two different scenarios and their impact on GHG emissions. Our results showed annual GHG emissions of 553,170 kg CO2e, almost half of which were released through enteric fermentation. Lactating cows were the major contributor to total GHG emissions, while heifers released the lowest emissions. The two scenarios simulated in this study showed that both the changes made in dairy diet composition and livestock manure management could result in lower GHG emissions. These results confirm the importance and utility of the CFT for the quantification of GHG emissions in dairy farms and its important role as a decision support tool to guide the adoption of good agricultural practices.

Keywords: dairy; greenhouse gases; emissions; climate change; enteric emissions; Cool Farm Tool.

* Abstract published in Conference Programme dedicated to LIFE SCIENCES TODAY FOR TOMORROW

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© by the authors; licensee Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment, Iasi, Romania. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)