S_Nin_et_al.mp4

Recording of presentations at the Suricates project closing conference

Title : Recycling marine sediments: an opportunity for green ornamentals

Stefania NIN*1, Edgardo GIORDANI2 , Francesco NICESE2 1 Research Centre for Vegetables and Ornamental Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Via dei Fiori 8, 51012 Pescia, PT (Italy) 2 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science And Technology (DAGRI), University of Florence, Viale delle Idee 30, Sesto Fiorentino. FI (Italy) * Corresponding author e-mail: stefania.nin@crea.gov.it

Summary :

The utilization of marine sediments in agriculture presents a viable solution to the issue of waste disposal by reducing the need for storage of dredged material. However, directly incorporating these sediments into cultivation practices can hinder crop growth and yield. Therefore, it is crucial to employ techniques such as phytoremediation and the blending of sediments with other organic and inorganic materials to ensure optimal crop productivity and quality. The phytoremediated marine sediment has been recognized as a relatively inert matrix that successfully reduces the reliance on peat in growing media recipes. The promotion of sustainable alternatives to peat by European funding and commercial policies has further supported this approach, which must adhere to specific technical requirements based on the production sector.

Recent studies have demonstrated the successful growth of various crops, including pomegranate, strawberry, salad, wild strawberry, and basil, using sediment-based growing media that are safe for human consumption. However, concerns arise when using such sediments for food crop cultivation due to potential residues of harmful metals and persistent organic pollutants, posing a risk to human health. Conversely, the presence of toxic residues in ornamental plants is less problematic. This sector, which primarily relies on container production and the use of peat in growing media, faces a particularly intense production process and source utilization that significantly impacts the environment compared to food crops grown in open fields. Currently, there is still limited knowledge regarding the feasibility of combining phytoremediated sediment with other standard matrices for containerized production of ornamental and flowering plants. This paper aims to provide an overview of scientific evidence and explore opportunities for sustainable production of commercially important ornamental plant species using sediment-enriched substrates. The focus is on the potential reuse and recycling of sediments in agriculture and landscape greening, based on the findings of the LIFE HORTISED (LIFE14 ENV/IT/000113), LIFE SUBSED (LIFE17 ENV/IT/000347), and LIFE AGRISED (LIFE17 ENV/IT/269) projects. Results strongly support the assumption that the phytoremediated sediment can be successfully used as growing media constituent other than peat or coconut in the proportion varying between 25-50% for growing a number of ornamental plants, such as Viburnum tinus, Photinia × fraseri, Prunus laurocerasus, Protea cynaroides, and Calla lily.

Acknowledgements: The LIFE HORTISED, AGRISED and SUBSED projects are funded by the European Union as part of the LIFE programme 2014-2020.