Phytoremediation properties of perennial legumes for the restoration of degraded set-aside lands
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Vinnytsia National Agrarian University, 3 Sonyachna St, Vinnytsia, 21008, Ukraine
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Military-induced land degradation in Ukraine has emerged as a critical challenge for Europe, with more than 10 million hectares of land have been affected by hostilities, landmines, and chemical contamination caused by explosions. This study (2020–2025) evaluated the phytoremediation and agroecological restoration potential of Lotus corniculatus L. and Galega orientalis Lam. cultivated on degraded and abandoned Greyic Phaeozems in Ukraine. The six-year cultivation cycle of Galega orientalis resulted in a net increase in soil humus content of 0.22%, an increased soil pH from 5.0 to 5.4, and reduced hydrolytic acidity to 4.7 meq/100 g soil. In addition, Galega orientalis promoted the accumulation of alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (151 mg kg⁻¹) and available phosphorus (420 mg kg⁻¹), while improving dry macroaggregation and increasing the proportion of agronomically valuable aggregates to 97.5%.
In contrast, Lotus corniculatus enhanced exchangeable potassium content (77 mg kg⁻¹) and exhibited superior heavy metal remediation efficiency. Over the six-year period, the concentrations of bioavailable heavy metals decreased by 3.2–5.0 times, reaching minimum values of 1.8 mg kg⁻¹ for Pb, 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ for Cd, 2.0 mg kg⁻¹ for Cu, and 1.8 mg kg⁻¹ for Zn. Lotus corniculatus also demonstrated exceptional aggregate-binding capacity, increasing water-stable aggregates to 93.5% and raising the soil structural coefficient to 24.5.
The findings indicate that differentiated phytoremediation strategies should be applied to degraded and post-war degraded lands. Lotus corniculatus is recommended for areas with high erosion risk requiring rapid detoxification and soil stabilization, whereas Galega orientalis is more suitable for marginal lands requiring intensive humification and nutrient enrichment.