seed-based phytoremediation approach
Cost Benefits:
- Seeds are significantly cheaper than established plants - often pennies per square foot of coverage
- Seeds can be stored long-term, allowing bulk purchasing
- Transportation costs are minimal due to small size and weight
- No need for expensive planting equipment or irrigation systems at startup
- Seeds can often be harvested from mature plants for future use, creating a self-sustaining cycle
Labor Efficiency:
- Seeds can be broadcast by hand or simple mechanical spreaders
- No need to dig individual planting holes
- One person can cover large areas quickly
- Minimal site preparation required - often just surface scarification
- Natural succession allows plants to establish where conditions are most suitable
Diagnostic Advantages:
- Bio-indicator species grown from seed will only establish in areas where they can survive
- Failed germination in specific areas can indicate severe contamination zones
- Different growth patterns across the site help map contamination levels
- Multiple species can be mixed in single seeding for broader diagnostic coverage
- Natural selection will favor plants best suited to specific contaminants
Soil Protection:
- Quick-germinating species provide rapid soil coverage
- Root systems help prevent erosion
- Plant cover reduces dust from contaminated soil
- Organic matter addition begins immediately as plants establish
- Creates microhabitats for beneficial soil organisms