Management Implications
One of the key problems of invasive plant management is the safe utilization of biomass after eradication. Existing approaches (composting, incineration, etc.) have some limitations. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a sustainable, cost-effective technology that allows the treatment of wet plant biomass at elevated temperatures (160–250 C) and pressures, producing carbonaceous material such as hydrochar and humic-like substances known as artificial humic substances (AHS). HTC provides possibilities for transforming the carbon of invasive plant biomass into less biologically accessible materials; therefore, the process can be positioned as a carbon capture and storage technology. This article aims to demonstrate the possibilities of safe utilization of invasive plant biomass, admitted as waste material, obtained after invasive plant eradication to produce AHS and subsequently investigates their properties. AHS resemble natural humic substances, the primary organic components in soil, peat, and sedimentary matter, and may find practical application in agriculture and other areas of bioeconomics.
Introduction
The intensive spread of invasive plants presents a significant environmental challenge. These plants, including herbaceous species, trees, and shrubs, are nonnative species capable of outcompeting local flora. Invasive plants adversely affect biological diversity, ecosystem services, agricultural production, forestry, and even human and animal health (Rai and Singh Reference Rai and Singh2020).
Driven by global trade, transport, and climate change, the proliferation of invasive plants imposes substantial economic costs; for example, in the European Union (EU), these costs amount to tens of billions of euros annually (Haubrock et al. Reference Haubrock, Turbelin, Cuthbert, Novoa, Taylor, Angulo, Ballesteros-Mejia, Bodey, Capinha, Diagne, Essl, Golivets, Kirichenko, Kourantidou and Leroy2021). To mitigate the risks, regulations have been established in the EU to control the spread of invasive plants (EU 2014) and define responsibilities for eradication (Sheppard et al. Reference Sheppard, Shaw and Sforza2006). Common eradication methods include mechanical or manual removal, the use of herbicides, and biological control measures. These efforts generate large amounts of biomass, making it challenging to safely use biomass from invasive plants. Traditional composting methods are not entirely compelling and safe due to the risk of seed propagation (Albano et al. Reference Albano, Ruiz, Ramos, Casero, Vázquez, Rodriguez, Moreno, Gallego, Cortes and Sánchez2015; Vaverková et al. Reference Vaverková, Adamcová, Winkler, Koda, Petrželová and Maxianová2020). Furthermore, composting generates greenhouse gases and is therefore not a climate-positive technology (Nordahl et al. Reference Nordahl, Preble, Kirchstetter and Scown2023; Sayara and Sánchez Reference Sayara and Sánchez2021). Other methods such as incineration and fermentation also have limitations (Epanchin-Niell et al. Reference Epanchin-Niell, Haight, Berec, Kean and Liebhold2012; Regan et al. Reference Regan, McCarthy, Baxter, Dane Panetta and Possingham2006). From a bioeconomics perspective, invasive plant biomass may serve as a valuable resource, and developing safe, effective utilization and valorization methods is crucial (Wei et al. Reference Wei, Huang, Quan, Zhang, Liu and Ma2018; Wiatrowska et al. Reference Wiatrowska, Wawro, Gieparda and Waliszewska2021; Zihare and Blumberga Reference Zihare and Blumberga2017).
Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising technology for biomass waste processing, as it is sustainable and cost-effective and facilitates resource recovery (Nicolae et al. Reference Nicolae, Au, Modugno, Luo, Szego, Qiao, Li, Yin, Heeres, Berge and Titirici2020; Zhai et al. Reference Zhai, Peng, Xu, Wang, Li, Zeng and Zhu2017). HTC involves treating wet biomass at high temperatures (160–250 C) and pressures, sometimes in the presence of oxidizing agents or catalysts, leading to complete biomass transformation through thermochemical processes (hydrothermal humification) such as oxidation, hydrolysis, thermal decomposition, and dehydration in subcritical water (Nicolae et al. Reference Nicolae, Au, Modugno, Luo, Szego, Qiao, Li, Yin, Heeres, Berge and Titirici2020). Under hydrothermal humification conditions, hydrolysis of lignocellulose takes place, releasing simpler carbohydrates (glucose, xylose, etc.); this is followed by dehydration and combination of lignin fragments and polymerization to form fulvic, humic acids, and humin (Peng et al. Reference Peng, Gai, Cheng and Yang2023; Shao et al. Reference Shao, Li, Long, Zhao, Huo, Luo and Lu2024). This process produces hydrochar and artificial humic substances (AHS), transforming biomass carbon into less biologically accessible materials and positioning HTC among the carbon capture and storage technologies (Ischia and Fiori Reference Ischia and Fiori2021; Nicolae et al. Reference Nicolae, Au, Modugno, Luo, Szego, Qiao, Li, Yin, Heeres, Berge and Titirici2020). A recent study investigating the hydrothermal humification mechanism (Yang and Antonietti Reference Yang and Antonietti2020) supports the possibility of increasing AHS yields and designing the HTC process to produce desired HTC products, including AHS. However, to support broader utilization of HTC application, it is important to demonstrate its application to biomass types of bioeconomic interest. In this respect, a particular benefit must be attributed to the processing of invasive plant biomass; in the present case, the primary concern is the safety of the treatment and its efficiency in significantly reducing or eliminating further spread of the invasive plant.
AHS resemble natural humic substances, the primary organic components in soil, peat, and sedimentary matter. AHS hold properties like amphiphilicity and ion-binding capacities (Yang et al. Reference Yang, Zhang, Cheng and Antonietti2019), enhancing water and nutrient retention in soil (Yang and Antonietti Reference Yang and Antonietti2020). Their potential in various environmental technologies has been studied to some extent (Lan et al. Reference Lan, Du, Tang, Cheng and Yang2021; Yang et al. Reference Yang, Zhang, Fu and Antonietti2020), but possibilities to use AHS obtained from the processing of invasive plant biomass deserves further research.
This article aims to study the possibilities of safe utilization of invasive plant biomass obtained after plant eradication to produce AHS and to study their properties.
Materials and Methods
Materials
Three invasive plants (alien species), abundant in Europe and included in the list of the Commission Regulation 2022/1203, were chosen for the study: lupine [Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.], Sosnowsky’s hogweed [Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.], and Japanese knotweed [Polygonum cuspidatum Siebold & Zucc.]. Plants were sampled in the summer/autumn of 2023 in urban territories in the central part of Latvia, Riga and Kekava (56.99576°N, 24.21882°E and 56.813225°N, 24.258978°E, respectively) as composite samples containing leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds); fresh wet plant biomass was stored frozen at −20 C until analysis. Corresponding plant seeds were used for the early plant development study implemented alongside the HTC process study. Before analytical characterization, plant biomass was dried overnight at 105 C in a drying oven (Plus II Oven, Labasco), then milled using a laboratory cutting mill (Fritsch Pulverisette 15, Fritsch) to a particle size <1 mm. The elemental composition and ash content of the biomass samples are provided in Table 1.
Table 1. Elemental composition of investigated invasive plant biomass
For comparison purposes, reference compounds such as standardized humic acids (Humic acid, technical, Sigma-Aldrich) and humic acids isolated from peat in our previous studies (Klavins and Purmalis Reference Klavins and Purmalis2013; Krumins and Klavins Reference Krumins and Klavins2022) were used.
HTC
HTC primarily was performed in an alkaline medium. About 20 g of finely ground biomass was weighed into a Teflon™ capsule, to which 220 ml of 0.65 M KOH (analytical grade, Sigma-Aldrich) were added. The capsule was then inserted into a stainless-steel container and sealed. The reaction mixture was heated at 200 C for 24 h in an oven, then slowly cooled and filtered to separate hydrochar from the AHS solution. To evaluate the effects of temperature and reaction time, similar experiments were performed with invasive plant biomass heated at 200 C and 220 C for durations of 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h. To assess the impact of the catalyst on the process, alkaline medium was replaced with acidic medium (4% H2SO4, analytical grade, Sigma-Aldrich) and neutral medium by deionized water (<0.1 µS, Millipore Elix-3, Millipore), maintaining the same biomass mass-to-volume ratio. The HTC process was conducted for 24 h at 200 C for both the neutral and acidic environments. After the reaction, the solid phase containing hydrochar was filtered off, extensively washed with deionized water, treated with 25 ml of ethanol, and dried in a desiccator to a constant weight. All tests were conducted in triplicate (n = 3) to ensure data reliability. The yield (%) of hydrochar was calculated using Equation 1:
$${Y_{{\rm{HC}}}} = \left( {{M_{{\rm{HC}}}}/{M_{{\rm{Raw}}}}} \right) \times 100$$
where Y HC is the hydrochar yield, M HC is the hydrochar weight, and M Raw is the biomass weight.
Isolation of Artificial Humic Acids
In the liquid phase remaining after the HTC process, total organic carbon (TOC) was analyzed using a total carbon analyzer (TOC-VCSN, Shimadzu). The content of artificial humic acids (AHA) in the liquid product was determined gravimetrically after acidification with 6 N HCl to pH = 1. Solid AHA were separated from the liquid by vacuum filtration, then washed with deionized water and dried in a desiccator to a constant weight to determine the yield relative to the weight of biomass. TOC of the liquid phase, consisting of fulvic acids and low-molecular-weight organic compounds (LMWOC), was also determined using a total carbon analyzer (TOC-VCSN, Shimadzu).
Characterization of Biomass and AHA
The elemental analysis to detect the C, H, N, S, and O content was conducted using an elemental analyzer equipment (EA-1108, Carlo Erba Instruments). The obtained values were normalized with respect to ash content. The ash content was measured by heating 50 mg of each sample at 750 C for 8 h.
Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were obtained using an FTIR spectrophotometer (IR-Tracer 100, Shimadzu) at a wavenumber interval of 4,000 to 400 cm−1, with a resolution of 4 cm−1 and 10 scans.
Ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectra were recorded using a γ UV spectrophotometer (UV-1800, Shimadzu) in a 1-cm quartz cuvette.
Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis was performed using a TG analyzer (SDT-Q600, TA Instruments) at a heating rate of 20 C min−1 under a dynamic flow of nitrogen (100 ml min−1) with 10 mg of a solid powder sample, recording TG curves.
Fluorescence spectra were acquired using a spectrofluorometer (Aqualog VS 140, Horiba). Emission wavelengths were set between 210 nm and 620 nm, and excitation wavelengths ranged from 200 nm to 600 nm. Data were captured at 1-nm intervals for both excitation and emission spectra. Raw fluorescence matrices were imported into the MATLAB R2020a (Mathworks) tool for preprocessing and analysis. Operations were performed using the N-way toolbox and the DOMFluor package (Chemometrics Research). A three-way data array was prepared for parallel factor analysis. Exploratory analyses, including visual inspection and principal component analysis, were used to determine the number of components for the subsequent Tucker decomposition model.
Early Plant Development Tests
Early plant development tests were conducted to evaluate the growth-stimulating activity of the studied humic substances, following the previously applied method (Ali et al. Reference Ali, Akbar, Razaq and Muhammad2014). The tests were performed using solutions of AHS and natural humic substances to assess their ability to stimulate plant development and growth through hormone-like and fertilizer-like activities.
Three plant species were used for the tests: common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), white mustard (Sinapis alba L.), and gardencress pepperweed (watercress; Lepidium sativum L.). Seeds were obtained from local suppliers and tested using five different concentrations (50, 250, 500, and 1,000 mg L−1) for each solution of humic substances, with deionized water serving as a control. The early plant development tests were carried out on Phytotestkit (Microbiotests) plates, using polyester cloth and filter paper as substrate replacements. Before planting, wheat seeds were surface sterilized in a 1:1 solution of chlorine-containing bleach (Ace, Procter & Gamble) and carefully rinsed with deionized water for 7 min, then washed with at least 2 L of deionized water, placed between damp filter papers in petri dishes, and kept in the dark at room temperature (21 C) for 2 d to germinate. Only seeds that had begun to germinate (germination rate about 50%) were used for further tests. Seeds of white mustard and gardencress pepperweed were soaked in deionized water for half an hour before being placed on the plates. The Phytotestkit plates were prepared by first covering them with a polyester cloth dampened with 7 ml of the appropriate test solution, and then covering the cloth with filter paper. The next step involved placing 10 seeds of each sample on the filter paper, which was then covered with a transparent plastic film. Each treatment was replicated twice. The plates were placed vertically in a growth chamber (Phytotoxkit, Microbiotests) in the dark at 25 C. Seeds of white mustard and gardencress pepperweed were grown for 3 d, but wheat seeds were grown for 5 d. At the end of the plant development tests, root and shoot lengths were measured, and the samples were separated and dried at 50 C for 12 h in a drying oven (Plus II Oven, Labasco) to obtain the dry mass of the samples. For comparison, the concentration-response dependence was calculated from the initial measurements (shoot or root length) as a percentage increase over the respective values of untreated control samples. The data obtained were subjected to one-way ANOVA tests (at a 95% confidence level), with a post hoc LSD test to differentiate treatments, using SPSS (IBM) and MS Excel (Microsoft) software.
Results and Discussion
Outcome of Synthesized AHS
Conditions of the HTC process applied for invasive plant biomass were selected based on results of previous studies on the use of HTC for biomass waste (Lan et al. Reference Lan, Du, Tang, Cheng and Yang2021; Yang et al. Reference Yang, Zhang, Cheng and Antonietti2019, Reference Yang, Zhang, Fu and Antonietti2020). However, the HTC process was further optimized to achieve the highest possible yields of AHS. The obtained results indicate a slight impact of the type of plant biomass on the yield of AHS. Significant increase of AHS yields in comparison with initial conditions was achieved, reaching the maximum yield up to 62% with respect to biomass carbon transformation. The yield of AHS and the differences among the main types of HTC products (hydrochar, AHA, fulvic acids, and LMWOC) varied depending on the pH applied in the HTC process (Figure 1A and 1B). The highest yield of AHS, on average 50% of biomass carbon, was obtained when the HTC process was performed using an alkaline medium. Complete transformation of invasive plant biomass was achieved, resulting in synthesis of humic acids, fulvic acids, LMWOC, and hydrochar, thus obtaining the compounds applicable in agriculture and environmental technologies (Nicolae et al. Reference Nicolae, Au, Modugno, Luo, Szego, Qiao, Li, Yin, Heeres, Berge and Titirici2020; Yang et al. Reference Yang, Zhang, Cheng and Antonietti2019).
Figure 1. Characterization of the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process applied to biomass of invasive plants (Heracleum sosnowskyi, Lupinus polyphyllus, and Polygonum cuspidatum): (A) organic carbon content in artificial humic acids (AHA), hydrochar (HC), and fulvic acids and low-molecular-weight organic compounds (FA+LMWOC); (B) the effect of pH on the yield of AHA; (C) the impact of the reaction duration time on the yield of AHA; (D) the effect of temperature on the yield of AHA.
The transformation of invasive plant biomass is significantly influenced by the duration of the process (Figure 1C). An optimal duration of approximately 3 h was found to be the most effective, as humic acids formed in a strong alkaline medium are hydrolyzed into LMWOC. Another factor affecting the HTC process is the temperature. An increase in temperature up to 250 C can elevate the yield of AHS up to 62% (Figure 1D). However, further temperature increase is limited due to the rise in pressure in the reaction vessel and the dominance of other carbonaceous matter transformation processes (González-Arias et al. Reference González-Arias, Sánchez, Cara-Jiménez, Baena-Moreno and Zhang2022).
Properties of AHS Produced
During the HTC process, significant changes occur in the elemental composition of invasive plant biomass, as evidenced by the differences between the plants and the AHA produced. The C and N content in the plant biomass ranges from 37% to 46% and from 0.5% to 2.2%, respectively. In contrast, AHA produced from L. polyphyllus has 60.34 ± 0.28% C content and 2.78 ± 0.08% nitrogen; from H. sosnowskyi, 68.94 ± 0.32% C content and 1.83 ± 0.08% N content; and from P. cuspidatum, 63.25 ± 0.32% C content and 3.15 ± 0.09% N content. Therefore, the elemental composition of AHA is within the range of values for naturally occurring soil humic acids (Rashad et al. Reference Rashad, Hafez and Popov2022) and humic acids isolated from peat (Klavins and Purmalis Reference Klavins and Purmalis2013; Krumins and Klavins Reference Krumins and Klavins2022). The analysis further indicates the removal of oxygen-containing moieties in AHS obtained from invasive plants (Table 2).
Table 2. Elemental composition of artificial humic acids (AHA) produced by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) from invasive plant biomass during this study and humic acids obtained from peat (Klavins and Purmalis Reference Klavins and Purmalis2013) and soil (Rashad et al. Reference Rashad, Hafez and Popov2022) for reference
The UV-Vis spectra of both AHA and reference humic acids, as revealed in Figure 2A, are featureless and show a monotonic decrease with increasing wavelength. However, in comparison to AHS derived from invasive plants, reference and peat humic acids demonstrated higher absorption capacity in the region around 280 nm, which is associated with the presence of aromatic structures in the molecules. Despite this, the UV-Vis spectra of both groups of humic acids are similar, differing only slightly in optical density.
Figure 2. Ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectra (A) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra (B) of artificial humic acids (AHA) obtained by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) from biomass of invasive plants (Lupinus polyphyllus, Heracleum sosnowskyi, and Polygonum cuspidatum) compared with peat-based humic acid (PHA) and standardized reference humic acid (RHA; Sigma-Aldrich).
Analysis of obtained FTIR spectra provides the characterization of functional groups of AHS (Figure 2B). In the wavenumber range from 3,500 to 3,300 cm−1, a broad hydroxyl group signal was observed, indicating an H–bonded OH stretch, which can be attributed to aliphatic hydroxyl bonds for bound water. Signals detected at 2,914 cm−1 and 2,850 cm−1 are attributed to the methylene (>CH2) C–H asymmetric/symmetric stretch of aliphatic hydrocarbons. In AHS obtained from H. sosnowskyi and P. cuspidatum, these signals are significantly more intense than in other humic substances studied. A characteristic carboxylic acid C=O signal was observed at 1,725 to 1,735 cm−1 for all substances. Alkenyl C=C stretch and aromatic ring stretch were observed at 1,650 cm−1 and 1,590 cm−1, respectively. Signals in the range of 1,490 to 1,500 cm−1 can be attributed to the ketone group C=O. A signal for aromatic acids was observed at 1,360 to 1,390 cm−1, while arylalkyl ethers, common in lignin –OCH3 groups, were identified at 1,280 to 1,260 cm−1. Glycosidic bonds, C–O–C, were detected at 1,200 to 1,180 cm−1. A peak in the wavenumber interval of 1,050 to 1,040 cm−1 corresponds to alcohol groups, C–OH, but aromatic carbon-hydrogen bonds, C–H, were observed at 910 to 900 cm−1. Generally, it can be concluded that after the HTC process, the quantity of oxygen-containing functional groups decreased due to dehydration and decarboxylation reactions, whereas the number of aromatic structures increased. This finding led to the corresponding characteristic peaks of aromatic structures in the range from 1,650 to 1,450 cm−1 becoming stronger and broader.
Advanced spectroscopic techniques, including fluorescence spectroscopy, were utilized to characterize the structural and functional aspects of AHA produced from invasive plants and reference humic acids. The excitation–emission matrices (EEMs) of the two types revealed evident similarities. EEMs for all samples (Figure 3) displayed two common peaks at EEM wavelengths of approximately 350/450 nm and 450/550 nm, with varying fluorescence intensities. Among the plant-derived AHA, compounds from L. polyphyllus exhibited the highest fluorescence intensity, followed by AHA derived from P. cuspidatum and H. sosnowskyi. Additionally, the EEMs of the latter showed greater complexity compared with AHA derived from L. polyphyllus, indicating potential differences in their molecular structures.
Figure 3. Excitation–emission matrices of artificial humic acids (AHA) obtained by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) from biomass of invasive plants (Lupinus polyphyllus, Heracleum sosnowskyi, and Polygonum cuspidatum) compared with reference peat-based humic acid.
These findings suggest that the plant biomass source influences the properties of AHA. The fact that all three plant-derived AHA exhibit peaks at wavelengths similar to those produced by peat-based humic acids indicates similarities in core molecular structures and common functional groups. However, the differences in fluorescence intensity and the additional complexities in the EEMs of AHA derived from P. cuspidatum and H. sosnowskyi, as well as in peat-based humic acids, point to variations in the degree of conjugation, the presence of different side chains, or additional functional groups not present in AHA derived from L. polyphyllus. For instance, increased complexity in the EEMs could arise from molecular heterogeneity, suggesting a broader range of molecular sizes or a higher degree of aromaticity. Such complexity indicates that AHA derived from P. cuspidatum and H. sosnowskyi possess a greater array or concentration of specific functional groups, such as carboxyl or phenolic groups. Therefore, the more complex EEM patterns for AHA derived from P. cuspidatum and H. sosnowskyi imply a different or more diverse set of molecular characteristics, which in turn may affect their role in the soil environment, including their reactivity and solubility.
In general, fluorescence peaks in the regions around (1) 450-nm emission with 350-nm excitation and (2) 550-nm emission with 450-nm excitation indicate the presence of aromatic and conjugated systems, which are typically responsible for the fluorescence of AHA. The complexities in the EEMs of AHA derived from P. cuspidatum and H. sosnowskyi suggest that these AHA contain a more diverse set of functional groups, each contributing differently to the overall fluorescence pattern. Higher emission wavelengths, as observed in the second peak, imply that the AHA molecules have an extended system of conjugated double bonds or larger aromatic networks, which tend to emit at longer wavelengths following excitation. This second peak could be indicative of the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons being larger and more complex aromatic structures.
The EEM profiles of peat-based humic acids derived after long-term anaerobic decomposition tend to be more stable and contain a higher proportion of oxygen-containing functional groups. In contrast, plant-derived AHA are relatively less mature and exhibit different sets of secondary metabolites. Nevertheless, their EEM profiles were found to be notably similar to those of peat-based humic acids, suggesting a level of structural and functional resilience that extends across their varying maturities and history of decomposition.
Thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA) of AHA obtained from invasive plants reflects differences in the composition of the precursor biomass and its transformation process during carbonization (Figure 4). The first thermal degradation step determines the amount of water (physically as well as constitutionally bound water molecules) and gas particles that detach up to 115 C. The second mass loss region is associated with significant mass loss (20% to 35%) at 280 to 295 C and is the result of the thermal decomposition of polysaccharides, decarboxylation of carboxylic acids, and dehydration of hydroxyl group–containing moieties (Dell’Abate et al. Reference Dell’Abate, Benedetti, Trinchera and Dazzi2002; Francioso et al. Reference Francioso, Montecchio, Gioacchini and Ciavatta2005). For most humic acids, TGA analysis revealed the major weight loss at 320 to 400 C, which could be attributed to the removal of the majority of functional groups as well as condensation reactions of unsaturated aliphatic structures to form polyaromatic structures (Peuravuori et al. Reference Peuravuori, Paaso and Pihlaja1999).
Figure 4. Thermogravimetric analysis of artificial humic acids (AHA) obtained by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) from biomass of invasive plants (Heracleum sosnowskyi, Lupinus polyphyllus, and Polygonum cuspidatum) compared with standardized reference humic acid (RHA; Sigma-Aldrich).
This thermal decomposition mechanism is common for the lignocellulose feedstock of invasive plant biomass, resulting in the development of highly condensed aromatic structures. There is a significant difference in the thermal transformation process of AHA obtained from L. polyphyllus and H. sosnowskyi on one hand, and AHA derived from P. cuspidatum and peat-based humic acids on the other. AHA derived from L. polyphyllus and H. sosnowskyi exhibit more intensive decomposition peaks at 280 to 295 C, indicating the presence of labile structures.
Applicability of AHS Produced from Invasive Plant Biomass in Agriculture
Humic substances of natural origin such as soil humic substances are essential for plant development, and humic acids isolated from them have biostimulatory properties (Conselvan et al. Reference Conselvan, Pizzeghello, Francioso, Foggia, Nardi and Carletti2017; da Silva et al. Reference Da Silva, Botero, de Lima, dos Santos and de Oliveira2019; Traversa et al. Reference Traversa, Loffredo, Gattullo, Palazzo, Bashore and Senesi2014; Vieira et al. Reference Vieira, Kledson, Oliveira, De Braga, Rosa and Botero2018).
AHS resulting from the HTC processing of invasive plant biomass have demonstrated potential in stimulating seed germination, early plant development and growth in three tested plants, white mustard, gardencress pepperweed, and wheat (Figure 5). The stimulatory effect varies depending on the plant species, the type of humic substance, and its concentration. The greatest impact on the development of wheat leaves was observed applying AHS obtained from P. cuspidatum at a concentration of 250 mg L−1; however, the plant development stimulatory effect decreases with increasing concentration. The impact of other AHS and peat-based reference humic acids did not vary much with concentration. The stimulatory effect on wheat root development is generally higher than that of peat-based humic acid and did not vary significantly with AHS concentration. Both AHS and peat-based humic acids stimulate the development of gardencress pepperweed leaves and roots, with the exception of AHS obtained from P. cuspidatum at a concentration of 25 mg L−1, and the stimulatory effect increases with concentration. The impact on white mustard development (both roots and leaves) is relatively independent of AHS and peat-based humic acids concentration but is higher than for the other test plants.
Figure 5. Relative changes in early plant development of tested species (white mustard [Sinapis alba], gardencress pepperweed [Lepidium sativum] and wheat [Triticum aestivum]) expressed as shoot and root length across a concentration range of applied solution of artificial humic substances (AHS) obtained during the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) from invasive plants (Lupinus polyphyllus, Heracleum sosnowskyi, and Polygonum cuspidatum) compared with reference peat-based humic acid (PHA) solutions, ranging from 25 mg L−1 to 1,000 mg L−1.
The observed biostimulatory impact of AHS and naturally occurring humic acids aligns with the results of other studies, in which the biostimulatory effect on plant growth of humic substances isolated from peat (Conselvan et al. Reference Conselvan, Pizzeghello, Francioso, Foggia, Nardi and Carletti2017; Traversa et al. Reference Traversa, Loffredo, Gattullo, Palazzo, Bashore and Senesi2014), composts (da Silva et al. Reference Da Silva, Botero, de Lima, dos Santos and de Oliveira2019), coal (Vieira et al. Reference Vieira, Kledson, Oliveira, De Braga, Rosa and Botero2018), and industrially produced humic substances (Klavins et al. Reference Klavins, Grandovska, Obuka and Ievinsh2021) was demonstrated. Differences in the stimulatory effect on plant development and growth can be attributed to varying humification conditions and varying composition of humic matter precursors. For example, peat-based humic acids are formed from lower plants such as mosses, while compost-based humic acids originate from higher vegetation. Variations in the N content of the studied AHS may also contribute to the differences in their biostimulatory activity on plant development. These findings add significant support to the potential application of AHS derived from invasive plants in agriculture.
HTC, a climate-neutral technology, effectively transforms invasive plant biomass through the chain of reactions called hydrothermal humification into refractory material, namely AHS, involving fulvic and humic acids. This transformation was demonstrated in three highly invasive and widespread plants, L. polyphyllus, H. sosnowskyi, and P. cuspidatum. The obtained AHS yield, which can reach up to 62%, primarily depends on pH, temperature, and the duration of the HTC process. Additionally, this process produces a solid carbonaceous material known as hydrochar. The elemental composition, spectral characteristics, and thermal decomposition parameters of AHS are generally similar to those of naturally occurring humic substances. Plant early development tests indicated that AHS, like naturally occurring humic substances, support plant development and can be applied as biostimulatory agents in agriculture and other areas of bioeconomics. During the HTC process, seeds of invasive plants lose their germination capacity and subsequent propagation ability. Therefore, HTC can be applied as a promising and economically valuable option in the reduction of invasive plants with supplementary acquisition of the substances valuable for bioeconomics.
Acknowledgments
This research is a part of the Latvian Council of Science project no. lzp-2022/1-0103 “Chemical Ecology of Invasive Plants as a Tool to Understand Their Competitiveness in Nature, Elaborate Their Control and Develop New Generation of Herbicides (InnoHerb).” The project extends the research initiated during the postdoctoral fellowship within the project no. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/4/20/723 implemented by OP. Special thanks to Lauris Arbidans for the acquisition of UV-Vis and FTIR spectra, and conducting TGA.
Funding
This research was funded by the Latvian Council of Science project no. lzp-2022/1-0103 “Chemical Ecology of Invasive Plants as a Tool to Understand Their Competitiveness in Nature, Elaborate Their Control and Develop New Generation of Herbicides (InnoHerb).”
Competing interests
The author declare no competing interests.
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