Self-sustaining Revegetation Program Based on Soil Science

Traditionally, soil analysis has focused on chemical and physical properties, often overlooking soil biology’s critical role. Effective soil management influences the soil microbiome, affecting the ecosystem’s health and sustainability. Recognizing and managing soil biology is crucial for successful soil remediation and revegetation, especially considering past limitations.

In today’s rapidly changing environmental landscape, innovative, sustainable soil remediation, revegetation and erosion control methods are essential. EnviroStraw’s BioGrowth™ Program uses innovative soil science and analysis, advanced technologies and eco-friendly regenerative practices to cost-effectively transform degraded soils into thriving ecosystems. This program addresses ecological factors and constraints even in challenging environments, mitigating risks typically associated with unsuccessful revegetation projects.

A Revolution in Soil Science and Remediation
Effective remediation now requires a progressive strategy with a comprehensive biological understanding of soil science. Evaluating the complexities of degraded areas is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts.

Remediation methods that only emphasize chemical amendments and physical treatments, can inadvertently neglect vital soil biological health, quality and balance. This oversight has drawbacks, as maintaining soil health and balance is crucial for preserving soil functionality and supporting resilient plant growth.

Impractical and Ineffective Application
Typical agricultural remediation approaches are often unsuitable for natural ecosystems restoration and are not always environmentally friendly. These approaches can disrupt ecological balance and fail to support biodiversity and ecosystem recovery essential for sustainability.¹ These methods can also require substantial investment and inputs without necessarily yielding sustainable outcomes.

Potential Negative Effects of Excess Applications

• Mineral lock-up/immobilization of essential mineral nutrients, reducing nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and resulting in limited availability to plants.
• Increased volatilization, leaching and depletion that potentially pollute water, air and soil. Excessive nitrogen inputs waste resources and can cause soil acidification that further degrades soil quality.
• Excessive liming can create nutrient imbalances that lead to deficiencies and toxicities that potentially harm soil health and plant growth. Excessive liming can increase CO2 and N2O greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).²
• Disruption of microbial communities can occur with inappropriate use of soil amendments. They can inhibit vital soil biology-plant symbiotic processes, negatively affecting microbial community structure and diversity.³

Ineffective Soil Cultivation Practices
Increased soil bulk density, lack of structure, soil water repellency (SWR) and limited moisture infiltration and storage hinder deep-root development and plant growth when soil cultivation practices are ineffective.⁴

Elevated Levels of Weed Species
A less than comprehensive remediation program leads to inferior sowed seed strike rates, poor establishment and growth and the use of bio-incompatible agri-chemicals. Also, competition for nutrients can result in mineral deficiencies.

Compromised Soil Erosion Protection Practices
Adverse environmental impacts over prolonged periods that affect soil stability and health can be the result of compromised soil erosion protection.

The Need for Sustainable Practices
In contrast, the BioGrowth Program employs a comprehensive regenerative approach to address the biological, chemical and physical characteristics of soil. This balanced methodology enables tailor-made, precise and effective remediation and revegetation efforts, ensuring the restoration of healthy, thriving ecosystems.

The program integrates next-generation beneficial microbial inoculum technology into a soil remediation plan. Application of a multi-strain suite of beneficial bacteria and fungi enhances nutrient bioavailability and plant uptake.⁵ This technology also increases biological nitrogen fixation and soil carbon⁶ and can improve soil aggregation, stability and structure.⁷ Balanced microbial communities also help enhance water infiltration and retention, mitigate SWR and promote robust plant growth and resilience.⁸

Integrating controlled-release biomineral fertilisers (CRF) effectively addresses soil mineral imbalances and deficiencies while providing essential nutrients with minimal environmental impact.⁹ The base component of these fertilisers, which are manufactured from natural ores,10 utilize specifically inoculated beneficial microbes to mediate gradual release of nutrients, to boost NUE, promote microbial biomass formation and increase stable soil organic carbon,¹¹ which leads to larger root growth and improved root architecture.⁹

Additionally, the use of slow-release nitrogen fertiliser, biological nitrogen fixation and enhanced phosphorus uptake efficiency in the rhizosphere reduces the need for large inputs of water-soluble nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers.¹² This approach minimizes the risks to water sources and environmentally sensitive areas. Enhancing soil fertility, nutrient bioavailability and increasing long-term stable total soil carbon, reduces the need for excessive application of conventional agricultural soil inputs. It also “biologically” addresses issues such as mineral lock-up, nutrient volatilization and leaching, while helping to reduce soil toxicity and mitigate GHG emissions.^5,7,12,13

Employing “beyond best practice” regenerative revegetation methodologies, such as hydromulch with applied seed, can effectively address challenges associated with inadequate topsoil. Advanced eco-friendly hydromulching solutions made from waste derived from renewable and sustainable natural fibers, such as wheat straw, and integrated with biomineral and microbial technologies, enhance soil stabilization, moisture retention and seed germination.¹⁴ These straw-based hydromulch media are designed to rehabilitate disturbed and degraded soils, promoting successful revegetation. They improve soil health, support vegetative cover establishment in mine site rehabilitation and increase microbial biomass carbon, aiding in erosion control.^6,7,8,11,14

A cornerstone of this revegetation program’s commitment to self-sustainability and the principle of the circular economy includes utilizing waste materials like wheat straw, biochar and recycled natural ores. These inputs enhance soil physicochemical properties, support microbial activity, increase soil carbon sequestration for recalcitrance and aggregate protection,^6,7,11 erosion control and stabilization of minerals and heavy metals that are ideal for rehabilitating construction sites, mine sites and contaminated areas.^13,14,15

Research and Innovation
Studies conducted by researchers at various universities and institutions have been crucial in helping develop the scientific foundation and technologies incorporated in the program.5,6,9,10,14 These studies explored the interactions between soil amendments, microbial activity, plant growth and carbon sequestration, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms of the program’s practices.

These advanced eco-friendly technologies enhance soil structure, fertility and plant performance leading to better water-holding capacity, soil stability and reduced erosion. The improvements support long-term ecological balance, climate mitigation, biodiversity enhancement, reduced carbon footprints and sustainable land management.

This regenerative program has proven effective in various projects, including roads, railways, construction, mine sites and pastoral lands. The program enhances microbial biomass, erosion control and metal uptake, which is crucial for commercial and mine site rehabilitation. For example, combining perennial ryegrass, biomineral fertiliser and wheat straw has improved soil health and plant establishment in iron ore tailings rehabilitation.

The combination of advanced soil science and analysis, recycled and sustainable inputs, and innovative technologies has produced a program that offers a transformative approach to soil remediation and revegetation. This program provides a comprehensive solution for rehabilitating degraded soils and promoting ecological balance, which is essential for a greener, more resilient future. 

References

1. Ding et al. 2024. A Review of Life Cycle Assessment of Soil Remediation Technology: Method Applications and Technological Characteristics. Reviews Env.Contamination 262,4.
2. Sanderman. Can management induced changes in the carbonate system drive soil carbon sequestration? A review with particular focus on Australia, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 2012 155,70–77.
3. Zhong et al. 2010. The effects of mineral fertilizer and organic manure on soil microbial community and diversity. Plant Soil 326,511–522.
4. Lee et al. 2014. Influence of amendments and aided phytostabilization on metalavailability and mobility in Pb/Zn mine tailings. J. Environ. Manage. 139,15–21.
5. Tshewang et al. 2020. Growth and nutrient uptake of temperate perennial pastures are influenced by grass species and fertilisation with a microbial consortium inoculant. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 183,530–538.
6. Strydom et al. 2022. A Case Study Demonstrating How Enhanced Beneficial Microbial Activity Builds Carbon and Balances Highly Disturbed Soils – IECA Australasia Conference Coffs Harbour 10/2022.
7. Fan et al. 2022. The Underlying Mechanism of Soil Aggregate Stability by Fungi and Related Multiple Factor: A Review. Eurasian Soil Sc. 55,242–250.
8. Adewara et al. 2024. Soil Formation, Soil Health and Soil Biodiversity. In: Aransiola et al. (eds) Prospects for Soil Regeneration and Its Impact on Environmental Protection. Earth & Environmental Sciences Library. Springer, Cham.
9. Tshering et al. 2022. Microbial Consortium Inoculum with Rock Minerals Increased Wheat Grain Yield, Nitrogen-Use Efficiency, and Protein Yield Due to Larger Root Growth and Architecture. Agronomy 12,2481. 10.3390/agronomy12102481.
10. Assainar et al. 2020. Polymer-coated rock mineral fertilizer has potential to substitute soluble fertilizer for increasing growth, nutrient uptake, and yield of wheat. Biology and Fertility of Soils 56,381-394.
11. Zhou et al. Global turnover of soil mineral-associated and particulate organic carbon. 2024. Nature Commun 15,5329.
12. Ghafoor et al. 2021. Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers enhance growth, yield, NUE in wheat crop and reduce nitrogen losses under an arid environment. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 28,43528–43543.
13. Adesemoye et al. 2008. Enhanced plant nutrient use efficiency with PGPR and AMF in an integrated nutrient management system. Can J Microbiol 54:876–886. Sarathchandra et al. 2022. Metal uptake from iron ore mine tailings by perennial ryegrass is higher after wheat straw amendment than wheat straw biochar amendment. Plant and Soil. Advance online publication.
14. Golia, E. 2023. The impact of heavy metal contamination on soil quality and plant nutrition. Sustainable management of moderate contaminated agricultural and urban soils, using low cost materials and promoting circular economy, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy 33,101046.

About the Expert
Paul Storer MSc, CPAg, is the senior soil microbiologist with Envirostraw, which is in Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia. With over 43 years of extensive on-going experience in soil science research, fieldwork, farm management and revegetation best practice programs and numerous publications, he bridges the gap between academic research and tangible industry applications.