Anthropocene - from past land use to future applications

This research intent is focused on the research of innovative phytotechnologies with potential to achieve multiple synergic positive environmental effects (such as combination of phytoremediation with production of energetic biomass or increased carbon sequestration). Sequel to running research, project activities will be focused, among others, on the phytoremediation of emerging and persistent pollutants (such as pharmaceuticals or chlorinated pesticides) using industrial crops, carbon sequestration and green-house gases fluxes in these plantations, testing of novel resilient plant species, isolation and characterization of novel plant-growth promoting bacteria, priming as a tool for plant growth and modulation of biomass composition or evaluation of changes of associated microbial communities. Experiments will be carried out both in defined laboratory, growth chamber, and greenhouse conditions as well as in field scale. Several previously established plantations (case studies) with defined history will be used including unique sites with >50 years ongoing fertilising experiment or chronosequences of energetic use grasses. Results will have application potential in many areas such as reclamation of post-mining sites and brownfields, productive remediation of contaminated soils or plant-based mitigation of climate change.