1Phytomanagement植物管理
Phytomanagement uses plants and soil conditioners to control the movement of nutrients and contaminants. This process stabilises, degrades, or removes contaminants, improves soil health, and can produce commercial products. This generates value from the land and creates a circular bio-economy.
植物管理（phytomanagement）借助植物与土壤改良剂来控制养分和污染物的迁移。这一过程可以稳定、降解或去除污染物，改善土壤健康，并产出具有商业价值的产品，从而让土地重新创造价值，形成循环生物经济。
We can establish native ecosystems to manage agricultural and municipal waste. These systems absorb excess nutrients and produce native products such as honey or essential oils. Their root zones accelerate the breakdown of organic contaminants and promote pathogen die-off. The restored vegetation also provides ecosystem services, including pollinator support, shelter, fibre, supplementary stock fodder, and improved aesthetics.
我们可以营建原生生态系统来处理农业和城市废弃物。这类系统能吸收过量养分，并产出蜂蜜、精油等原生产品；其根际能加快有机污染物的降解，并促使病原体死亡。恢复后的植被还提供多种生态系统服务，包括支持传粉昆虫、遮蔽防风、提供纤维与补充性牲畜饲料，以及改善景观。
Phytomanagement works on soils with a wide range of contaminants, including trace elements from fertilisers and persistent organic pollutants. We can amend soils deficient in essential trace elements with biological wastes and specific crops to correct micronutrient deficiencies in humans and livestock.
植物管理适用于含有多种污染物的土壤，包括来自肥料的微量元素以及持久性有机污染物。对于缺乏必需微量元素的土壤，我们可以施用生物废弃物并配合特定作物，纠正人和牲畜的微量营养素缺乏。
2Soil contamination & trace elements土壤污染与微量元素
Soil contamination土壤污染
Healthy soils underpin the production and quality of food and water. High concentrations of contaminants can damage soil health. Soil contamination can arise from natural processes or, more commonly, from human activities. Some unwanted elements, such as nickel, boron, and fluorine, occur naturally at high concentrations during soil formation or from events like volcanic eruptions. Human activity, including agriculture, industry, and transport, continually adds contaminants to soil.
健康的土壤是食物与水的产量和品质的基础。污染物浓度过高会损害土壤健康。土壤污染可能源于自然过程，但更常见的是来自人类活动。镍、硼、氟等不受欢迎的元素，有时在成土过程中或火山喷发等事件中天然地达到高浓度；而农业、工业与交通等人类活动则在不断向土壤中加入污染物。
For most contaminated soils, the cost of cleanup far exceeds the land's value. Therefore, instead of returning soil to a pristine state, contaminants are usually managed to minimise risk to humans and ecosystems.
对大多数污染土壤而言，清理成本远高于土地本身的价值。因此，通常的做法不是把土壤恢复到原始状态，而是对污染物加以管理，把对人和生态系统的风险降到最低。
Trace elements微量元素
Trace elements are immutable. Most bind strongly to soil particles, limiting their uptake by plants and their movement downwards. These properties cause trace elements to accumulate in soil. At high concentrations, all trace elements are toxic. Therefore, land-use practices that add trace elements to soil are inherently unsustainable. Many contemporary practices, both conventional and organic, use trace elements to control pests and diseases or to supply nutrients. For example, certified organic systems permit copper-based fungicides, which increases copper concentrations in topsoil over time.
微量元素不会自行消失。它们大多与土壤颗粒结合得很牢，既限制了植物的吸收，也限制了向下迁移。这些性质使微量元素在土壤中不断累积。所有微量元素在浓度足够高时都有毒性，因此任何向土壤添加微量元素的土地利用方式，本质上都是不可持续的。当前许多做法——无论常规农业还是有机农业——都在用微量元素防治病虫害或补充养分。例如，有机认证体系允许使用含铜杀菌剂，长此以往会抬高表土中的铜浓度。
A critical question is what level of trace element accumulation we should tolerate. One could argue that accumulation exceeding threshold values after a century might be acceptable, as new management practices or low-cost remedies may become available within that time.
一个关键问题是：我们究竟应当容忍多大程度的微量元素累积？有一种看法是，如果要一个世纪之后才会超过阈值，或许尚可接受——因为在这段时间里，可能出现新的管理方式或低成本的补救手段。
Cadmium accumulation镉的累积
Maintaining soil fertility for agriculture requires regular phosphate fertiliser applications. The rocks used for these fertilisers can contain high concentrations of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal. Repeated applications lead to cadmium accumulation in the topsoil, where it is readily taken up by plants, particularly leafy vegetables.
维持农业土壤肥力需要定期施用磷肥。而制造磷肥的矿石可能含有高浓度的镉——一种有毒重金属。反复施用会使镉在表土中累积，并很容易被植物吸收，叶菜类尤其明显。
Our research focuses on using low-cost biowastes as soil conditioners to reduce cadmium uptake by plants. Some biowastes not only reduce plant cadmium but also improve soil fertility, thereby reducing the need for high-cadmium phosphate fertilisers.
我们的研究着眼于用低成本的生物废弃物作土壤改良剂，减少植物对镉的吸收。有些生物废弃物不仅能降低植物体内的镉，还能提高土壤肥力，从而减少对高镉磷肥的依赖。
Metalliferous soils & hyperaccumulators富金属土壤与超积累植物
Metalliferous soils can occur naturally, as in ultramafic (serpentine) soils, or result from human action. In both cases, trace elements may be undesirable due to their toxicity. Alternatively, the soil may be a potential source for commercial extraction of these elements. Plants on metalliferous soils have elevated trace element concentrations in their shoots, creating an exposure pathway into the food chain.
富金属土壤既可能是天然形成的，如超基性岩（蛇纹岩）土壤，也可能是人类活动造成的。两种情况下，其中的微量元素都可能因毒性而成为问题；但换个角度看，这样的土壤也可能成为商业提取这些元素的潜在来源。生长在富金属土壤上的植物，地上部分的微量元素浓度偏高，从而形成一条进入食物链的暴露途径。
Hyperaccumulator plants gather large amounts of one or more trace elements in their above-ground biomass, often 100 times more than non-hyperaccumulators in the same soil. For most trace elements, the threshold for a hyperaccumulator is 0.1% of dry biomass. For zinc and manganese, it is 1%, and for cadmium, 0.01%. Over 400 hyperaccumulator species are known, many of which grow only on metalliferous soils.
超积累植物能在地上部生物量中富集大量的一种或多种微量元素，浓度往往是同一土壤上非超积累植物的一百倍。对多数微量元素而言，超积累的阈值是干物质的 0.1%；锌和锰为 1%，镉为 0.01%。目前已知的超积累植物超过 400 种，其中许多只生长在富金属土壤上。
3Using biowastes in phytomanagement在植物管理中利用生物废弃物
Biowastes are unwanted materials of biological origin, such as biosolids (sewage sludge), animal effluent, wood waste, and green waste. They contain high concentrations of organic matter and plant nutrients, making them valuable soil conditioners. However, they can also contain pathogens and contaminants. Incorrect disposal is expensive and harms the environment. When applied correctly to degraded lands, biowastes create economic and environmental value.
生物废弃物是指生物来源的废弃物料，例如生物固体（污水污泥）、畜禽废水、木材废料和绿化废弃物。它们富含有机质和植物养分，是很有价值的土壤改良剂，但同时也可能含有病原体和污染物。处置不当既费钱又污染环境；而正确地施用到退化土地上，生物废弃物就能创造经济与环境价值。
4Biofortification生物强化
Approximately 40% of agricultural soils are deficient in zinc, an essential micronutrient. Zinc deficiency reduces agricultural productivity and affects the health of one-fifth of humanity. Applying biowaste can alleviate zinc deficiency and improve soil fertility. In poor countries, applying correctly treated human waste to land both corrects zinc deficiencies and protects waterways.
全球约 40% 的农业土壤缺锌，而锌是一种必需的微量营养素。缺锌既降低农业生产力，也影响着全球五分之一人口的健康。施用生物废弃物可以缓解缺锌并改善土壤肥力。在贫困国家，把经过妥善处理的人类排泄物施用于土地，既能纠正缺锌，又能保护水体。
Biofortification has advantages over adding micronutrients to the final product or using dietary supplements. Physiologically accumulated elements in plants provide a constant dietary source with less risk of toxicity from overdose or deficiency from supply gaps.
与在成品中添加微量营养素或服用膳食补充剂相比，生物强化有其优势：经植物生理过程富集的元素能提供稳定的膳食来源，既不易因过量而中毒，也不会因供应中断而缺乏。
5Case studies案例研究
Municipal wastewater (Duvauchelle)城市污水（Duvauchelle）
In New Zealand, applying Treated Municipal Wastewater to land is preferred over discharging it into waterways. Plant root zones remove nutrients, mitigate pathogens, and immobilise contaminants. A 2014 trial determined the suitability of soils near Duvauchelle to receive this water. The wastewater significantly enhanced pasture growth, and a field trial of 11 native species showed that irrigated trees grew as well as or better than unirrigated trees.
在新西兰，把处理后的城市污水施用于土地，比排入水体更受推荐。植物根际能去除养分、抑制病原体并固定污染物。2014 年的一项试验评估了 Duvauchelle 附近土壤接纳这类污水的适宜性。结果表明，污水显著促进了牧草生长；一项涉及 11 种原生植物的田间试验也显示，灌溉处理的树木长势不亚于、甚至优于未灌溉的树木。
Public perception often leads to disposing sewage products in landfills or waterways rather than applying them to agricultural land. Using biowastes to establish native vegetation breaks the direct link to the food chain.
受公众观感影响，污水处理产物往往被填埋或排入水体，而不是施用于农田。用生物废弃物来营建原生植被，可以切断它与食物链之间的直接联系。
Phytomanagement of biowastes using native ecosystems利用原生生态系统对生物废弃物进行植物管理
Native plants and animals are often displaced from agricultural and silvicultural lands. Biowastes can enhance the reintroduction of native ecosystems into such environments, particularly if the soil has become degraded. In addition to providing shelter and ecological benefits, biowaste-assisted native ecosystems can generate revenue through the production of endemic products such as manuka honey and essential oils. Often, the products of sewage treatment are disposed into landfills or waterways because of negative public perception of their application onto agricultural land. When biowastes are used to enhance the establishment of native vegetation, the direct link to food is broken. We are investigating the use of native vegetation in farming systems, where the trees receive biowastes in the form of animal effluents. We are also researching establishment of native vegetation on degraded land using sewage sludge. In both cases, the role of the vegetation is to create value, either through saleable products or via ecosystem services.
在农业用地和人工林地上，原生动植物往往已被排挤出去。生物废弃物有助于把原生生态系统重新引入这类环境，土壤已经退化时尤其如此。除了提供遮蔽和生态效益，借助生物废弃物建立的原生生态系统还能通过麦卢卡蜂蜜、精油等特有产品带来收益。由于公众对农田施用持负面看法，污水处理产物常常被填埋或排入水体；而当生物废弃物被用来促进原生植被的建立时，它与食物之间的直接联系就被切断了。我们正在研究把原生植被引入农牧系统、并以畜禽废水的形式向林木施用生物废弃物的做法，同时也在研究利用污水污泥在退化土地上营建原生植被。在这两种情形下，植被的作用都是创造价值——或者产出可销售的产品，或者提供生态系统服务。
Wood-waste (Kopu)木材废弃物（Kopu）
The Kopu timber-waste pile is a 3.6-hectare site where sawdust was dumped for 30 years, contaminating a local stream. In July 2000, a trial began using poplar and willow clones to phytoremediate the site. Two poplar hybrid clones were chosen for their survival and biomass production. The trees reduce water drainage during summer, mitigating contamination. This phytoremediation cost an estimated NZ$200,000, compared to over NZ$1.2M for traditional capping.
Kopu 木材废弃物堆场占地 3.6 公顷，三十年间一直在此倾倒锯末，污染了附近的溪流。2000 年 7 月，一项以杨树和柳树无性系进行植物修复的试验在此展开，最终依据成活率和生物量选定了两个杨树杂交无性系。这些树木减少了夏季的水分下渗，从而减轻了污染。该植物修复方案的成本估计为 20 万新西兰元，而传统的覆盖封闭方案则超过 120 万新西兰元。
The Tui mine tailingsTui 矿尾矿
The Tui mine tailings was considered New Zealand's worst environmental disaster from mining. The site held 100,000 cubic metres of toxic waste with high concentrations of lead, cadmium, and mercury, and a surface pH below 3. To remediate it, a 100m² plot was established in 2001. Biowastes and lime were added to raise the pH and reduce metal availability, allowing native plants to establish quickly. In 2012, the site was fully re-engineered: the tailings were stabilised with cement and capped with topsoil.
Tui 矿尾矿曾被视为新西兰因采矿造成的最严重环境灾难。场地内堆存着 10 万立方米有毒废料，铅、镉、汞浓度很高，表层 pH 低于 3。2001 年，为进行修复在此建立了一块 100 平方米的试验样地，施加生物废弃物和石灰以提高 pH、降低金属的有效性，使原生植物得以迅速定居。2012 年，该场地进行了彻底的工程改造：尾矿用水泥固化，并覆盖表土封闭。
6Phytomining (agromining)植物采矿（农业采矿）
Phytomining uses plants to exploit sub-economic ore bodies. A crop of a metal-hyperaccumulating plant is grown, harvested, and burned to produce a bio-ore. The first experiments were done by the US Bureau of Mines using the nickel hyperaccumulator Streptanthus polygaloides, which yielded 100 kg/ha of sulphur-free nickel.
植物采矿是用植物来开发不具备经济开采价值的矿体：种植一茬金属超积累植物，收获后焚烧，得到「生物矿石」。最早的试验由美国矿务局完成，所用的是镍超积累植物 Streptanthus polygaloides，每公顷产出 100 公斤不含硫的镍。
The nickel-hyperaccumulators Alyssum bertolonii from Italy and Berkheya coddii from South Africa show even greater potential because of their high biomass and nickel content. On many ultramafic soils, Berkheya coddii can yield over 20 tonnes/ha with a 1% nickel concentration in its dry matter.
来自意大利的 Alyssum bertolonii 和来自南非的 Berkheya coddii 这两种镍超积累植物潜力更大，因为它们生物量大、含镍量高。在许多超基性岩土壤上，Berkheya coddii 每公顷可产出 20 吨以上的干物质，其中含镍达 1%。
Phytomining is not yet applied at a large scale. It requires clearing large areas of native vegetation for a hyperaccumulator crop. After a few crops, the topsoil becomes depleted in the target element and must be removed. The underlying soil would then need substantial modification for plant growth. However, continual innovation may yet result in profitable operations.
植物采矿尚未大规模应用。它需要清除大片原生植被来种植超积累作物；种上几茬之后，表土中的目标元素被耗尽，必须移除，而下层土壤又需要大幅改良才能供植物生长。不过，持续的技术创新仍有可能使其成为有利可图的产业。
