Mycoremediation of Arsenic in the soil-crop continuum

A detailed field study was carried out to monitor (i) the arsenic contents in irrigation groundwater and paddy soil, and (ii) the accumulation of arsenic in the roots and grains of different paddy varieties grown in the arsenic-contaminated middle Indo-Gangetic Plains of Northern India. Results showed high arsenic contamination in the irrigation groundwater and in paddy soil that significantly exceeded the recommended threshold values. The soil arsenic content was found to be influenced by the soil texture, carbon, macronutrients, phosphorus, sulfur, hydrolases and oxidoreductases properties of the paddy soils. Root accumulation of arsenic was observed in six of seventeen paddy varieties. The range of arsenic content accumulated in the paddy grains was found as a cause of concern w.r.t. subsistence maximum daily tolerable dietary intake (MTDI) by human beings according to the regulatory standards. Fifteen fungal strains were isolated from arsenic-contaminated agricultural soils from the state of West Bengal, India. All these fungal strains were cultivated on medium supplemented with high concentrations of sodium arsenate. The tolerance of these strains to arsenate was evaluated on the basis of the tolerance index. Out of fifteen, only five fungal strains were found tolerant. The arsenic removal efficacy of ten fungal strains, tolerant to 5000 mg l−1 arsenate, was also assayed under laboratory conditions. The most effective removal of arsenic in terms of arsenic biovolatilization and bioaccumulation was observed in the Trichoderma sp., Lasiodiplodia sp., Westerdykella sp. and Rhizopus sp. These fungal strains can be effectively used for the bioremediation of arsenic-contamination to plants in agricultural fields.

Nutrient amendments to regulate soil properties for reducing arsenic accumulation in rice

To decrease the bioavailable fractions of arsenic in soil for achieving subsequently reduced accumulation of arsenic in rice grains, a pot experiment was conducted using arsenic-laden soil. The effects of different nutrient amendments viz., ZnSO4, FeSO4, Ca2SiO4, Murate of Potash (MOP), Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) independently and in combination (as a mix) at low, mid, and high doses were evaluated concerning arsenic accumulation in rice variety. These nutrient amendments in defined doses may be highly effective in reducing arsenic toxicity to rice cropping in arsenic-contaminated soils.

Kinetics and pathway of lindane biodegradation by novel soil microbial strains

The potential of nine Ascomycetes fungi, isolated from a hexachlorocyclohexane dumpsite soil, was tested for biodegradation of lindane. The strain FN5 showed lindane biodegradation and formation of intermediate metabolites of degradation pathway. The potential pathway adopted by the novel fungal strain FN5 for lindane biodegradation has been elucidated. The study of gene profiles with reference to linA and linB in strain FN5 confirmed the same protein family in the NCBI database. This study, for the first time, provides a thorough understanding of lindane biodegradation by a novel soil-borne Ascomycota fungal strain for its possible application in field-scale bioremediation. Likewise, the degradation potential of a yeast strain alone and in combination with two bacterial strains was found to be novel for lindane biodegradation. Isolated from hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-contaminated sites, these microbial strains demonstrated lindane reduction efficiencies. Notably, the yeast strain exhibited the highest dechlorinase activity in the cell supernatant. Co-cultivation as the mixed culture of the yeast strain and bacterial strain achieved high lindane reduction and dechlorinase activity. Growth kinetics, modelled using the Monod equation, showed a maximum growth rate for the mixed culture at 750 mg L⁻1 lindane. GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of intermediate metabolites validated successive dechlorination and oxidative-reduction processes during lindane biodegradation.

Mapping of emerging soil contaminants (viz., microplastics)

In the past few decades, pollution from microplastics has emerged as an important issue on a global scale. These plastic particles are mainly the result of anthropogenic activities. Urban sprawl, industrialization, indiscriminate use and poor waste management of plastic products are the main factors responsible for the accumulation of microplastics in different ecosystems of the environment. The presence of microplastics in the soil matrix is considered an emerging threat to agroecosystems. Since most of the studies on microplastics have been done in the aquatic environment. The understanding of the ecotoxicological effects of these contaminants in terrestrial ecosystems is still limited, especially in agroecosystems. The negative effects of microplastics on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil are now revealing. But the effects of microplastics on plant growth and yield are largely unexplored. Microplastic contamination in the soil can alter the functioning of plants by affecting the microbial community of the rhizosphere and disturbing the homeostasis of the agroecosystem. Furthermore, it may transfer into the plant system through nutrient and water absorption channels and affect plant physiology. The pervasive nature of microplastics in the soil is considered a barrier to sustainable agriculture and ecosystem functioning. The present review gives an overview of the sources, dissipation and effects of microplastics with reference to the soil–plant system, highlights the research gaps, and deciphers the possible future threats to agroecosystems.

Waste Management & Utilization

The influence of earthworm culture on fertilization potential and biological activities (viz., nutritive status, microbial population, and enzymatic activities) of vermicomposts prepared from different plant wastes was studied. Vermicomposts were prepared from different types of leaves litter of horticulture and forest plant species by modified vermicomposting process at a farm unit. Initial thermophilic decomposition of waste load using cow-dung slurry was done in the separate beds. The culture of Eisenia fetida was used for vermicomposting in specially designed vermibeds at the farm unit. The physico-chemical characteristics, enzyme activities (oxido-reductases and hydrolases), and microbial population (bacteria, fungi, free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria, actinomycetes, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and fungi) of vermicomposts were found significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of control (without earthworm inoculum). The study quantified significant contributions of earthworm culture to physico-chemical, enzymatic, and microbiological properties of vermicompost and confirmed superior fertilization potential of vermicompost for organic farming. The agronomic utility of vermicompost was assessed on yellow mustard plant in a pot experiment. Pot soil was amended with different ratios of vermicompost and normal compost (without earthworm inoculum). Effects of these amendments on the growth of Brassica comprestis L. were studied. The significant differences (p < 0.05) in the growth of plant were observed among vermicompost-, compost-amended soil, and control. Vermicompost increased the root and shoot lengths, numbers of branches and leaves per plant, fresh and dry weights per plant, numbers of pods and flowers, and biochemical properties of plant leaf significantly, especially in 20% amendment. These results proved better fertilization potential of vermicompost over non-earthworm-inoculated compost. The promotion of organic farming involves curtailing extensive use of mineral fertilizers. The present study was aimed to compare the effects of vermicompost (10 Mg ha–1), commercial mineral fertilizer (NPK—100:80:80), and their combination on the growth of a major cash crop “onion” (Allium cepa L.) and the changes that may have occurred in the amended soil. The study suggests that this combined application can reduce the quantity and cost of mineral-fertilizers application for bulbous-crop cultivation by 50%, while also sustaining soil biological activity of soils. A novel bioaugmented organic amendment (SFOA) [consisted of vermicompost (pre-enriched with plant growth promoting fungi) mixed with pressmud and Azadirachta indica (A. Juss.) seed cake] was developed to reclaim sodic soil and support wheat production. A field trial of the SFOA application with/without chemical fertilizers conducted in completely randomized design with four replications to compare growth, yield and seed protein contents of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on sodic soil. The favourable changes that occurred in different properties of amended soils were studied.

1. Singh, P., Anand, V., Kaur, J., Srivastava, S., Verma, SK., Niranjan, A., Srivastava, PK., Srivastava, S. 2024. Mitigation of arsenic toxicity in wheat by the inoculation of methyltransferase containing Pseudomonas oleovorans NBRI-B4.10. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, Volume 193, 105851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2024.105851

2. Naseem, M., Raghuwanshi, R., Srivastava, P. K. 2024. Arsenic in groundwater: A threat to agriculture and its mitigation measures to protect the food chain. In: Arsenic Remediation of Food and Water: Technological Interventions and Perspectives from Developing Countries (Eds. BS Gupta and N Martinez-Villegas), Springer Nature, Singapore, ISBN 978-981-97-4763-4. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4764-1_18.

3. Roy, A., Dubey, P., Srivastava, A., Kaur, I, Shrivastava, A., Vajpayee, P., Srivastava S., Srivastava, P. K. 2024. Exploring the potential of Meyerozyma caribbica and its combined application with bacteria for lindane bioremediation. Chemosphere, 142413, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142413

4. Kaur, J., Tiwari, N., Asif, MH., Dharmesh, V., Naseem, M., Srivastava, PK., Srivastava, S. 2024. Integrated genome-transcriptome analysis unveiled the mechanism of Debaryomyces hansenii-mediated arsenic stress amelioration in rice. Journal of Hazardous Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133954

5. Dubey, P., Farooqui, A., Patel, A., Srivastava, P.K. 2024. Microbial innovations in chromium remediation: mechanistic insights and diverse applications. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 40, 151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-024-03936-w

6. Tripathi, V., Gaur, VK, Kaur, I., Srivastava, PK., Manickam, N. 2024. Unlocking bioremediation potential for site restoration: a comprehensive approach for crude oil degradation in agricultural soil and phytotoxicity assessment. Journal of Environmental Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120508

7. Nand, S., Mishra, I., Neeraj, A., Naseem, M., Patel, A., Srivastava, PK., Shukla, S., Hiranmai, RY., Tewari SK. 2024. Novel plant waste-based cost-effective adsorbent to remove contaminants from sewage wastewater. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, Volume 24, 101072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2023.101072.

8. Chaudhary, M.K., Tripathi, D., Misra, A., Singh, S.P., Srivastava, P.K., Gupta, V., Acharya, R., Srivastava, S. 2024. Nutritional characteristics of Stereospermum chelonoides (L.f.) DC., an underutilized edible wild fruit of dietary interest. Heliyon, Volume 10, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24193.

9. Gaur, V.K., Tripathi, V., Gupta, P., Thakur, R.S., Kaur, I., Regar, R.K., Srivastava, P.K., Manickam, N. 2023. Holistic approach to waste mobil oil bioremediation: valorizing waste through biosurfactant production for soil restoration. Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 348, 119207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119207.

10. Gupta, S., Srivastava, P. K., Singh, R. P. 2023. Growth promotion and zinc biofortification in Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) by the application of Talaromyces strain as a biostimulant. Scientia Horticulturae, 323: 112534, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112534

11. Kaur, I., Gaur, V. K., Rishi, S., Anand, V., Mishra, S. K., Gaur, R., Patel, A., Srivastava, S., Verma, P.C., Srivastava, P.K. 2023. Deciphering the kinetics and pathway of lindane biodegradation by novel soil ascomycete fungi or its implication in bioremediation. Bioresource Technology, 387, 129581, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129581.

12. Roy, A., Vajpayee, P., Srivastava, S., Srivastava, P.K. 2023. Revelation of bioremediation approaches for hexachlorocyclohexane degradation in soil. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 39, 243, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-023-03692-3.

13. Rishi, S., Kaur, I., Naseem, M., Gaur, V.K., Mishra, S., Srivastava, S., Saini, H.S., Srivastava, P.K. 2023. Development of immobilized novel fungal consortium for the efficient remediation of cyanide-contaminated wastewaters. Bioresource Technology, 373, 128750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128750.

14. Gupta, S., Srivastava, P.K., Singh, R. P. 2023. Application of plant growth-promoting microbes to enrich zinc in potato for nutritional security and sustainable agriculture. Rhizosphere, 25, 100665, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2023.100665

15. Kaur, J., Anand, V., Srivastava, S., Bist, V., Naseem, M., Singh, P., Gupta, V., Singh, P.C., Saxena, S., Bisht, S., Srivastava, P. K., Srivastava, S. 2023. Mitigation of arsenic toxicity in rice by the co-inoculation of arsenate reducer yeast with multifunctional arsenite oxidizing bacteria. Environmental Pollution, 120975, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120975.

16. Singh, S.B., Naseem, M., Raghuvanshi, R., Srivastava, P.K. 2023. Application of selected nutrient amendments to regulate soil properties for reducing arsenic accumulation in rice. Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, 32, 147–163 https://doi.org/10.1080/15320383.2022.2061417

17. Misra, A., Chaudhary, M. K., Tripathi, D., Srivastava, P. K., Gupta, V., Acharya, R., Srivastava, S. 2023. Nutritional potential of an edible terrestrial orchid Eulophia nuda LINDL and validation of its traditional claim in arthritis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 306, 116123, https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jep.2022.116123.

18. Singh, P. P., Behera, M. D., Rai, R., Shankar, U., Upadhaya, K., Nonghuloo, I. M., Mir, A. H., Barua, S., Naseem, M., Srivastava, P. K., Tiwary, R., Gupta, A., Gupta, V., Nand, S., Adhikari, D., Barik, S. K. 2023. Morpho-physiological and demographic responses of three threatened Ilex species to changing climate aligned with species distribution models in future climate scenarios. Environ Monit Assess 195, 139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10594-8.

19. Anand, V., Kaur, J., Srivastava, S., Bist, V., Dharmesh, V., Kriti, Bisht, S., Srivastava, P.K., Srivastava, S. 2023. Potential of methyltransferase containing Pseudomonas oleovorans for abatement of arsenic toxicity in rice, Science of The Total Environment, 856, 158944, Doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158944.

20. Yadav, S., Gupta, E., Patel, A., Srivastava, S., Mishra, V. K., Singh, P.C., Srivastava, P. K., Barik, S.K. 2022. Unravelling the emerging threats of microplastics to agroecosystems. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol., 21: 771–798, Doi.org/10.1007/s11157-022-09621-4

21. Anshu, Agarwal, P., Mishra, K., Yadav, U., Verma, I., Chauhan, S., Srivastava, P.K., Singh, P.C. 2022. Synergistic action of Trichoderma koningiopsis and T. asperellum mitigates salt stress in paddy. Physiol Mol Biol Plants, 28:987–1004. doi.org/10.1007/s12298-022-01192-6

22. Patel, A., Jaiswal, N., Srivastava, P. K., Patra, D. D. 2022. Enhancing secondary metabolite production and antioxidants in Bacopa monnieri grown on tannery sludge contaminated soil. Industrial Crops and Products, 187, 115365, Doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.115365

23. Gupta, E., Gupta, V., Naseem, M., Singh, P. P., Nand, S., Jaiswal, N., Tripathi, S., Patel, A., Srivastava, P.K. 2022. Environmental Impacts of Covid-19 lockdown: National and Global Scenario. International Journal of Plant and Environment, 8, 1-9. Doi.org/10.18811/ijpen.v8i01.01.

24. Bist, V., Anand, V., Srivastava, S., Kaur, J., Naseem, M., Mishra, S., Srivastava, P.K., Tripathi, R.D., Srivastava S. 2022. Alleviative mechanisms of silicon solubilizing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens mediated diminution of arsenic toxicity in rice. Journal of Hazardous Materials, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128170

25. Tandon, A., Anshu, Kumar, S., Yadav, U., Mishra, S.K., Srivastava, S., Chauhan, P.S., Srivastava, P.K., Bahadur, L., Shirke, P.A., Srivastava, M., Tewari, S.K., Singh P.C. 2021. Trichoderma primed rice straw alters structural and functional properties of sodic soil. Land Degradation & Development, 33(5): 698-709, https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4151

26. Kaur, I., V. K. Gaur, R. K. Regar, P.K. Srivastava, N. Manickam, S.K. Barik. 2021. Plants exert beneficial influence on soil microbiome in a HCH contaminated soil revealing advantage of microbe-assisted plant-based HCH remediation of a dumpsite. Chemosphere, Vol. 280, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130690.

27. Naseem, M., R. Raghuwanshi, P.C. Verma, P.K. Srivastava. 2021. Mycoremediation – Effective strategy to ameliorate arsenic toxicity. In: Fungi Bio-Prospects in Sustainable Agriculture, Environment and Nanotechnology (Editors: V.K. Sharma, M.P. Shah, S. Parmar, A. Kumar), Academic Press. pp. 433-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821925-6.00019-8.

28. Kaur, J., Anand, V., Srivastava, S., Bist, V., Tripathi, P., Naseem, M., Nand, S., Anshu, Khare, P., Srivastava, P.K., Bisht, S., Srivastava, S. 2020. Yeast strain Debaryomyces hansenii for amelioration of arsenic stress in rice. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 195: 110480 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110480

29. Tripathi, P., Khare, P., Barnawal, D., Shanker, K., Srivastava, P.K., Tripathi, R.D., Kalra, A. 2020. Bioremediation of arsenic by soil methylating fungi: Role of Humicola sp. strain 2WS1 in amelioration of arsenic phytotoxicity in Bacopa monnieri L, Science of The Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136758.

30. Singh, S.B., Srivastava, P.K. 2020. Bioavailability of arsenic in agricultural soils under the influence of different soil properties. Springer Nature Applied Sciences 2: 153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1932-z.

31. Pandey, A., Shukla, P. and Srivastava, P. K. (2020). Remediation of Dyes in Water using Green Synthesized Nanoparticles. International Journal of Plant and Environment, 6: 68-84. Doi:10.18811/ijpen.v6i01.08.

32. Singh, M., Srivastava, P.K., Yadav, H.K., Kharwar, R.N. 2019. Phylogenetic Assessment of Trichoderma (fungi) isolates from Arsenic Contaminated Soils. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews, 6: 102-116.

33. Kumari, B., Singh, M., Srivastava, P.K., Singh, S.N. 2019. Degradation of Petroleum Sludge in Soil by Bacterial-Fungal Co-Culture in Presence of Organic and Inorganic Stimulants. International Journal of Plant and Environment, 5: 155-164. DOI: 10.18811/ijpen.v5i03.3

34. Tandon A, Srivastava S, Chauhan PS, Srivastava PK, Tewari SK, Singh PC. 2019. Soil re-carbonization potential of crop residues and their management through inter-convertible carbon triangle. International Journal of Plant and Environment, 5: 226-238. DOI: 10.18811/ijpen.v5i04.1

35. Jaiswal, V., Saxena, S., Kaur, I., Dubey, P., Nand, S., Naseem, M., Singh, SB., Srivastava, P.K., Barik, SK. 2018. Application of four novel fungal strains to remove arsenic from contaminated water in batch and column modes. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 356: 98-107. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.04.053

36. Singh, M., P.K. Srivastava, R.N. Kharwar. 2018. Role of rhizospheric mycobiota in remediation of arsenic metalloid. In: Chandra R., Dubey, NK., Kumar V. (eds.) “Phytoremediation of environmental pollutants”, CRC Press Baton Roca, pp. 137-158. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315161549

37. Shukla, A.K., P.K. Srivastava, B. Singh, S. K. Behera, T. Thomas. 2017. Litterfall patterns and soil nutrient chemistry in varied tropical deciduous forests. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 5: 1203-1210.

38. Singh, M., P.K. Srivastava, V.K. Jaiswal, R.N. Kharwar. 2017. Biotechnological Applications of Microbes for the Remediation of Environmental Pollution. In: Singh, R., Trivedi, M. (eds.) “Biotechnology: Trends and Applications”, Studium Press LLC, USA, pp. 179-214.

39. Srivastava, P.K., Gupta, M., Shikha, Singh, N., Tewari, S.K., 2016. Amelioration of sodic soil for wheat cultivation using bioaugmented organic soil amendment. Land Degradation & Development, 27: 1245–1254. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2292

40. Srivastava, P.K. 2016. Fungal bioaugmentation of the rice root-zone to reduce arsenic uptake by rice from soils. In: Arsenic Research and Global Sustainability: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment (As2016), Stockholm, Sweden, CRC Press, pp. 329-330.

41. Gupta, M., Srivastava, P.K., Shikha, Niranjan, A., Tewari, SK. 2016. Use of a bioaugmented organic soil amendment in combination with gypsum for Withania somnifera growth on sodic soil. Pedosphere, 26:299-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(15)60044-3

42. Verma, S., Verma, P.K., Meher, A.K., Dwivedi, S., Bansiwal, A.K., Pande, V., Srivastava, P.K., Verma, P.C., Tripathi, R.D., Chakraborthy, D. 2016. A novel arsenic methyltransferase gene of Westerdykella aurantiaca isolated from arsenic-contaminated soil: phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical studies and its role in arsenic bioremediation. Metallomics, 8: 344-53. DOI: 10.1039/c5mt00277j

43. Misra, A., Srivastava, S., Srivastava, P.K., Shukla, P., Agrawal, P.K., Rawat, A.K.S. 2016. Chemotaxonomic variation in forskolin content and its correlation with ecogeographical factors in natural habitat of Coleus forskohlii Briq. collected from Vidarbha (Maharashtra, India). Industrial Crops and Products, 84:50-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.01.034

44. Singh, M., Srivastava P.K., Verma, P.C., Kharwar, R. N., Singh, N., Tripathi, R.D. 2015. Soil fungi for mycoremediation of arsenic pollution in agriculture soils. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 119: 1278-1290. DOI: 10.1111/jam.12948

45. Gupta, M., Srivastava, P.K., Singh, S.B., Singh, N., Tewari, S.K. 2015. Organic Amendments with Plant Growth Promoting Fungi Support Paddy Cultivation in Sodic Soil. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 46: 2332-2341. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2015.1081698

46. Srivastava, P. K., M. Singh, M. Gupta, N. Singh, R.N. Kharwar, R. D. Tripathi, C.S. Nautiyal. 2015. Mapping of arsenic pollution with reference to paddy cultivation in the middle Indo-Gangetic Plains. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187:1–14. Doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4418-5.

47. Raj, A., Jamil, S., Srivastava, P.K., Tripathi, R.D., Sharma, Y.K., Singh N., 2014. Feasibility study of Phragmites karka and Christella dentata grown in West Bengal as As accumulator. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 17: 869-878. https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2014.964845

48. Singh, N., Srivastava, P.K., Tripathi, R.D., Srivastava, S., Vaish, A., 2015. Microbial in-situ mitigation of arsenic contamination in plants and soils. In: Bundschuh, J., Holländer, H., Ma, L.Q. (eds.) “In-Situ Remediation of Arsenic-Contaminated Sites”, CRC Press, pp. 115-143. DOI:10.1201/b17619-7

49. Srivastava, P.K., Gupta, M., Pandey, A., Pandey, V., Singh, N., Tewari, S.K., 2014. Effects of sodicity induced changes in soil physical properties on paddy root growth. Plant, Soil and Environment, 60:165–169. DOI: 10.17221/926/2013-PSE

50. Gupta, M., Srivastava, P.K., Tewari, S.K. 2014. Prospects of sodic soil amelioration for increased crop production in India. Advances in Bioresearch, 5: 160-162.

51. Gupta, M., Shikha, Srivastava, P.K., Tewari, S.K. 2014. Quality evaluation of vermicompost at various phases of farm waste composting and during storage. Advances in Bioresearch, 5: 65-72.

52. Srivastava, P. K., Singh, M., Singh, N., Tripathi, R. D., 2013. Soil Arsenic Pollution: A Threat to Crops. Journal of Bioremediation and Biodegradation; 4: e137. Doi: 10.4172/2155-6199.1000e137

53. Srivastava, P. K., Shenoy, B.D., Gupta, M., Vaish, A., Mannan, S., Singh, N., Tewari, S.K., Tripathi, R. D., 2012. Stimulatory effects of arsenic-tolerant soil fungi on plant growth promotion and soil properties. Microbes and Environments, 27: 477–482. Doi: 10.1264/jsme2.ME11316

54. Srivastava, P. K., Gupta, M., Upadhyay, RK, Sharma, S., Shikha, Singh, N., Tewari, S. K., Singh, B., 2012. Effects of combined application of vermicompost and mineral fertilizer on the growth of Allium cepa L. and soil fertility. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 175: 101–107. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201000390

55. Tripathi, P., Dwivedi, S., Mishra, A., Kumar, A., Dave, R., Srivastava, S., Shukla, M. K., Srivastava, P. K., Chakrabarty, D., Trivedi, P. K., Tripathi, R. D., 2012. Arsenic Accumulation in Native Plants of West Bengal, India: Prospects for Phytoremediation but Concerns with the use of Medicinal Plants. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 184: 2617-2631. DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-2139-y

56. Raj, A., Pandey, A. K., Sharma, Y. K., Khare, P. B., Srivastava, P. K., Singh, N., 2011. Metabolic adaptation of Pteris vittata L. gametophyte to arsenic-induced oxidative stress. Bioresource Technology, 102: 9827–9832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.08.017

57. Srivastava, P.K., Vaish, A., Dwivedi, S., Chakrabarty, D., Singh, N., Tripathi, R.D. 2011. Biological removal of arsenic pollution by soil fungi. Science of the Total Environment, 409: 2430-2442. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.03.002

58. Srivastava, P. K., Singh, P. C., Gupta, M., Sinha, A., Vaish, A., Shukla, A., Singh, N., Tewari, S. K., 2011. Influence of earthworm culture on fertilization potential and biological activities of vermicomposts prepared from different plant wastes. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 174: 420–429. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201000174

59. Srivastava, P. K., Baleshwar, Behera, S. K., Singh, N., Tripathi, R. S., 2011. Long-term changes in the floristic composition and soil characteristics of reclaimed sodic land during eco-restoration. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 174: 93-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200900249

60. Sinha, A., Srivastava, P. K., Singh, N., Sharma, P.N., Behl, H.M. 2011. Optimizing organic and mineral amendments to jatropha seed cake to increase its agronomic utility as organic fertilizer. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 57: 193-222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03650340903296785

61. Rai, A., Kulshreshtha, K., Srivastava, P. K., Mohanty, C. S., 2010. Leaf surface structure alterations due to particulate pollution in some common plants. Environmentalist 30:18–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-009-9238-0

62. Srivastava, P.K., Kulshreshtha, K., Mohanty, C.S., Pushpangadan, P., Singh, A. 2005. Stakeholder-based SWOT analysis for successful municipal solid waste management in Lucknow, India. Waste Management, 25: 531-537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2004.08.010

63. Srivastava, P.K., Rai, U.N., Gupta, D.K., Jha, V. 2002. Detoxification of Environmental Pollutants by Biological Organisms. In: Tripathi, G. (ed.) “Bioresource Technology”, CBS Publishers, India, pp. 161-169.

64. Srivastava, P.K., Neraliya, S., Pandey, G.C. 2000. Bioaccumulation of metals from distillery effluent by some aquatic macrophytes. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. India, Sec. B (Biological Sciences), 70 (III & IV): 311-317.

65. Srivastava, P.K., Pandey, G.C. 1999. Papermill effluent induced toxicity in Eichhornia crassipes and Spirodela polyrrhiza. Journal of Environmental Biology, 20: 317-320.

66. Srivastava, P.K., Pandey, G.C. 1999. Effect of fertilizer effluent on total chlorophyll content and biomass of some aquatic macrophytes. Journal of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Monitoring, 11: 123-127.

67. Srivastava, P.K., Pandey, G.C. 1998. Bioremediation of distillery effluent using selected aquatic plants. Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment, 2: 43-45.

Patents

A synergistic microbial formulation for arsenic removal (Patent Publication No. IN202211013360; 05.08.2022)

Research Scholars: Ms. Ekta Gupta, Ms. Mariya Naseem, Ms. Ispreet Kaur, Ms. Aditi Roy

Post-Doctoral Fellows: Dr. Sandhya Mishra

Project Staff: Mr. Manish Choudhary, Ms. Shivangi Srivastava, Ms. Nausheen Nisar

P.no:0522-2297939
pankajk@nbri.res.in