Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) consist of a large group of compounds used to make products more resistant to stains, grease, and water and for fire suppression. They have been widely detected in the environment and exposure has been linked to adverse human health effects. Phytoremediation could be used to remediate PFAS-impacted sites, but there is little information on herbaceous and woody plant species uptake of PFAS compounds from soil. A greenhouse study evaluated the potential for eight herbaceous and seven woody plant species to absorb PFAS compounds. Six PFAS compounds: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFBS, PFHxS, and PFOS were added weekly to irrigation water, and the plants grown for up to 14 weeks after an initial establishment period. Significant accumulation of all PFAS compounds occurred in at least one plant species. Mass recovery in above-ground tissue by the best performing plant ranged from a low of 3.8% for PFOS by Festuca rubra to a high of 42% for PFPeA by Schedonorus arundinaceus. Hyperaccumulation, defined as tissue/soil concentrations >10/1, was observed for all six PFAS compounds in at least one plant species. These results demonstrate the potential use of phytoremediation as a tool for remediating PFAS-contaminated sites.

Pine straw, the uppermost forest floor layer of undecayed, reddish-brown pine needles, is raked, baled, and sold as a landscaping mulch throughout the southeastern United States. Loblolly (Pinus taeda, L.), longleaf (P. palustris, Mill.), and slash (P. elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) pine are the three southern pine species commonly raked for pine straw. The value of pine straw as a forest product is large. Private landowner pine straw revenues have steadily increased throughout the southeastern United States over the past two decades and now total more than USD 200 million. Information is limited on the short- or long-term effects of pine straw removal on foliage production or stand growth in southern pine stands. Results from most published studies suggest that annual pine straw raking without fertilization on non-old-field sites reduces straw yields compared to no raking. Old-field sites often do not benefit from fertilization with increased pine straw or wood volume yields. Though fertilization may be beneficial for pine straw production on some sites, understory vegetation presence and disease prevalence may increase following fertilization. This review addresses pine straw removal effects on pine straw production and stand growth parameters based on recent studies and provides fertilization recommendations to maintain or improve pine straw production and stand growth and yield.