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Michel Labrecque is Curator of the Montreal Botanical Garden and Head of the Research and Scientific Development division since 1997. He leads a team of botanist-researchers and professionals responsible for the scientific management of collections. Michel Labrecque is also adjunct professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Université de Montréal. A specialist in ecophysiology, he is conducting research on both the use of plants to address environmental issues and plant physiological functioning in this context. His research on phytoremediation focuses on the absorption of trace elements and degradation of organic contaminants by plants for the purposes of brownfield restoration. M. Labrecque has directed or co-directed 60 MSc and/or PhD students and post-doctoral fellows. As author or co-author, he published more than 125 peer-reviewed papers and presented over 100 conferences, in Canada and internationally. He served as Chair for the International Symposium on the Tree (Montreal, 2000), and the International Workshop on Environmental Applications of Willows and Poplars (IPC FAO, 2007). More recently, he chaired the 14th International Phytotechnology Conference held in Montreal in 2017. He also co-founded the “Société québécoise de phytotechnologie” (Quebec Phytotechnology Society) in 2007.
Phytoremediation of copper contaminated soil poses particular difficulties because of the low Cu mobility in the soil. Although several plant species, such as willows or Brassicaceae, have been used in the phytomanagement of abandoned brownfields, certain trace elements, such as copper often remain difficult to treat or remove from contaminated soils. An experiment was conducted under semi-controlled conditions to test the phytoremediation potential of co-planting two crop species, Brassica napus L. and Salix nigra ‘S05’, in soil spiked with two concentrations of Cu (500 mg kg−1 and 800 mg kg−1). Particular attention was given to the potential of 1) the co-plantation design and 2) uprooting, to efficiently mimic the remediation of a Cu-contaminated soil. Results showed that most Cu was found in plant roots and that the polyculture treatment produced the most overall biomass and maximum stabilization and extraction of Cu of the three treatments tested, regardless of contamination level.
Aleena Massenet; Amandine Bonet; Joan Laur; Michel Labrecque. Co-planting Brassica napus and Salix nigra as a phytomanagement alternative for copper contaminated soil. Chemosphere 2021, 279, 130517 .
AMA StyleAleena Massenet, Amandine Bonet, Joan Laur, Michel Labrecque. Co-planting Brassica napus and Salix nigra as a phytomanagement alternative for copper contaminated soil. Chemosphere. 2021; 279 ():130517.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAleena Massenet; Amandine Bonet; Joan Laur; Michel Labrecque. 2021. "Co-planting Brassica napus and Salix nigra as a phytomanagement alternative for copper contaminated soil." Chemosphere 279, no. : 130517.
The Salix genus includes shrub species that are widely used in phytoremediation and various other phytotechnologies due to their advantageous characteristics, such as a high evapotranspiration (ET) rate, in particular when cultivated in short rotation intensive culture (SRIC). Observations made in past field studies suggest that ET and its impact on soil hydrology can also lead to increases in soil pollutant concentrations near shrubs. To investigate this, sections of a mature willow plantation (seven years old) were cut to eliminate transpiration (Cut treatment). Soil concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), aliphatic compounds C10–C50, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and five trace elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn) were compared between the Cut and the uncut plots (Salix miyabeana ‘SX61’). Over 24 months, the results clearly show that removal of the willow shrubs limited the contaminants’ increase in the soil surface, as observed for C10–C50 and of 10 PAHs under the Salix treatment. This finding strongly reinforces a hypothesis that SRIC of willows may facilitate the migration of contaminants towards their roots, thus increasing their concentration in the surrounding soil. Such a “pumping effect” in a high-density willow crop is a prominent characteristic specific to field studies that can lead to counterintuitive results. Although apparent increases of contaminant concentrations contradict the purification benefits usually pursued in phytoremediation, the possibility of active phytoextraction and rhizodegradation is not excluded. Moreover, increases of pollutant concentrations under shrubs following migration suggest that decreases would consequently occur at the source points. Some reflections on interpreting field work results are provided.
Maxime Fortin Faubert; Dominic Desjardins; Mohamed Hijri; Michel Labrecque. Willows Used for Phytoremediation Increased Organic Contaminant Concentrations in Soil Surface. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 2979 .
AMA StyleMaxime Fortin Faubert, Dominic Desjardins, Mohamed Hijri, Michel Labrecque. Willows Used for Phytoremediation Increased Organic Contaminant Concentrations in Soil Surface. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (7):2979.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaxime Fortin Faubert; Dominic Desjardins; Mohamed Hijri; Michel Labrecque. 2021. "Willows Used for Phytoremediation Increased Organic Contaminant Concentrations in Soil Surface." Applied Sciences 11, no. 7: 2979.
The aim of this study was to investigate the bioremediation impacts of willows grown in short rotation intensive culture (SRIC) and supplemented or not with spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and ramial chipped wood (RCW). Results did not show that SMS significantly improved either biomass production or phytoremediation efficiency. After the three growing seasons, RCW-amended S. miyabeana accumulated significantly more Zn in the shoots, and greater increases of some PAHs were found in the soil of RCW-amended plots than in the soil of the two other ground cover treatments’ plots. Significantly higher Cd concentrations were found in the shoots of cultivar ‘SX61’. The results suggest that ‘SX61’ have reduced the natural attenuation of C10-C50 that occurred in the unvegetated control plots. The presence of willows also tended to increase the total soil concentrations of PCBs. Furthermore, we found that many contaminant concentrations were subject to seasonal oscillations, showing average increases throughout the whole experimental site after a growing period, while showing significantly different variations, such as lesser increases or even decreases, after a dormant period. These observations suggest that contaminants may have leached or degraded faster in untreated conditions, and conversely to have mobilized towards trees through water flow driven by plant transpiration during growing seasons.
Maxime Fortin Faubert; Mohamed Hijri; Michel Labrecque. Short Rotation Intensive Culture of Willow, Spent Mushroom Substrate and Ramial Chipped Wood for Bioremediation of a Contaminated Site Used for Land Farming Activities of a Former Petrochemical Plant. Plants 2021, 10, 520 .
AMA StyleMaxime Fortin Faubert, Mohamed Hijri, Michel Labrecque. Short Rotation Intensive Culture of Willow, Spent Mushroom Substrate and Ramial Chipped Wood for Bioremediation of a Contaminated Site Used for Land Farming Activities of a Former Petrochemical Plant. Plants. 2021; 10 (3):520.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaxime Fortin Faubert; Mohamed Hijri; Michel Labrecque. 2021. "Short Rotation Intensive Culture of Willow, Spent Mushroom Substrate and Ramial Chipped Wood for Bioremediation of a Contaminated Site Used for Land Farming Activities of a Former Petrochemical Plant." Plants 10, no. 3: 520.
The objective of this study was to determine the conditions to optimize the wastewater treatment efficiency of a short rotation willow coppice (SRWC) plantation (Salix miyabeana ‘SX67’) used as a vegetation filter to treat small municipal primary effluents (with less than 800 population equivalent). With the aim of maximizing the annual amount of wastewater treated, the effect of adjusting the hydraulic loading rate (HLR) according to the estimated evapotranspiration was tested at demonstration scale under humid continental climate conditions. We proposed a new method to calculate the evapotranspiration rate from plant physiological data, introducing an α factor based on direct transpiration measurements. This method increased the accuracy of the water balance, with a prediction of the crop coefficient (kc) based on either an seasonal approach (R2 of 0.88) or a monthly approach (R2 of 0.94). This led to a more precise estimation of the pollutant loading reaching the groundwater and could be used after plantation establishment as a fine-tuning tool. Adjusting the HLR to that of evapotranspiration between May and October led to an annual increase of 2 mm/d (around 0.35 m3/m2 per growing season) in HLR, while maintaining a pollutant loading removal efficiency of at least 96% for organic matter, 99% for total phosphorus and 93% for total nitrogen. A high HLR at the end of the season caused nitrogen leaching into groundwater, indicating that the HLR should be decreased in October, when willow growth is greatly reduced.
Simon Amiot; Ahmed Jerbi; Xavier Lachapelle-T.; Chloé Frédette; Michel Labrecque; Yves Comeau. Optimization of the wastewater treatment capacity of a short rotation willow coppice vegetation filter. Ecological Engineering 2020, 158, 106013 .
AMA StyleSimon Amiot, Ahmed Jerbi, Xavier Lachapelle-T., Chloé Frédette, Michel Labrecque, Yves Comeau. Optimization of the wastewater treatment capacity of a short rotation willow coppice vegetation filter. Ecological Engineering. 2020; 158 ():106013.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSimon Amiot; Ahmed Jerbi; Xavier Lachapelle-T.; Chloé Frédette; Michel Labrecque; Yves Comeau. 2020. "Optimization of the wastewater treatment capacity of a short rotation willow coppice vegetation filter." Ecological Engineering 158, no. : 106013.
A chemical leaching process has been used for the cleanup of two municipal biosolids (MOS and BES) spiked with Cd, Cu, Zn or their mixture prior to agricultural use. Non-cleaned, cleaned and washed biosolids were compared as soil amendments for corn cultivation inside glasshouse. Corn growth, biosorption of metals and leaching of these metals in leachate were measured. Results showed that biosolid amendments tend to produce more aerial biomass. Cleanup and washing of BES biosolid significantly augmented total biomass of roots and stalks, respectively. Regarding biosorption of metals, Cd could not be found neither in corn seeds, nor in stalks, while slight amounts of Cu were detected. Whereas Cd and Cu diminished in the order roots > leaves > stalks, Zn diminished from leaves > roots > stalks. Cleanup and washing of MOS and BES biosolids significantly lowered biosorption of Cd, Cu, Zn, and other metals. Leaching into the outlet water varied with time, but average concentrations were moderately low. There were significant amounts of metal leached from MOS biosolid. The effects of cleanup and washing of both biosolids on biosorption and leaching depended on the initial metallic charge and the biosolid type.
Driss Barraoui; Jean-Francois Blais; Michel Labrecque. Effect of cleanup of spiked sludge on corn growth biosorption and leaching of metals. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleDriss Barraoui, Jean-Francois Blais, Michel Labrecque. Effect of cleanup of spiked sludge on corn growth biosorption and leaching of metals. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDriss Barraoui; Jean-Francois Blais; Michel Labrecque. 2020. "Effect of cleanup of spiked sludge on corn growth biosorption and leaching of metals." , no. : 1.
Widely used as wood preservatives for the last century, Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and chromated copper arsenate (CCA) have been shown to leach from treated surfaces and contaminate soil of wood storage sites. We performed a four-year field phytoremediation trial in southern Quebec (Canada) on a site contaminated with PCP and CCA with the following objectives: (1) assess the potential of willow, fescue, alfalfa and Indian mustard to tolerate and translocate CCA and PCP residues in their aerial tissues, (2) investigate the possibility of phytoextraction of dioxins and furans, and (3) test the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on phytoremediation performance. We showed that while nitrogen fertilization increased the chlorophyll content of plants, it did not result in a significantly greater plant biomass. We also showed that plants grown in the presence of PCP/CCA residues were able to translocate and concentrate trace elements in their aerial tissues, but also dioxins and furans (PCDD/F). This suggests that plants grown on sites polluted by PCP might contain dioxins and furans and should be treated as contaminated by these toxic chemicals. Finally, the reduction of soil contaminants at the end of the trial suggests that phytoremediation is a promising approach for decontaminating such sites.
Aymeric Yanitch; Hafssa Kadri; Cédric Frenette-Dussault; Simon Joly; Frederic E. Pitre; Michel Labrecque. A four-year phytoremediation trial to decontaminate soil polluted by wood preservatives: phytoextraction of arsenic, chromium, copper, dioxins and furans. International Journal of Phytoremediation 2020, 22, 1505 -1514.
AMA StyleAymeric Yanitch, Hafssa Kadri, Cédric Frenette-Dussault, Simon Joly, Frederic E. Pitre, Michel Labrecque. A four-year phytoremediation trial to decontaminate soil polluted by wood preservatives: phytoextraction of arsenic, chromium, copper, dioxins and furans. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 2020; 22 (14):1505-1514.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAymeric Yanitch; Hafssa Kadri; Cédric Frenette-Dussault; Simon Joly; Frederic E. Pitre; Michel Labrecque. 2020. "A four-year phytoremediation trial to decontaminate soil polluted by wood preservatives: phytoextraction of arsenic, chromium, copper, dioxins and furans." International Journal of Phytoremediation 22, no. 14: 1505-1514.
A phytoremediation approach using willow microcuttings was tested on a large experimental site spiked with Cu, Pb and Zn. The objective was to verify if this approach allows plant establishment and effective extraction of contaminants. The experimental design consisted of four blocks divided into three plots, in which treatments (salts of the three metals) were randomly applied. Each plot was also subdivided to verify the effect of adding diverse compost treatments: no compost, vegetable garden waste compost (Compost 1), food waste compost (Compost 2) and a mix of Composts 1 and 2. Willow microcuttings (Salix matsudana × alba) were scattered on the plots at a density of 60 m−2. Nine months after the implementation, the number of stems developed, yield and concentration of metals in the aerial parts of the willows were measured. The presence of a contaminant did not affect the number of stems developed. However, the presence of Compost 1 had a significant effect on the number of stems produced as well as on the biomass. Among the three metals, Zn was the element found in highest concentration in willow tissues. An estimated minimum 300 g of Zn per hectare per year could be removed using this method.
Michel Labrecque; Yonghong Hu; Gilles Vincent; Kankan Shang. The use of willow microcuttings for phytoremediation in a copper, zinc and lead contaminated field trial in Shanghai, China. International Journal of Phytoremediation 2020, 22, 1331 -1337.
AMA StyleMichel Labrecque, Yonghong Hu, Gilles Vincent, Kankan Shang. The use of willow microcuttings for phytoremediation in a copper, zinc and lead contaminated field trial in Shanghai, China. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 2020; 22 (13):1331-1337.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichel Labrecque; Yonghong Hu; Gilles Vincent; Kankan Shang. 2020. "The use of willow microcuttings for phytoremediation in a copper, zinc and lead contaminated field trial in Shanghai, China." International Journal of Phytoremediation 22, no. 13: 1331-1337.
This experimental study presents an innovative method for establishing a willow (Salix spp.) shrub vegetation cover on disturbed sites in North America. Willow microcuttings of Salix miyabeana ‘SX61’, S. eriocephala ‘S25’ and S. purpurea ‘Fish Creek’ were selected to test the potential of shortened willow cuttings. We evaluated the effect of three factors related to microcutting assemblages (monoculture and polyculture), the presence or absence of a companion herbaceous plant and two types of substrate (same soil, but one with compost and one without). The objectives were to assess 1) the potential growth of willow microcuttings in open site conditions, 2) the influence of soil amendments on the establishment of willow microcuttings and 3) the influence of diversity on biotic resistance. The results showed a greater establishment rate, stem height and number of shoots per microcutting without the presence of an herbaceous plant. The plots planted without compost showed better establishment rates, especially those in the polyculture plots. The presence of compost increased the production of number of shoots per microcutting and tended to increase stem height. The presence of an herbaceous plant was related to higher plant cover, but no relationship with biotic resistance was observed. Although willow cover did not significantly affect relative growth of undesirable tree species seedlings (Betula populifolia and Acer rubrum), we observed that plant cover tended to reduce the relative growth rate. Consequently, this preliminary test of using microcuttings as an alternative approach to establishing a dense shrub cover showed good potential to restore disturbed sites and limit tree encroachment in open sites, reducing environmental and economic costs.
Valérie DesRochers; Cédric Frenette-Dussault; Werther Guidi Nissim; Jacques Brisson; Michel Labrecque. Using willow microcuttings for ecological restoration: An alternative method for establishing dense plantations. Ecological Engineering 2020, 151, 105859 .
AMA StyleValérie DesRochers, Cédric Frenette-Dussault, Werther Guidi Nissim, Jacques Brisson, Michel Labrecque. Using willow microcuttings for ecological restoration: An alternative method for establishing dense plantations. Ecological Engineering. 2020; 151 ():105859.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValérie DesRochers; Cédric Frenette-Dussault; Werther Guidi Nissim; Jacques Brisson; Michel Labrecque. 2020. "Using willow microcuttings for ecological restoration: An alternative method for establishing dense plantations." Ecological Engineering 151, no. : 105859.
Issues related to environmental degradation are of increasing concern worldwide. In urban Shanghai, many plant species used for ornamental purposes grow under harsh conditions yet show good resistance to pollution. Twelve shrub species were tested in a previous study to evaluate their capacity to tolerate and absorb inorganic contaminants. Among these, Hibiscus mutabilis and H. hamabo and Senna corymbosa, presented good performance and were tested over three growing seasons in a large experimental design (2000 m2) where the soil was spiked with salts of Cu, Pb, or Zn. Each year of the study, all plants were cut and biomass was harvested and analyzed. Despite the relatively high concentration of metals in plots, no signs of toxicity were observed. Concentrations of metals in root tissues were generally much higher than those found in aerial parts. The bioconcentration factor values were generally very low, but the high biomass yield produced by H. mutabilis led to significant removal of Cu and Zn. No difference in the quantity of Pb extracted was found between species. As these plants respond well to coppicing, it may be possible to gradually eliminate contaminants from soils. Their use can also embellish the landscape while generating many other ecological services.
Kankan Shang; Yong Hong Hu; Gilles Vincent; Michel Labrecque. Biomass and phytoextraction potential of three ornamental shrub species tested over three years on a large-scale experimental site in Shanghai, China. International Journal of Phytoremediation 2019, 22, 10 -19.
AMA StyleKankan Shang, Yong Hong Hu, Gilles Vincent, Michel Labrecque. Biomass and phytoextraction potential of three ornamental shrub species tested over three years on a large-scale experimental site in Shanghai, China. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 2019; 22 (1):10-19.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKankan Shang; Yong Hong Hu; Gilles Vincent; Michel Labrecque. 2019. "Biomass and phytoextraction potential of three ornamental shrub species tested over three years on a large-scale experimental site in Shanghai, China." International Journal of Phytoremediation 22, no. 1: 10-19.
Willows are increasingly used for a wide range of environmental projects, including biomass production, leachate treatment, riparian buffers and treatment wetlands. Evapotranspiration (ET), assumed to be high for most willow species used in environmental projects, affects hydrological cycles and is of key interest for project managers working with willows. Here, we present a comprehensive review of ET rates provided in the literature for the genus Salix. We aim to summarize current knowledge of willow ET and analyze its variability depending on context. We compiled and analyzed data from 57 studies, covering 16 countries, 19 willow species and dozens of cultivars. We found a mean reported ET rate of 4.6 ± 4.2 mm/d, with minimum and maximum values of 0.7 and 22.7 mm/d respectively. Although results reported here varied significantly between some species, overall interspecific standard deviation (±3.6 mm/d) was similar to intraspecific variation (±3.3 mm/d) calculated for S. viminalis, suggesting a greater influence of the growing context on ET than species identity. In terms of environmental and management variables, water supply, fertilization and contamination were identified as driving factors of ET across willow species. Effects of root age, experimental context, planting density and soil type were more nuanced. Our findings provide synthetic data regarding willow ET. We encourage practitioners who use ET data from the literature to be aware of the main drivers of ET and to consider the influence of the experimental aspects of a study in order to interpret data accurately and improve project planning.
Chloé Frédette; Michel Labrecque; Yves Comeau; Jacques Brisson. Willows for environmental projects: A literature review of results on evapotranspiration rate and its driving factors across the genus Salix. Journal of Environmental Management 2019, 246, 526 -537.
AMA StyleChloé Frédette, Michel Labrecque, Yves Comeau, Jacques Brisson. Willows for environmental projects: A literature review of results on evapotranspiration rate and its driving factors across the genus Salix. Journal of Environmental Management. 2019; 246 ():526-537.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChloé Frédette; Michel Labrecque; Yves Comeau; Jacques Brisson. 2019. "Willows for environmental projects: A literature review of results on evapotranspiration rate and its driving factors across the genus Salix." Journal of Environmental Management 246, no. : 526-537.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the treatment efficiency of a short rotation willow coppice (SRWC) vegetation filter for the treatment of wastewater from a municipal primary effluent in a humid continental climate context. The experimental work was carried out at pilot scale on a willow plantation located in Québec, Canada. The experimental design included nine plots that were irrigated with groundwater (L0 = 14 mm/d) or two primary effluents (L1 = 10 and L2 = 16 mm/d) for 111 days. This research showed that SRWCs operated on coarse-textured soils allow efficient removal of organic matter (91% of COD for L1 and L2) and nitrogen (98% of TKN for L1 and L2) from wastewater. It was also shown, in this case, that the total nitrogen loading should be used as the limiting design parameter to minimize the risk of contaminating underground drinking water sources with nitrates. Almost complete removal of total phosphorus was observed during this experiment (98% for L1 and L2). However, a significant increase in soil available phosphorus was observed following the L2 treatment, which suggests an eventual phosphorus soil profile saturation in the event of continued wastewater irrigation. Avoiding such a saturation would require chemical phosphorus removal upstream of SRWC vegetation filters. Finally, an imbalance between irrigation and willows needs was observed as a result of irrigating plots at a constant hydraulic loading rate. Thus, irrigation of an SRWC with wastewater should be modulated according to willow seasonal transpiration trends to allow a better allocation of water and nutrients according to plant needs, and in doing so, increase treatment efficiency and resources valorization.
Xavier Lachapelle-T.; Michel Labrecque; Yves Comeau. Treatment and valorization of a primary municipal wastewater by a short rotation willow coppice vegetation filter. Ecological Engineering 2019, 130, 32 -44.
AMA StyleXavier Lachapelle-T., Michel Labrecque, Yves Comeau. Treatment and valorization of a primary municipal wastewater by a short rotation willow coppice vegetation filter. Ecological Engineering. 2019; 130 ():32-44.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXavier Lachapelle-T.; Michel Labrecque; Yves Comeau. 2019. "Treatment and valorization of a primary municipal wastewater by a short rotation willow coppice vegetation filter." Ecological Engineering 130, no. : 32-44.
Michel Labrecque; Patrick Benoist. 14th International Phytotechnologies Conference. “phytotechnologies: new sustainable solutions for environmental challenges” Montréal, Québec (Canada), September 25–29, 2017. International Journal of Phytoremediation 2019, 21, 1 -3.
AMA StyleMichel Labrecque, Patrick Benoist. 14th International Phytotechnologies Conference. “phytotechnologies: new sustainable solutions for environmental challenges” Montréal, Québec (Canada), September 25–29, 2017. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 2019; 21 (1):1-3.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichel Labrecque; Patrick Benoist. 2019. "14th International Phytotechnologies Conference. “phytotechnologies: new sustainable solutions for environmental challenges” Montréal, Québec (Canada), September 25–29, 2017." International Journal of Phytoremediation 21, no. 1: 1-3.
In urban areas of China, several plant species are commonly used for ornamental purposes. Many of these plants have demonstrated a good capacity to resist these varied urban stresses, and it would be relevant to verify whether they can be grown on polluted sites and demonstrate some phytoremediation potential. Twelve ornamental shrub species were chosen to be tested for tolerance to inorganic contaminants and capacity to absorb and concentrate heavy metals in their aerial parts. A large split-plot trial comprising 20 plots was set up, and soil was spiked with different metals (Cu, Pb and Zn). In general, all twelve shrub species performed well regardless of the treatment. Two Hibiscus species, H. mutabilis and H. syriacus “Hamabo” were particularly productive. In terms of capacity to uptake metals, two of the best performing species were Spiraea japonica, for copper, and Nandina domestica, for lead. Bioconcentration and transfer factors were low. This could be related to weak development of the root systems in these recently established plants. Species with high yield, such as the two Hibiscus species, presented more interesting values in terms of quantity of metal extracted, and could eventually be recommended for decontamination of soils polluted by inorganics.
G Vincent; K Shang; G Zhang; M Labrecque. Preliminary results of the tolerance to inorganic contaminants and phytoextraction potential of twelve ornamental shrub species tested on an experimental contaminated site. iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 2018, 11, 442 -448.
AMA StyleG Vincent, K Shang, G Zhang, M Labrecque. Preliminary results of the tolerance to inorganic contaminants and phytoextraction potential of twelve ornamental shrub species tested on an experimental contaminated site. iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry. 2018; 11 (3):442-448.
Chicago/Turabian StyleG Vincent; K Shang; G Zhang; M Labrecque. 2018. "Preliminary results of the tolerance to inorganic contaminants and phytoextraction potential of twelve ornamental shrub species tested on an experimental contaminated site." iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 11, no. 3: 442-448.
A plant’s genotype, their environment, and the interaction between them influence its growth and development. In this study, we investigated the effect of these factors on the growth and biomass yield of willows in short-rotation coppice (SRC) under different harvesting cycles (i.e., two- vs. three-year rotations) in Quebec (Canada). Five of the commercial willow cultivars most common in Quebec, (i.e., Salix × dasyclados Wimm. ‘SV1’, Salix viminalis L. ‘5027’, Salix miyabeana Seeman ‘SX61’, ‘SX64’ and ‘SX67’) were grown in five sites with different pedoclimatic conditions. Yield not only varied significantly according to site and cultivar, but a significant interaction between rotation and site was also detected. Cultivar ‘5027’ showed significantly lower annual biomass yield in both two-year (average 10.8 t ha−1 year−1) and three-year rotation (average 11.2 t ha−1 year−1) compared to other cultivars (15.2 t ha−1 year−1 and 14.6 t ha−1 year−1 in two- and three-year rotation, respectively). Biomass yield also varied significantly with rotation cycle, but the extent of the response depended upon the site. While in some sites the average productivity of all cultivars remained fairly constant under different rotations (i.e., 17.4 vs. 16 t ha−1 year−1 in two- and three-year rotation, respectively), in other cases, biomass yield was higher in the two- than in the three-year rotation or vice versa. Evidence suggests that soil physico-chemical properties are better predictors of willow SRC plantation performance than climate variables.
Werther Guidi Nissim; Benoit LaFleur; Michel Labrecque. The Performance of Five Willow Cultivars under Different Pedoclimatic Conditions and Rotation Cycles. Forests 2018, 9, 349 .
AMA StyleWerther Guidi Nissim, Benoit LaFleur, Michel Labrecque. The Performance of Five Willow Cultivars under Different Pedoclimatic Conditions and Rotation Cycles. Forests. 2018; 9 (6):349.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWerther Guidi Nissim; Benoit LaFleur; Michel Labrecque. 2018. "The Performance of Five Willow Cultivars under Different Pedoclimatic Conditions and Rotation Cycles." Forests 9, no. 6: 349.
Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi, proven mediators of soil fertility, has great potential in agricultural and silvicultural systems. This is particularly true in short-rotation coppices (SRCs), where questions of food displacement and fertilization are causes of concern for researchers and policy makers. We set out to thoroughly test if current inoculation methods, coupled with reduced fertilization, can demonstrate a growth benefit in SRC willows on marginal lands. Roughly 21,600 Salix miyabeana Seeman (‘SX61’ and ‘SX64’) were planted in a hierarchical design with inoculation treatments randomized first, cultivars randomized second, and fertilization treatments randomized third. This process was repeated across three fields of different marginal soil type (which, in our experiment, were given the descriptive names Sandy, Rocky, and Dry). The inoculum species, Rhizoglomus irregulare Błaszk., Wubet, Renker & Buscot Sieverd., G.A. Silva & Oehl and Hebeloma longicaudum (Pers.) P. Kumm., were chosen as they are most likely to be commercially available, and because they represent both arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal inoculum types. Growth was measured over 2.5 years, or three growing seasons. Fertilization treatment (75 kg/ha Nitrogen), however, was only applied during the second growing season. Our results conclusively showed no benefit from mycorrhizal inoculation across fields that exhibited significantly different growth rates, as well as significant differentiation from fertilization.
Thomas Joseph Pray; Werther Guidi Nissim; Marc St-Arnaud; Michel Labrecque. Investigating the Effect of a Mixed Mycorrhizal Inoculum on the Productivity of Biomass Plantation Willows Grown on Marginal Farm Land. Forests 2018, 9, 185 .
AMA StyleThomas Joseph Pray, Werther Guidi Nissim, Marc St-Arnaud, Michel Labrecque. Investigating the Effect of a Mixed Mycorrhizal Inoculum on the Productivity of Biomass Plantation Willows Grown on Marginal Farm Land. Forests. 2018; 9 (4):185.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThomas Joseph Pray; Werther Guidi Nissim; Marc St-Arnaud; Michel Labrecque. 2018. "Investigating the Effect of a Mixed Mycorrhizal Inoculum on the Productivity of Biomass Plantation Willows Grown on Marginal Farm Land." Forests 9, no. 4: 185.
Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide and is now frequently detected in surface waters of agricultural regions, notably in Quebec (Canada). Numerous legislations require vegetated riparian buffer strips (RBS) along agricultural streams. Quebec policy requires 3-meter-wide RBS. The present study evaluates the efficiency of narrow herbaceous and low- or high-density (33,333 and 55,556stumps/ha) willow, Salix miyabeana 'SX64', RBS, to minimize leaching of glyphosate and its main degradation product (AMPA) from agricultural fields to streams. Our study compared triplicate treatments of herbaceous and willow-planted RBS located in an organic-rich soil at Boisbriand (BB) and in a mineral soil at Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan (SR). Runoff water was sampled with surface collectors and interstitial water was collected with 35cm or 70cm tension lysimeters. Potential efficiency of the RBS is reported as the percent reduction between edge-of-field and edge-of-stream concentrations in runoff and interstitial waters. Neither glyphosate nor AMPA in runoff were significantly intercepted by the RBS. After field herbicide spraying, glyphosate measured in SR surface soils (0-20cm) was on average 210μg·kg dw (range from undetected to ≤317μg·kg dw). Glyphosate was found to be persistent and its infiltration towards groundwater may be enhanced by the RBS. Contrary to runoff trends, soil glyphosate was significantly less concentrated on the SR edge-of-stream compared to edge-of-field (27-54% potential efficiency). The potential efficiency of herbaceous, low- and high-density willow RBS were undifferentiated.
Louise Hénault-Ethier; Marc Lucotte; Matthieu Moingt; Serge Paquet; Sophie Maccario; Élise Smedbol; Marcelo Pedrosa Gomes; Laurent Lepage; Philippe Juneau; Michel Labrecque. Herbaceous or Salix miyabeana ‘SX64’ narrow buffer strips as a means to minimize glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid leaching from row crop fields. Science of The Total Environment 2017, 598, 1177 -1186.
AMA StyleLouise Hénault-Ethier, Marc Lucotte, Matthieu Moingt, Serge Paquet, Sophie Maccario, Élise Smedbol, Marcelo Pedrosa Gomes, Laurent Lepage, Philippe Juneau, Michel Labrecque. Herbaceous or Salix miyabeana ‘SX64’ narrow buffer strips as a means to minimize glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid leaching from row crop fields. Science of The Total Environment. 2017; 598 ():1177-1186.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLouise Hénault-Ethier; Marc Lucotte; Matthieu Moingt; Serge Paquet; Sophie Maccario; Élise Smedbol; Marcelo Pedrosa Gomes; Laurent Lepage; Philippe Juneau; Michel Labrecque. 2017. "Herbaceous or Salix miyabeana ‘SX64’ narrow buffer strips as a means to minimize glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid leaching from row crop fields." Science of The Total Environment 598, no. : 1177-1186.
A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of diverse plant species (four herbaceous and four woody species) on the labile pool of six metals (Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni and Se) present in their rhizosphere. After three months of cultivation, concentrations of trace elements (TE) in above and below-ground biomass of each species were determined. The labile and presumably bioavailable fraction of these TE in the rhizosphere as well as key soil parameters (e.g. pH, electrical conductivity (EC), percent of organic matter and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) were also measured and compared as a function of plant species. The concentration of TE in plant tissues differed among species. In general and as expected, concentrations were higher in root tissues of tested plants than in above-ground tissues. While the labile pool of several TE in the rhizosphere, notably Ag, Ni, and Cu, was significantly and differently affected by the presence of the plants, pH, EC and percentage of organic matter remained unchanged. In contrast, DOC was higher in the rhizosphere of all tested plants than in soil of the control pots without plants. In addition, there was a positive relationship between Ni and Cu availability concentrations, and DOC levels. This suggests that root systems of different species can have a distinct influence on soil DOC and consequently modify the labile pools of Ni and Cu in the rhizosphere. These findings have important implications for plant selection in phytoremediation projects.
Thi Xuan Trang Nguyen; Marc Amyot; Michel Labrecque. Differential effects of plant root systems on nickel, copper and silver bioavailability in contaminated soil. Chemosphere 2017, 168, 131 -138.
AMA StyleThi Xuan Trang Nguyen, Marc Amyot, Michel Labrecque. Differential effects of plant root systems on nickel, copper and silver bioavailability in contaminated soil. Chemosphere. 2017; 168 ():131-138.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThi Xuan Trang Nguyen; Marc Amyot; Michel Labrecque. 2017. "Differential effects of plant root systems on nickel, copper and silver bioavailability in contaminated soil." Chemosphere 168, no. : 131-138.
The standard approach to establishing woody species such as willows in phytoremediation and ecological engineering is based on planting either unrooted rods or cuttings. Whether planted by hand or mechanically, this approach is usually time-consuming and expensive, and sometimes results in uncompleted projects. In this short-duration trial, we assessed a new method for propagating two common willow species (Salix viminalis L. and Salix miyabeana Seemen) using microcuttings of different sizes (i.e. 1, 2 and 5 cm-long). Best results were obtained with 5 cm-long cuttings, in terms of resprouting rate (average 100%), number of shoots (average 8.9) and shoot length (average 11.5 cm after 41 days), although there were significant differences according to species, with S. viminalis sprouting faster and better than S. miyabeana. These results, although preliminary, provide a new, more rapid and economical avenue for willow propagation for restoration or other environmental purposes.
Werther Guidi Nissim; Michel Labrecque. Planting microcuttings: An innovative method for establishing a willow vegetation cover. Ecological Engineering 2016, 91, 472 -476.
AMA StyleWerther Guidi Nissim, Michel Labrecque. Planting microcuttings: An innovative method for establishing a willow vegetation cover. Ecological Engineering. 2016; 91 ():472-476.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWerther Guidi Nissim; Michel Labrecque. 2016. "Planting microcuttings: An innovative method for establishing a willow vegetation cover." Ecological Engineering 91, no. : 472-476.
Sustainable and inexpensive production of biomass is necessary to make biofuel production feasible, but represents a challenge. Five short rotation coppice (SRC) willow cultivars, selected for high biomass yield, were cultivated on sites at four diverse regions of Quebec to determine their bioenergy potential in contrasting environments. Wood composition and anatomical traits were characterized. Tree height and stem diameter were measured to evaluate growth performance of the cultivars according to the diverse pedoclimatic conditions. Each cultivar showed very specific responses to its environment. While no significant variation in lignin content was observed between sites, there was variation between cultivars. Surprisingly, the pattern of substantial genotype variability in stem density was maintained across all sites. However, wood anatomy did differ between sites in a cultivar (producing high and low density wood), suggesting a probable response to an abiotic stress. Furthermore, twice as many cellulose-rich G-fibers, comprising over 50 % of secondary xylem, were also found in the high density wood, a finding with potential to bring higher value to the lignocellulosic bioethanol industry
Nicolas Berthod; Nicholas James Beresford Brereton; Frédéric E. Pitre; Michel Labrecque. Five willow varieties cultivated across diverse field environments reveal stem density variation associated with high tension wood abundance. Frontiers in Plant Science 2015, 6, 948 .
AMA StyleNicolas Berthod, Nicholas James Beresford Brereton, Frédéric E. Pitre, Michel Labrecque. Five willow varieties cultivated across diverse field environments reveal stem density variation associated with high tension wood abundance. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2015; 6 ():948.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicolas Berthod; Nicholas James Beresford Brereton; Frédéric E. Pitre; Michel Labrecque. 2015. "Five willow varieties cultivated across diverse field environments reveal stem density variation associated with high tension wood abundance." Frontiers in Plant Science 6, no. : 948.
High concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) pollution can be hazardous to human health and leave soils incapable of supporting agricultural crops. A cheap solution, which can help restore biodiversity and bring land back to productivity, is cultivation of high biomass yielding willow trees. However, the genetic mechanisms which allow these fast-growing trees to tolerate PHCs are as yet unclear. Salix purpurea ‘Fish Creek’ trees were pot-grown in soil from a former petroleum refinery, either lacking or enriched with C10-C50 PHCs. De novo assembled transcriptomes were compared between tree organs and impartially annotated without a priori constraint to any organism. Over 45 % of differentially expressed genes originated from foreign organisms, the majority from the two-spotted spidermite, Tetranychus urticae. Over 99 % of T. urticae transcripts were differentially expressed with greater abundance in non-contaminated trees. Plant transcripts involved in the polypropanoid pathway, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), had greater expression in contaminated trees whereas most resistance genes showed higher expression in non-contaminated trees. The impartial approach to annotation of the de novo transcriptomes, allowing for the possibility for multiple species identification, was essential for interpretation of the crop’s response treatment. The meta-transcriptomic pattern of expression suggests a cross-tolerance mechanism whereby abiotic stress resistance systems provide improved biotic resistance. These findings highlight a valuable but complex biotic and abiotic stress response to real-world, multidimensional contamination which could, in part, help explain why crops such as willow can produce uniquely high biomass yields on challenging marginal land.
Emmanuel Gonzalez; Nicholas J. B. Brereton; Julie Marleau; Werther Guidi Nissim; Michel Labrecque; Frederic E. Pitre; Simon Joly. Meta-transcriptomics indicates biotic cross-tolerance in willow trees cultivated on petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil. BMC Plant Biology 2015, 15, 246 .
AMA StyleEmmanuel Gonzalez, Nicholas J. B. Brereton, Julie Marleau, Werther Guidi Nissim, Michel Labrecque, Frederic E. Pitre, Simon Joly. Meta-transcriptomics indicates biotic cross-tolerance in willow trees cultivated on petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil. BMC Plant Biology. 2015; 15 (1):246.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEmmanuel Gonzalez; Nicholas J. B. Brereton; Julie Marleau; Werther Guidi Nissim; Michel Labrecque; Frederic E. Pitre; Simon Joly. 2015. "Meta-transcriptomics indicates biotic cross-tolerance in willow trees cultivated on petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil." BMC Plant Biology 15, no. 1: 246.