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[Display omitted] • Magnetic biochar and ryegrass can remediate heavy metal co-contaminated soils. • Magnetic biochar and ryegrass maintain the stability of soil organic carbon pool. • Magnetic biochar spheres can adsorb more Cr and Ni. • Biochar sustains ryegrass to fix heavy metals continuously. Biochar is a very promising material for soil remediation. However, most studies mainly focus on the adsorption ability of biochar on one heavy metal, which is difficult to evaluate the actual remediation effect since soils were contaminated with multiple heavy metals. In order to improve the soil remediation efficiency, we used the joint remediation method of magnetically modified biochar and ryegrass to remediate the soil polluted by compound heavy metals (chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic and cadmium), and evaluate the effect on the process of organic carbon mineralization in polluted soils. It was found that magnetic biochar and ryegrass together decreased the concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Cd in soils by 24.12 %, 23.30 %, 22.01 %, 9.98 %, 14.83 %, and 15.08 %, respectively, and reduced the available fractions. Ryegrass roots were the main accumulation part of heavy metals, and the order of enrichment effect was ranked as Zn > As > Cr > Cu > Ni > Cd. In addition, magnetic biochar can maintained the stability of the organic carbon pool, and inhibited the emission of volatile organic compounds from ryegrass. Overall, this study indicates that magnetic biochar spheres combined with ryegrass is an effective method for heavy metals co-contaminated soils, and has the excellent remediation ability for actual co-contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal profile of methane (CH 4) emissions from ruminants is affected by feed composition and forage type. This study aimed to 1) describe and compare the post-feeding pattern of CH 4 emissions from lambs fed fresh ryegrass substituted with graded levels of forage rape, and 2) to evaluate the association between the magnitude of the variation in CH 4 emission patterns and organic fermentation products quantified in pre- and- post- feeding rumen content samples. Methane emissions were measured at approximately 6 min intervals in respiration chambers from 70 lambs (n = 14 per treatment) fed ryegrass only (FR0) or as a proportion, 0.25 forage rape + 0.75 ryegrass (FR25), 0.50 forage rape + 0.50 ryegrass (FR50), 0.75 forage rape + 0.25 ryegrass (FR75), and forage rape only (FR100). The magnitude of the variability in CH 4 emissions was defined as the ratio of maximum to minimum CH 4 emissions in a 24 h period. This ratio was correlated (P < 0.05) with the proportions of major short chain fatty acids, and calculated hydrogen (H 2) available per unit of glucose fermented (H 2 /GEF), quantified in rumen content samples collected pre- and- post- feeding. The CH 4 emission profile after each feeding followed an asymmetrical positively skewed shape for FR0 to FR75, but not in lambs fed FR100. The lowest CH 4 emission rates were observed before morning feeding which was followed by a CH 4 peak within the 2 h after feeding, and then the CH 4 emissions decreased until the next feeding. In FR100 lambs, the CH 4 emission rate was, unexpectedly, relatively constant after feeding, without any clear CH 4 peaks. The magnitude of the variability in the CH 4 emission rate increased when the pH of rumen contents and H 2 /GEF measured in pre-feeding samples decreased. Including forage rape at 0.75, or greater proportion, in the diet of lambs drastically changed the CH 4 emissions pattern, likely due to a continuous low pH in the rumen which is detrimental for methanogenesis. In conclusion, the daily variation in CH 4 emissions decreased with increasing forage rape inclusion in the diet of sheep and this was associated with a decreasing acetate proportion in the rumen liquid. • Lambs fed 100% forage rape had relatively constant CH 4 emissions throughout the day. • Adding increasing pasture to the forage rape increased the variability of CH 4. • H 2 available per unit of glucose fermented was correlated to the variability of CH 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haloxylon ammodendron , a typical xerophyte, tolerates various abiotic stresses and is widely distributed in desert areas. Two PGPR strains, Bacillus sp. WM13-24 and Pseudomonas sp. M30-35, were previously isolated from the rhizosphere of H. ammodendron in Tengger Desert, Gansu province, northwest China. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of M30-35 and WM13-24 in drought stress alleviation of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Under normal condition, both M30-35 and WM13-24 increased shoot fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll content, total nitrogen and phosphorus contents and altered phytohormone distribution compared to control. Moreover, after 7 days of drought stress, WM13–24 and M30-35 enhanced photosynthetic capacity, relative water content, the activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) and proline content, resulted in decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, relative membrane permeability (RMP) and H 2 O 2 accumulation; interestingly, the two strains decreased ABA content in leaves. This study demonstrated that the two PGPR strains promoted ryegrass growth and root development via regulating plant hormone distribution and enhanced drought tolerance of ryegrass through improving the activities of antioxidant enzymes, regulating ABA signaling and maintaining plant growth. Our results indicated that PGPR strains from rhizosphere of the desert plant species could be considered as promising bioinoculants for grass plants. • Both strains Bacillus sp. WM13-24 and Pseudomonas sp. M30-35 had plant growth promoting traits. • Both strains improved root system architecture and promoted the growth of ryegrass seedlings. • Both strains enhanced drought tolerance of ryegrass via enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and regulating ABA signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study highlights the synthesis of Zn-enriched biosourced catalysts (BIOCATs) obtained from ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivated on contaminated soils located in the North of France (Noyelles-Godault and Auby, Hauts-de-France). These cultures were located on brownfield land, next to two former industrial sites where the zinc and lead metallurgists Metaleurop and Nyrstar were installed. Physical and morphological properties of BIOCATs were compared to heterogeneous catalysts (CATs) prepared from commercial zinc chloride and montmorillonite K10. The catalysts were thermally activated (120 °C, 280 °C or 500 °C). BIOCATs have been further compared to CATs and different commercial metal chlorides in terms of efficiency in the synthesis of anti-inflammatory agents, Piroxicam and Meloxicam, both of them being involved in the inhibition of cyclooxygenases (COX) and being the main ingredients of the Feldene® and Mobic® drugs, respectively. BIOCAT-assisted synthesis resulted in the best reaction yields (84% and 78%, respectively) among all the tested catalysts. The results indicated that ryegrass provides appropriate quantity of biomass and can be considered as a bio-ore resource to improve green metrics in an environmental context involving clean and green technologies. Furthermore, the Zn/Cd and Zn/Pb ratios obtained in the ashes of ryegrass shoots were in general comprised between 153 and 202. This result demonstrated the excellent selectivity of ryegrass for zinc at the expense of the more problematic Cd and Pb, which are carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic. Future efforts are now needed to use BIOCATs in the synthesis of other high value-added molecules. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indiscriminate use of sulfadiazine has caused severe harm to the environment, and biodegradation is a viable method for the removal of sulfadiazine. However, there are few studies that consider sulfadiazine biodegradation mechanisms. To comprehensively investigate the process of sulfadiazine biodegradation by plants in a soil system, a potted system that included ryegrass and soil was constructed in this study. The removal of sulfadiazine from the system was found to be greater than 95% by determining the sulfadiazine residue. During the sulfadiazine removal process, a significant decrease in ryegrass growth and a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activity were observed, which indicates the toxic response and detoxification mechanism of sulfadiazine on ryegrass. The ryegrass transcriptome and soil bacterial communities were further investigated. These results revealed that most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in the CYP450 enzyme family and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway after sulfadiazine exposure. The expression of these genes was significantly upregulated. Sulfadiazine significantly increased the abundance of Vicinamibacteraceae , RB41 , Ramlibacter, and Microvirga in the soil. These key genes and bacteria play an important role in sulfadiazine biodegradation. Through network analysis of the relationship between the DEGs and soil bacteria, it was found that many soil bacteria promote the expression of plant metabolic genes. This mutual promotion enhanced the sulfadiazine biodegradation in the soil system. This study demonstrated that this pot system could substantially remove sulfadiazine and elucidated the biodegradation mechanism through changes in plants and soil bacteria. [Display omitted] • Sulfadiazine caused severe phytotoxicity and induced oxidative stress in ryegrass. • Ryegrass has mobilized metabolic genes involved in sulfadiazine biodegradation. • Key bacteria in soil are essential for sulfadiazine biodegradation. • This study combined plant and soil processes for biodegradation of sulfadiazine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si) has the potential to promote plant yield and improve their insect resistance, but the direct defense mechanisms associated with the effects of Si on forage grasses and its regulation are not known. In this study, the conditions of silica fertilization nutrition (1 and 3 mmol L−1 recorded as low concentration (LC) and high concentration (HC) groups, respectively) were changed during the seed germination period, which did not significantly affect the seed germination of ryegrass. However, the shoot biomass and insect resistance of ryegrass were significantly increased in the HC group. Comparison of the transcriptional results from RNA-seq assays revealed that the accumulation of ryegrass biomass may be closely related to the silicon intervention in photosynthesis, and the metabolic synthesis of lignin, carbohydrates, and hemicellulose. There was an additive effect of silicon concentration on the regulatory effects of ryegrass at the transcriptional level. Meanwhile, 98 and 1291 differentially expressed genes were assigned to the metabolic process in the LC and HC groups, respectively. Metabolomic results combined with LC-MS analysis showed that Si initiated a direct defense network in ryegrass with Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis as the backbone, and Flavonoid, Flavone and flavonol, and Isoflavonoid biosynthesis as important branches. The relative content of phenolics was significantly up-regulated, especially in the HC group, and most of these phenolics were potent SOS substances, closely related to the physiological disturbances suffered by Spodoptera frugiperda , with inhibitory effects on larval body weight. The above results confirm that silicon promotes an increase in ryegrass yield while initiating its direct defense network against insects, and that silicon is an effective supplement in improving ryegrass yield and insect resistance. [Display omitted] • Silicon treatment increased the shoot biological production of ryegrass. • Silicon treatment initiated the direct defense network of ryegrass. • Silicon treatment significantly up-regulated the phenolic content in ryegrass. • Silicon treatment improved insect resistance in ryegrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effects of diet with different proportions of ryegrass on breast meat quality of geese. In total, 240 healthy male Yangzhou geese (28-day-old) with similar body weight were divided randomly into 4 diet groups (control group: fed commercial diets; treatment groups I, II, and III: fed ryegrass and commercial diet in the ratios of 1.5:1, 2:1, and 3:1, respectively), the birds being fed from the age of 29 to 70 D. The results shows that the body weights of 70-day-old geese of treatment groups II and III were lower than those in the control group, whereas those of geese of treatment group I were similar to those of the control group. The contents of flavor amino acid and total (essential) amino acids in treatment groups I and II were higher than those in treatment group III (P, 0.05). In addition, grass supplementation reduced saturated fatty acid content and increased that of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, relative to the control group (P, 0.05). Finally, among the 6 minerals analyzed in breast muscle, differences existed in Zn, Se, and Cu contents among the geese fed with different proportions of ryegrass. Zn content of geese from treatment groups II and III was significantly higher than that of those of the control group; Cu content was lower with grass intake and was significantly higher in the control group than in treatment group III; Se content was significantly higher in the control group than in both groups II and III (all at P, 0.05). The results from this study indicated that geese fed with low proportions of ryegrass (1.5:1 or 2:1) showed good growth performance and increased total (essential) amino acid, flavor amino acid, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, and Zn content in meat, which had a certain guiding value for the production of highquality goose meat under intensive feeding conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to examine biochar amendment, phosphorus (P) fertilizer and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the yield, nutrient and cadmium (Cd) absorption of Lolium multiflorum in acidic soil. It was shown that mycorrhizal inoculation had no positive influence on the plant shoot biomass and the contents of nitrogen (N), P, potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in plants at all biochar and P level treatments. Irrespective of mycorrhizal inoculation and P level, biochar amendments markedly elevated the soil available P and K uptake in plant tissues. In contrast, biochar significantly decreased the translocation factor of plants, soil exchangeable Cd, and acid and neutral phosphatase activities, regardless of the mycorrhizal inoculation and P fertilizer. Without P fertilization, biochar amendments significantly promoted shoot P content, while biochar amendments significantly reduced shoot P content when P fertilizer was applied. Without biochar application, P fertilizer application significantly promoted the biomass and N uptake of shoots in both AMF inoculation treatments, while P fertilizer increased these only in the presence of biochar and mycorrhizal inoculation. The increased N content induced by the biochar amendment elevated the shoot N:P ratio and alleviated the N deficiency with P fertilizer input. Thus, we concluded that the addition of biochar and P fertilizer showed more positive effects on the promotion of growth and nutrient uptake of L. multiflorum than AMF grown in acidic Cd-contaminated soils. Image 1 • AMF had no positive influence on shoot biomass and nutrient uptakes. • Biochar markedly elevated soil P level and plant K uptake. • Biochar decreased translocation factor. • Biochar increased shoot N:P ratio with P fertilization. • Biochar and P fertilizer had more positive effects on ryegrass than AMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrazine (ATR) continues being one of the most frequently detected pesticides in natural waters and soils. In this work, an electrokinetic-assisted phytoremediation pot test (EKPR) was performed for the remediation of an atrazine-spiked soil; a low electric voltage gradient (1 V cm−1) with two different electric field operation times (6 and 24 h per day) was used in combination with ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). EKPR increased up to 27% and 7% the overall ATR removal from soil as compared to natural attenuation and phytoremediation treatments, respectively. ATR soil concentration vs time curves were fitted to a pseudofirst-order kinetic equation, obtaining ATR half-life values of 8.2, 7.1 and 5.4 days for the treatments corresponding, respectively, to 0, 6 and 24 h day−1 of electric current application. It clearly showed that the ATR removal from soils was enhanced by the electric field. ATR plant accumulation was significantly improved with respect to phytoremediation when the electric current was continuously applied throughout the experiment (24 h day−1); most of the ATR residues were accumulated in the shoot biomass of the ryegrass plants. Image 1 • Application of EKPR increased up to 27% and 7% as compared to natural attenuation and phytoremediation treatments. • 11–21% of the initial atrazine was accumulated in the ryegrass tissues. • Approximately 80% of the atrazine was removed in the first 4 days of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although studies on immobilized microorganisms have been conducted, their performance remains unclear for enhancing plants to remediate cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil. In this study, a Cd-resistant strain TY-1 with good plant growth promotion traits was immobilized by biochar (BC) or oyster shell (OS) power to strengthen ryegrass to remediate Cd-contaminated soil. SEM-EDS combined with FTIR showed that TY-1 could tolerate Cd toxicity by surface precipitation, and functional groups such as hydroxyl and carbonyl groups might be involved. In the biocomposite treatments, soil pH increased, and the activity of fertility-related enzymes such as dehydrogenase increased by 109.01%–128.01%. The relative abundance of genus Saccharimonadales decreased from 7.97% to 3.35% in BS-TY and 2.61% in OS-TY, respectively. Thus, a suitable environment for ryegrass growth was created. The fresh weight, dry weight, plant height and Cd accumulation of ryegrass in TY treatment increased by 122.92%, 114.81%, 42.08% and 8.05%, respectively, compared to the control. Cd concentration in ryegrass was further increased in BC-TY and OS-TY by 24.14% and 40.23%, respectively. The improvement in soil microcosm and plant biomass forms an ongoing virtuous cycle, demonstrating that using carrier materials to improve the efficiency of microbial-assisted phytoremediation is realistic and feasible. [Display omitted] • A bacterial strain with both Cd resistance and plant-promoting traits was isolated. • Multiple functional groups were involved in Cd resistance and cell immobilization. • The biocomposites significantly improved soil microhabitat and ryegrass growth. • Immobilized strain TY-1 significantly enhanced Cd uptake by ryegrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics pollution in environments has become a major concern and it has been proven to have adverse impacts on plants, so there is an urgent to find approaches to alleviate the detrimental effects of microplastics. In our study, we investigated the influence of polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) on the growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative defense system changes of ryegrass, as well as the behavior of MPs at roots. Then three types of nanomaterials were applied to alleviate the adverse impact of PSMPs on ryegrass, which were nano zero-valent iron (nZVI), carboxymethylcellulose-modified-nZVI (C-nZVI) and sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI), respectively. Our results suggested that PSMPs had significant toxicity to ryegrass, leading to decrease of shoot weight, shoot length and root length. Three nanomaterials regained the weight of ryegrass to a varying extent and made more PSMPs aggregate near roots. In addition, C-nZVI and S-nZVI facilitated the entrance of PSMPs into the root and promoted the chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents in leaves. Analysis of antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde content indicated that ryegrass coped well with the internalization of PSMPs, and all three types of nZVI could alleviate PSMPs-stress in ryegrass. This study elaborates the toxicity of MPs on plants and provides a novel insight into the fixing of MPs by plants and nanomaterials in environments, which needs to be further explored in future research. [Display omitted] • PSMPs decreased biomass, length and photosynthetic pigments of plants. • Three types of nZVI all alleviated the toxicity of PSMPs. • Three types of nZVI all promoted plant growth under exposure of PSMPs. • C-nZVI and S-nZVI facilitated the internalization of PSMPs. • S-nZVI might have a more alleviation on the oxidative stress when exposed to PSMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cis-1,8- p -menthane-diamine and its heterocyclic Schiff base derivatives (C1-C8) were designed and synthesized with turpentine as the raw material. These compounds were identified by FT-IR, ESI + -MS, 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR, then determined for their pre-emergence herbicidal activities against ryegrass. As results, both cis -1,8- p -menthane-diamine and its heterocyclic Schiff base derivatives had good herbicidal activities, and all of the heterocyclic Schiff base derivatives displayed much higher herbicidal activities than cis -1,8- p -menthane-diamine. Some compounds showed comparable herbicidal activities to diuron. Compound C3 had 51.0% higher herbicidal activities against ryegrass shoot growth than diuron. In addition, introduction of a bromine atom (an electron-withdrawing group) into the heterocyclic Schiff base derivatives containing furan ring (compound C1) was beneficial for the whole herbicidal activity. However, the herbicidal activity hadn't been improved when a methyl group (an electron-donating group) was introduced into compound C1. It was also observed that type of the heteroatom of the five-membered heterocyclic Schiff base and position of substitute on pyridine Schiff base had a significant influence on the activity of the core structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial biomass plays a critical role in soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization. However, the effects of microbial biomass size on SOC mineralization are poorly understood. We investigated how the priming effect (PE) of plant residue inputs on native SOC mineralization responds to changes in microbial biomass size and nitrogen (N) availability in the same soil with a 23 y history of crops and grass cover with contrasting SOC contents. The size of the soil microbial biomass was changed by pre-incubating soils with glucose. The pre-incubated soils were then treated with 13 C-labeled ryegrass residue combined with or without N to determine the PE. In all soils, the addition of ryegrass residue significantly increased cumulative carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) production, whereas the addition of N decreased it compared to the control (no ryegrass or N addition). After a 42-day incubation, only 9–16% of the ryegrass carbon (C) was mineralized to CO 2 , which contributed approximately 55 and 34% to the total CO 2 production in crop and grass soils, respectively. The addition of N decreased CO 2 production during the ryegrass decomposition by 9–45%, while the change in soil microbial biomass size had no impact. In addition, a positive PE was generally found in the soils amended with ryegrass alone, while the application of ryegrass residue combined with N decreased the PE. Moreover, the priming effect was independent of the size of the microbial biomass in crop soil. However, we observed a significant interaction of microbial biomass size and N availability on the priming effect in a grass soil but not in a crop soil. Our results indicate that soil microbial biomass size and soil C influence the magnitude and direction of the priming effect from C inputs depending on N availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic biomass from non-food crops is an attractive renewable source of sugars. These sugars can be used as feedstock for the microbial production of different industrially relevant compounds. Delignification of lignocellulosic biomass is a major challenge in sugar extraction. In the present study, ryegrass biomass (non-food), which is high in carbohydrates, was pre-treated with the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) for effective delignification. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the pre-treated biomass led to the extraction of high sugar levels compared with the raw biomass. Furthermore, these sugars were used for the production of poly-hydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which is an alternative to synthetic polymers. Ryegrass treated with 1% SDS solution at 180 °C showed the maximum delignification. This pre-treated biomass was characterised by TGA, FTIR and SEM and showed successful lignin removal. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the resultant pre-treated biomass showed 87% conversion into sugars and was used as a carbon source for the production of medium chain length (mcl) PHAs using two Pseudomonas strains. Both strains accumulated approximately 30% of their cell dry weight in mcl-PHAs. Hence, this study shows for the first time that surfactant pretreatment is effective for lignin solubilisation; this process increased the biomass surface area and improved enzyme actions, resulting in higher sugar extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a TX-VK3 spray tip attached to an electrostatic sprayer operated at 483 kPa pressure, ryegrass was sprayed with glyphosate at 0.0033 kg ae ha −1 . Charge-to-mass ratio (Q/M) for the spray solution was 1.686 mC kg −1 at +10.0 kV charging voltage. Treatment efficacy was assessed using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) spectral reflectance values. Electrostatic charging of glyphosate significantly increased volume median diameter of spray droplets (D v0.5 = 112.8 μm) compared to uncharged glyphosate (D v0.5 = 106.5 μm). Ryegrass health declined 80% faster by charging the glyphosate spray solution compared to the uncharged spray. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A floating ryegrass mat was constructed for low-pollution wastewater treatment during a low-temperature season. Plastic tanks were used as containers, and filled with low-pollution wastewater with low or high nitrogen concentrations, and with and without the floating ryegrass mat, creating four treatments in total (Group Low, Control Low, Group High and Control High). The experiment was conducted for 61 days. The results showed that the removal rates of TN, NH 4 + , and NO 3 − were considerably higher in Group Low and Group High than in the controls. The removal rates of TN were 86.8–88.8% in Group Low and 95.0–96.1% in Group High, while the removal rates of NH 4 + were 91.1–92.5% in Group Low and 97.9–99.1% in Group High. Meanwhile, the COD values were in the range of 5.5–20.9 mg/L in Group Low and 7.0–26.7 mg/L in Group High, which were relatively higher compared to the controls. The higher COD/N ratios in Group Low and Group High might enhance nitrogen removal. Overall, the ratio of plant assimilation to TN input was estimated to be 33.0% and 47.6% in Group Low and Group High, respectively. The ryegrass mat displayed advantages such as easy transport and high seedling survival rate. The constructed floating ryegrass mat effectively reduced nitrogen concentration. Therefore, this technique can be an alternative approach for low-pollution wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low C/N ratio and low carbohydrate content of sewage sludge limit its application for fermentative hydrogen production. In this study, perennial ryegrass was added as the co-substrate into sludge hydrogen fermentation with different mixing ratios for enhancing hydrogen production. The results showed that the highest hydrogen yield of 60 mL/g-volatile solids (VS) added was achieved when sludge/perennial ryegrass ratio was 30:70, which was 5 times higher than that from sole sludge. The highest VS removal of 21.8% was also achieved when sludge/perennial ryegrass ratio was 30:70, whereas VS removal from sole sludge was only 0.7%. Meanwhile, the co-fermentation system simultaneously improved hydrogen production efficiency and organics utilization of ryegrass. Kinetic analysis showed that the Cone model fitted hydrogen evolution better than the modified Gompertz model. Furthermore, hydrogen yield and VS removal increased with the increase of dehydrogenase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) depends on plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere, but the extent and mechanisms of these effects are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of plants on PAHs degradation and on associated changes in transcriptionally active bacterial community structures, degrading bacteria, and especially functional gene expression in a PAH-contaminated agricultural soil. We conducted a rhizo-box experiment planted with ryegrass for 60 days under glasshouse conditions. The degradation of 12PAHs in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils during the experiment was quantified using HPLC analysis. The dynamics of active bacterial community structure in soil were assessed using the molecular tool of cDNA-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Functional PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase (PAH-RHDα) genes were cloned using the Gram-positive (GP) and Gram-negative (GN) primers. The abundance and activity of total bacteria and GP/GN PAH-degraders were monitored by real-time PCR. Results demonstrate that the agricultural soil contained known PAH degraders and RHDα genes, such as nid A3, pdo A, nah Ac and phn Ac. The presence of ryegrass promoted the dissipation of PAHs and changed the structures of active bacterial communities in soil. In general, the abundance of total bacteria and GP PAH-degrader increased during the inoculation time. The ryegrass root enhanced the functional bacterial diversity in the early stages (0–10 days). However, the effect of ryegrass roots may stimulate the expression of GP and GN PAH-RHDα genes after 40 days. Our results indicate that ryegrass increased the degradation of PAHs by promoting bacteria diversity, increasing the abundance of total bacteria and PAH degraders, and stimulating RHDα gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) loss from highly fertilised grazed pastures can impair surface water quality. High P concentrations in grazed pastures are maintained to boost legume production, but systems that use monocultures of grass and clover can be more profitable and decrease P losses by lowering soil P in grassed areas. In contrast with using a direct drill to establish new pastures, conventional cultivation can lower topsoil P quickly and can be used as part of a farm re-grassing programme every six years. We tested if the potential for low P losses (measured by water extractable P; WEP) could be maintained over six years in pastures (ryegrass and white clover monocultures and a ryegrass and clover mixed sward) despite being fertilised (10, 35 and 100 kg P ha-1) and grazed. Cultivation (0–20 cm) decreased WEP and Olsen P in all three pastures and P rates by 30–50 % compared to direct drill and maintained this decrease for six years. A threshold in Olsen P (22 mg L-1) was noted where WEP concentrations increased at a greater rate relative to Olsen P than below. This threshold was like the critical point in Olsen P for 97 % relative yield in the pastures (22–28 mg L-1) and could be used to advise on cultivation and P fertiliser strategies to help avoid the potential for P loss without significantly compromising yield. The data indicated that cultivation could be used to quickly establish and maintain lower soil P concentrations as part of a strategy to decrease P losses and improve profit by using a split grass-clover system. • Phosphorus runoff from land can impair surface water quality. • Splitting pastures into monocultures maintains production and enables low P plants to grow in runoff prone areas. • Conventional cultivation can be used to quickly decrease enriched soil P for low P plants. • Potential for runoff was maintained despite fertiliser P and grazing returns over 6-year period. • Conventional cultivation is a suitable method for re-grassing programme to lower runoff P losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi and bacteria differ in their sensitivity to soil moisture, but their activity and contributions to soil carbon (C) cycling under different soil moisture conditions remain unclear. We manipulated soil fungi and bacteria with the fungicide captan and bactericide bronopol, respectively, and examined their effect on C dynamics at low and high moisture levels (40 and 80 % water holding capacity) in a grassland soil over a 21-day incubation period in the laboratory. 13C-labeled ryegrass was added with and without biocide treatments to separate ryegrass from soil-derived C in respiration, dissolved organic C (DOC) and soil C. We also measured activities of four C-degrading enzymes. Soil total- and ryegrass-respiration rates and microbial biomass C (MBC) decreased, while ryegrass-derived C in DOC and soil increased with decreased soil moisture, suggesting reduced microbial activity with decreased soil moisture. Initially, ryegrass respiration rates were suppressed by both biocides and both soil moisture levels. However, at low soil moisture, ryegrass respiration no longer was suppressed by bronopol after eight days of incubation, but remained suppressed with captan, suggesting that with low moisture fungi played a more important role in decomposing ryegrass litter than bacteria. On the other hand, at high soil moisture, biocide effects on ryegrass respiration mostly disappeared after eight days, suggesting that more labile components of ryegrass litter were no longer present, and that the surviving microorganisms adapted similarly to decomposing the more recalcitrant litter. Bacteria preferred to decompose labile substrates early on during the incubation, and fungi played a greater role in decomposing more recalcitrant ryegrass left over in soil at the end of the incubation. At low moisture with captan, a reduction in oxidative enzyme production contributed to the increase in the hydrolytic:oxidative enzyme ratio, further indicating the importance of fungi for decomposing more recalcitrant substances under low moisture conditions. [Display omitted] • Fungi decomposed more ryegrass litter than bacteria at low moisture. • Biocide effect on litter respiration disappeared after eight days at high moisture. • Bacteria preferred labile and fungi preferred recalcitrant ryegrass litter. • Inhibition of fungal abundance reduced oxidative enzyme production at low moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied resistance to manganese (Mn) toxicity under acidic conditions and its relationship with nutrients such as calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in new perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) genotypes (One-50, Banquet-II and Halo-AR1) introduced in southern Chile, using the Nui genotype as the reference. Plants were grown in nutrient solution at increased Mn concentrations (0–750 μM) at pH 4.8, and physiological and biochemical features were determined. Under higher Mn concentration, the One-50 genotype had a significantly lower relative growth rate (RGR) of shoots and roots, whereas in the other cultivars this parameter did not change under variable Mn treatments. Increasing the Mn concentration led to an increased Mn concentration in roots and shoots, with Banquet-II and Halo-AR1 having higher Mn in roots than shoots. Shoot Mg and Ca concentrations in all genotypes (except Banquet-II) decreased concomitantly with increasing Mn applications. In contrast to the other genotypes, Banquet-II and Halo-AR1 maintained their net CO 2 assimilation rate regardless of Mn treatment, whereas the chlorophyll concentration decreased in all genotypes with the exception of Banquet-II. In addition, lipid peroxidation in Banquet-II roots increased at 150 μM Mn, but decreased at higher Mn concentrations. This decrease was associated with an increase in antioxidant capacity as well as total phenol concentration. Banquet-II and Halo-AR1 appear to be the most Mn-resistant genotypes based on RGR and CO 2 assimilation rate. In addition, Mn excess provoked a strong decrease in Ca and Mg concentrations in shoots of the Mn-sensitive genotype, whereas only slight variations in the Mn-resistant genotype were noted. When other evaluated parameters were taken into account, we concluded that among the perennial ryegrass genotypes introduced recently into southern Chile Banquet-II appears to be the most Mn-resistant, followed by Halo-AR1, with One-50 being the most sensitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cd is a heavy metal that contaminates soils. These kinds of heavy metals pose a serious threat to food security, ecosystems, and human health. To improve the phytoremediation efficiency of moderately Cd-contaminated cropland soils and achieve simultaneous production and remediation, intercropping ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with hollyhock (Althaea rosea) was investigated using pot experiments, and Bacillus thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis) inoculation was used as a booster to strengthen the absorption and accumulation of Cd in plants. The results showed that intercropping (Int treatment) decreased the Cd concentration in plants compared to hollyhock and ryegrass monocropping. However, the Cd accumulation in ryegrass and hollyhock was promoted by B. thuringiensis addition to intercropping (Int-B treatment), as the biomass of ryegrass and hollyhock was 2.33 and 1.13 times that of the Int treatment, respectively. Compared with the Int treatment, the total Cd concentration in soils of the Int-B treatment decreased by 8.1%, while diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid solution extracted Cd (DTPA-Cd) increased by 18.2%, indicating that B. thuringiensis increases the available Cd concentration in soils to promote Cd adsorption by hollyhock enrichment plants. High-throughput sequencing results further revealed that the dominant microflora in the soils of the Int and Int-B treatments were consistent with the control, although their abundance and diversity decreased slightly. Overall, intercropping with B. thuringiensis addition effectively increased the hollyhock remediation efficiency in moderately Cd-contaminated soils, and the concentration of Cd in forage crops of ryegrass was lower than the limit value of "Hygienic standards for feeds' (GB 13078–2017) in China. [Display omitted] • Bacillus enhanced the remediation of Cd contaminated soil by plant intercropping. • Intercropping decreased Cd uptake by ryegrass. • Biomass and the Cd accumulation of ryegrass were promoted by Bacillus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) is one of the ubiquitous soil contaminants. The strategy to increase Pb phytoremediation is of highly critical considering the difficulty in phytoextraction of Pb due to its low solubility and high retention on soil particles. The effects of application nano hydroxyapatite (NHAP) on Pb phytoextraction by ryegrass ( Lolium Perenne L.) were evaluated. Ninety pots of Pb-contaminated soil with different Pb concentrations (0–800 mg/kg) were seeded with ryegrass. The effects of NHAP on biomass and Pb uptake were examined. The results indicated that the application of 5 g/kg NHAP to Pb-contaminated soils significantly increased the ryegrass biomass. The removal rates of Pb from the soil by ryegrass were enhanced obviously after NHAP addition. These results suggested that NHAP was suitable for application to in-situ Pb-contaminated soils for remediation. The observation in this study provides useful information about the effects of NHAP on lead removal, which plays an important role in the phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An initial exploration was conducted using mathematical and statistical methods to obtain relevant information about the determination of the physicochemical parameters capable of controlling As uptake by ryegrass grown on contaminated topsoils. Concentrations of As in the soils were from 10 to 47 mg/kg, mainly in the As(V) form (57%–73%). Concentrations of As in water extracts were very low (61–700 μg/kg). It was suggested that As(III) was mainly in the uncharged species and As(V) in the charged species. Chemometric methods revealed that the values of the ratio As(III)/As(V) depended on the assimilated-phosphorus, the pseudo-total and water-extractable Fe contents and the soil pH. Arsenic concentrations measured in ryegrass shoots ranged from 119 to 1602 μg/kg. Positive linear correlations were obtained between As in ryegrass shoots and water extractable-As. The transfer coefficient of As correlated well with the ratio assimilated-phosphorus/Fe-oxides. As(III) uptake by the shoot of ryegrass was controlled by the organic matter and Fe-oxide contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbiomes inhabiting plant roots and their adjacent soil environment play significant roles in plant growth, health, and ecological services. Recent studies have provided detailed insights into many phytomicrobiomes, but our understanding of the root-associated microbiomes of perennial ryegrass is still very limited. Here we carried out a stratified rhizobox experiment involving a fluvo-aquic soil and red soil under elevated (750 ppm) and ambient (350–400 ppm) CO 2 , and used deep amplicon sequencing to investigate the ryegrass root-associated bacterial microbiomes across compartments (the bulk soil, 2-mm outer rhizosphere, rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and endosphere). We observed increased relative abundances of Proteobacteria (mainly Rhizobiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae) in the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and endosphere compared with the bulk soil and outer rhizosphere. The dominant bacterial genera (mainly Methylobacterium , Rhizobium , Pseudomonas , Stenotrophomonas , and Enterobacter ) which facilitate plant growth and soil nutrient cycling were enriched in the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and endosphere compared with outer rhizosphere. PICRUSt predicted moderate functional differentiation of bacterial microbiomes across compartments. The bacterial α-diversity showed a decreased trend along a spatial gradient from the bulk soil to the endosphere. The β-diversity and network analyses indicated significant differences in the root-associated bacterial microbiomes between the fluvo-aquic soil and red soil. In conclusion, our study suggests that the filtration and acquisition of the ryegrass root-associated bacterial microbiomes are largely controlled by indigenous soil microbial communities, rather than the changes in root rhizodeposition caused by elevated CO 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient use by crops of nitrogen from manures is an agronomic and environmental issue, mainly in double-annual forage cropping systems linked to livestock production. A six-year trial was conducted for a biennial rotation of four forage crops: oat-sorghum (first year) and ryegrass-maize (second year) in a humid Mediterranean area. Ten fertilization treatments were introduced: a control (without N); two minerals equivalent to 250 kg N ha −1 year −1 applied at sowing or as sidedressing; dairy cattle manure at a rate of 170, 250 and 500 kg N ha −1 year −1 and four treatments where the two lowest manure rates were supplemented with 80 or 160 kg mineral N ha −1 year −1 . They were distributed according to a randomized block design with three blocks. The highest N mineral soil content was found in the summer of the third rotation, in plots where no manure was applied. The yearly incorporation of manure reduced, in successive cropping seasons, the amount of additional mineral N needed as sidedressing to achieve the highest yields. Besides, in the last two years, there was no need for mineral N application for the manure rate of 250 kg N ha −1 year −1 . This amount always covered the oat-sorghum N uptake. In the ryegrass-maize sequence uptakes were as high as 336 kg N ha −1 year −1 . In the medium term, the intermediate manure rate (250 kg N ha −1 year −1 ) optimizes nutrient recycling within the farming system, and it should be considered in the analysis of thresholds for N of organic origin to be applied to systems with high N demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation and adsorption are both important approaches for the removal of organic contaminants in water. In this study, cetyltrimethylammonium saturated bentonite as an effective adsorbent and ryegrass as a model plant, were used simultaneously to remove organic contaminants in a hydroponic system. Results showed that removal efficiency of phenol (100 mg/L) by organobentonite and ryegrass (OB + RY) reached 92.5% in 6 days, followed by ryegrass (RY, 88.5%) and organobentonite only (OB, 15.9%). The removal efficiency of aniline (100 mg/L) by organobentonite and ryegrass (OB + RY) reached 91.9% in 9 days, followed by ryegrass only (RY, 83.9%), and organobentonite only (OB, 63.0%). The combined remediation by organobentonites and the hydroponic ryegrass was an efficient and environmental friendly method for organic chemicals polluted wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosolids derived organo-mineral fertilisers (OMF) are designed to reduce fertiliser inputs, but may lead to excessive accumulation of soil P. Two OMF formulations comprised of biosolids (BS), urea and potassium at NPK ratios of 10:4:4 (OMF 10 ) and 15:4:4 (OMF 15 ) were investigated. Effects of OMF on ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) yields and crop P content, together with soil nutrients (total C and N, organic matter, pH) were explored and compared to BS and urea in a three year field trial. In addition the soil microbial community (biomass C, phospholipid fatty acid – PLFA and multiple substrate induced respiration – MSIR) were assessed at the end of the experiment. All fertilisers (rates 0–250 kg N ha −1 ) produced similar yields with the exception of urea, which had reduced yield at 250 kg N ha −1 . Soil total carbon increased where BS and OMF 10 were applied but not with OMF 15 and urea. Crop P was not affected by fertiliser applications and no organic matter accumulation were observed with urea. Comparable yields produced by the application of OMF compared to urea suggest that OMF is a promising alternative to inorganic fertiliser. Soil microbial biomass was greater in BS plots compared to urea indicating an increased supply of substrates for microorganisms in the former. Soil microbiological analysis indicates change in the community PLFA profile in autumn, but an altered MSIR functional profile in spring. Changes in available P suggest OMF replenished supplies of utilised nutrient and maintains soil P levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catch crop (green manure) planting is considered an efficient strategy to improve soil fertility in agro-ecosystems. Methane (CH 4) emissions from paddies subjected to continuous green manure amendment though is a topic that remains unexplored. To clarify the impact of continuous green manure amendment on rice yield and CH 4 emissions, a long-term trial (established in 2003, Yixing, China) was designed with the field observations conducted between 2019 and 2020. Two green manure crops (milk vetch, ryegrass) were selected as the catch crop with fallow as the control, all trialed at two N application rates i) low N dosage deriving from the optimum effect between yield-N fertilizer (LN, 200 kg ha-1), and ii) a higher N dose as the empirical farmer's dose (HN, 270 kg ha-1). The results showed that continuous green manure amendment notably increased soil organic carbon (SOC) compared to that of the control, while HN significantly increased the dissolved organic nitrogen compared to LN. The rice yield among treatments remained similar, ranging from 8.6 t ha-1 to 9.4 t ha-1 (two years' average). CH 4 emissions were notably related to green manure, and remained unaffected by N application rate. Ryegrass amendment after 18 years remarkably stimulated the CH 4 emissions compared to other treatments, while the difference between milk vetch-amended and fallow treatments was found insignificant. Ryegrass increased soil mcr A gene with the abundance becoming the highest under HN. Methanogens abundance and SOC content were the main factors affecting CH 4 emissions under ryegrass addition. Moreover, the CH 4 emission intensity was aligned with CH 4 emissions mainly due to the similar rice yield. Overall, continuous milk vetch planting is a recommended catch crop strategy that increases soil fertility and maintains rice yield without increasing CH 4 emissions. • Continuous green manure amendment could increase soil organic carbon (SOC). • Grain yield remains unaffected by green manure and N-application rate. • Green manure was the main factor mediating paddy CH 4 emission. • Ryegrass enhanced CH 4 emissions on the contrary to milk vetch amendments. • SOC and mcr A gene were the key factors to CH 4 emissions in ryegrass amended plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper disposal of heavy metal-contaminated iron ore tailings poses a significant risk to the surrounding environments. Adding compost and growing ryegrass could be a cost-effective long-term solution for remediation of iron ore tailings. We conducted a glasshouse study to investigate the impact of compost amendment (0, 50, 75 and 100% w/w) on growth and accumulation of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni and Zn) and As in shoots of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) grown in two iron ore tailings (Site A and Site B mines, Pilbara, Western Australia). Ryegrass was harvested 45 and 60 days after sowing. Site A iron ore tailings had total concentrations (mg kg−1) of Fe (449,000), Mn (6900), Zn (109), Co (16) and As (7.3). Site B mine tailings had total concentrations (mg kg−1) of Fe (457,000), Ni (21), Zn (109) and As (45). Both tailings had low cation exchange capacity, organic matter, air porosity and near-neutral pH, but varied in particle size distribution (Site A–clay loam and Site B–sandy loam). Ryegrass germination was higher in the extract of Site B than Site A tailings. Increasing compost-to-tailings ratio increased dry shoot biomass at 45 days. The heavy metal/metalloid concentrations in shoots significantly decreased with increasing compost-to-tailings ratio, except for Cu and Zn. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of heavy metals (metal concentration in shoot/total metal concentration in substrate) significantly decreased with an increasing proportion of compost in growth substrate. The BCF was >1 for Zn and Cu, and <1 for other heavy metals. A high concentration of organic matter in compost treatments likely contributed to the enhanced mobilisation of Cu and Zn for plant uptake. In contrast, compost stabilised other metals/metalloids in the tailings to decrease their uptake by ryegrass and maintain plant growth despite relatively high Mn, Fe, As and Pb concentrations in iron ore tailings. [Display omitted] • Physical chemical properties of iron ore tailings improved with addition of 75% w/w compost. • Growth of perennial ryegrass increased many-fold at 75% w/w compost addition to iron ore tailings. • Shoot content of Cu and Zn in perennial ryegrass was elevated with increasing proportion of compost. • Bioconcentration factors decreased with increased proportion of compost added to tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ageratina adenophora contains allelochemicals harmful to other plants. • On-site aerobic composting eliminated phytotoxicity of A. adenophora. • Composted A. adenophora is a plant-soil friendly organic fertilizer. In many areas invaded by Ageratina adenophora , the piles of A. adenophora residue need to be safely treated and economically utilized. To explore a new potential use for these residues, on-site aerobic composting, seed germination test and greenhouse experiment were conducted to compare the phytotoxic allelochemicals in uncomposted and composted A. adenophora plants (UA and CA, respectively) and their influence on ryegrass seed germination and seedling growth. The phytotoxicants 4,7-dimethyl-1-(propan-2-ylidene)-1,4,4a,8a-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6(1H,7H)-dione (DTD) and 6-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-3,8-dimethyl-4a,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-2(1 H)-one (HHO) in UA decreased by 10.09 and 11.01 times in CA on average, respectively. Aqueous extracts of CA increased the seed germination rate, root dehydrogenase activity, leaf chlorophyll content and nitrate reductase activity; those of UA behaved oppositely. Compared with chemical fertilizers (CF), CF + CA promoted plant growth, increased plant nutrient uptake, and resulted in higher soil available nutrients, enzyme activity and microbial biodiversity, whereas CA alone had similar or better influences on plants and soils than CF. The predominant bacterial and fungal composition was the same in the soils supplied with CA and CF + CA. Therefore, on-site aerobic composting eliminated the phytotoxicity of CA and provided a new, simple and economical approach for the potential use of A. adenophora biomass as a plant- and soil-friendly organic fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Alkyl chain length affected the uptake of imidazolium based ILs by ryegrass. • A higher uptake efficiency was observed for ILs with a shorter chain length. • A longer alkyl chain length of ILs had a more negative effect on the plant growth. • ILs contents in the roots and leaves decreased with increasing alkyl chain lengths. Imidazolium based ionic liquids (ILs) have been extensively used in the various industrial fields, however, the dependence of their structure on toxicity and bioavailability by plants is not clear. Thus, in this study, uptake of imidazolium based ILs with different alkyl chain lengths (e.g., [C 2 mim]+ and [C 8 mim]+) by ryegrass and their toxicity to plant growth were investigated. Results show that the two ILs could be removed by ryegrass with high efficiencies, and a higher uptake efficiency and accumulation was observed for [C 2 mim]+ with shorter chain length compared with that for [C 8 mim]+. A higher growth inhibition of ryegrass by [C 8 mim]+ was observed compared with that by [C 2 mim]+, indicating the long alkyl chain length of ILs had a negative effect on the plant growth. ILs taken up by ryegrass was retained in the roots and their translocation from roots to shoots was restricted. The IL concentration in roots was 0.68 mg/g-fresh weight for [C 2 mim]+ and 0.08 mg/g- fresh weight for [C 8 mim]+ when the ryegrass was exposed to 10 mg/L ILs. This study proved that plant assimilation of ILs depended on their alky chain lengths, which would be useful for understanding the fate of ILs with various structures in phytoremediation for ILs-contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Application of ashes from biomasses as sorbents. • Sorption of metal and organic pollutants on bio-sorbents. • Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. Three plant biomasses (miscanthus, ryegrass and wheat) have been considered for the preparation of five different sorbents evaluated for their potential to sorb cadmium and lead and four emergent organic compounds (diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, 17α-ethynylestradiol and triclosan) from artificially contaminated water. Lab-created cartridges were filled with each sorbent and all experiments were systematically compared to activated charcoal Norit®. Results from activated charcoal, wheat straw and acidified wheat straw were supported by the Langmuir and Freundlich models. Wheat straw ashes were an excellent metal extractor that exceeded the potential of well-known activated charcoal. Acidified sorbents (wheat and ryegrass) were very effective in eliminating the selected emerging organic contaminants displaying equipotent or superior activity compared to activated charcoal. These results open the way for further in natura studies by proposing new biosource materials as new effective tools in the fight against water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Understanding the mechanisms of antagonism and interaction of various bacteria and fungi, while remediating the metals. • Finding the best suited combination of microorganisms for Uranium remediation. • Development of MCDT with ryegrass for leaching Uranium. • Upscaling the bioreactor for environmental applications. Post phytoremediation accumulation of heavy metals in plants is causing an environmental issue worldwide. In this study, we investigated the ability of eight different kinds of microorganisms to degrade and release heavy metals from heavy metal enriched ryegrass, including 5 species of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis , Bacillus licheniformis , Bacillus pumilus -I, Bacillus pumilus -II and Bacillus cereus) and 3 of fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium , Trichoderma ressei and Pterula sp. strain QD-1), by growing them under uranium stress and assessing their ability to degrade biomass. After 30 days, the degradation ability of fungi was found better than that of bacteria, while the metal leaching ability of bacteria was found better. The highest degradation rate (upto 60%) was obtained by using P. chrysosporium , Pterula sp. strain QD-1 exhibited the best leaching rate for uranium (upto 77%). The overall degradation rate of lignin and cellulose and hemicellulose was found lower (40% and 60%, respectively). According to the antagonistic characteristics of microbes, we combined different dominant species, in which under optimal conditions the T2 combination (P. chrysosporium , T. reesei , and Pterula sp. strain QD-1 and B. subtilis) was able to degrade 80% of the ryegrass, 51% of lignin, 74% of cellulose and hemicellulose, releasing 78% of U, 90% of Pb and the releasing rate of other heavy metals was more than 95%. FTIR analysis showed the least degradation of lignin, while SEM-EDX analysis of the degradation residues displayed the microstructure of ryegrass being greatly damaged. Only a small amount of U was found in the residues of the researched combinations. This study provides efficient Microbial Combined Degradation Technology for heavy metal enriched biomass, which can effectively deal with heavy metal enriched plants, and provide a basis for the recovery and utilization of heavy metals, avoiding secondary pollution in the environment caused by this type of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]