Brief description of the project
(2024-2026)
Project title: IRN 19676481 « Developing strategies for phytomanagement of xenobiotic-contaminated soils via PGPR-immobilized biochar and metagenomics synergy».
Relevance. Biomass utilization marks the culmination of a «zero-waste» cycle in phytoremediation. Consequently, the trend towards selecting bioenergy crops for remediating TE-contaminated soils and devising methodologies for recycling contaminated biomass is gaining popularity in bioenergy. This pursuit centers on seeking alternative raw materials convertible into energy products, aligning with sustainable development in the bioeconomy.
The goal of the project: To assess the impact of PGPR-immobilized biochar on physiological-biochemical properties, plant-microbial interactions, and rhizosphere microbiome of Miscanthus × giganteus (M×g) utilizing metagenomic technology for improving efficacy of phytomanagement in xenobiotics-contaminated soils.
Expected results: Employing metagenomic technology, the impact of PGPR-immobilized biochar on physiological-biochemical properties, plant-microbial interactions, and rhizosphere microbiome of Miscanthus × giganteus (M×g) were examined.
Scientific Supervisor of the project: principal associate researcher, Dr.Sc. in Biology, Professor Nurzhanova A
Research group: Nurmagambetova A.S., Zhumasheva J., Mamirova A.A., Berzhanova R.Zh.
List of publications of the project’s participants (2020-2023)
1 Pidlisnyuk, V., Mamirova, A., Pranaw, K., Shapoval, P. Y., Trögl, J., Nurzhanova, A. Potential role of plant growth-promoting bacteria in Miscanthus × giganteus phytotechnology applied to the trace elements contaminated soils. // International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. — 2020. – Vol. 155. — P. 105103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2020.105103
WoS: Q1, IF 4.32, percentile 87%, FWCI 0.61
- Tarla D.N., Erickson L.E., Hettiarachchi G.M., Amadi S.I., Galkaduwa M., Davis L.C., Nurzhanova A., Pidlisnyuk V. Phytoremediation and Bioremediation of Pesticide-Contaminated Soil // Appl. Sci. – 2020. – Vol. 10 (4) – P.1217-13333. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10041217
WoS: Q2, IF 2.838, percentile 79%, FWCI 1.33
- Nurzhanova A., Mukasheva T., Berzhanova R., Kalugin S., Omirbekova A., Mikolasch A. Optimization of microbial assisted phytoremediation of soils contaminated with pesticides // Int. J. Phytoremediation. –2021. –Vol. 23 (5). – P. 482–491. https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2020.1825330 WoS: Q2, IF 4.003, percentile 84%, FWCI 0.39
- Muratova A., Lyubun Y., Sungurtseva I., Turkovskaya O., Nurzhanova A. Physiological and biochemical characteristic of Miscanthus × giganteus grown in heavy metal – oil sludge co-contaminated soil // Journal of Environmental Sciences. – 2022. – Vol. 115.– P. 114-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2021.07.013 WoS: Q1, IF 6.796, percentile 94%
- Sailaukhanuly Y, Nurzhanov Ch., Nurzhanova A., Carlsen L. Evaluation of the potential cancer risk of obsolete organochlorine pesticides in abandoned storehouses throughout the Almaty oblast, Kazakhstan // Int.J. Human and ecological risk assessment. – 2022. – Vol.28, Is.10. – P.1213-1227. https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2022.2136137
WoS: Q2, IF 4.997, percentile 61%, FWCI 0
- Muratova A., Golubev S., Romanova V., Nurzhanova A. Effect of Heavy-Metal-Resistant PGPR Inoculants on Growth, Rhizosphere Microbiome and Remediation Potential of Miscanthus × giganteus in Zinc-Contaminated Soil. // Microorganisms. – 2023. – Vol. 11.– P. 1516. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061516 WoS Q2, IF 4.926, percentile 65%
7 Nurzhanova A., Pidlisnyuk V., Berzhanova R., Nurmagambetova A., Terletskaya N., Omirbekova N., Berkinbayev G., Mamirova A. PGPR‑driven phytoremediation and physiobiochemical response of Miscanthus × giganteus to stress induced by the trace elements // Environmental Science and Pollution Research. – 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29031-/
WoS Q1, IF 5.8, percentile 94%
- Pidlisnyuk, V., Newton, R. A., & Mamirova, A. (2021). Miscanthus biochar value chain-A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 290, 112611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112611 WoS: Q1, IF = 6.789, percentile = 95%
- Mamirova, A., Pidlisnyuk, V., Amirbekov, A., Ševců, A., & Nurzhanova, A. (2021). Phytoremediation potential of Miscanthus sinensis And. in organochlorine pesticides contaminated soil amended by Tween 20 and Activated carbon. // Environmental Science and Pollution Research. — 2021. – Vol. 28, Is. 13. – P. 16092–16106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11609-y WoS: Q1, IF 5.8, percentile 94%FWCI 1.67
- Davis, L. C., Pidlisnyuk, V. V., Mamirova, A., Shapoval, P. Y., & Stefanovska, T. R. (2021). Establishing Miscanthus, Production of Biomass, and Application to Contaminated Sites. In L. E. Erickson & V. V. Pidlisnyuk (Eds.), Phytotechnology with Biomass Production: Sustainable Management of Contaminated Sites (p. 242). CRC press Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003082613-5 (Web of Science database)
- Nurzhanova А., Muratova A., Berzhanova R., Pidlisnyuk V., Nurmagambetova A., Mamirova A. Rhizosphere microorganisms: increasing phytotechnology productivity and efficiency – a review //Доклады национальной академии наук Республики Казахстан. – 2022 – № 3. – С.34-58 (KZ).
- Davis, L. C., Zeeb, B. A., Erickson, L. E., Mamirova, A., & Pidlisnyuk, V. V. (2021). Remediation of Sites Contaminated by Organic Compounds. In L. E. Erickson & V. V. Pidlisnyuk (Eds.), Phytotechnology with Biomass Production: Sustainable Management of Contaminated Sites (p. 242). CRC press Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003082613-3 (Web of Science database)
13 Mukasheva T., Berzhanova R., Sydykbekova R., M. Shigaeva. Bacterial entophytic of Trans-Ili Alatau regions plants as promising components of microbial preparation for agricultural use // Acta Biochimica Polonica, Vol. 63, N 2/2016. Р.321–328
https://doi.org/10.18388/abp.2015_1157 WoS: Q2, IF 2.149, percentile 53%
14 Pidlisnyuk, V., Herts, A., Khomenchuk, V., Mamirova, A., Kononchuk, O., & Ust’ak, S. (2021). Dynamic of Morphological and Physiological Parameters and Variation of Soil Characteristics during Miscanthus × giganteus Cultivation in the Diesel-Contaminated Land. Agronomy, 11(4), 798. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040798 WoS: Q1, IF 3.417, percentile 65%
- Baubekova, A., Akindykova, A., Mamirova, A., Dumat, C., & Jurjanz, S. (2021). Evaluation of environmental contamination by toxic trace elements in Kazakhstan based on reviews of available scientific data. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(32), 43315–43328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14979-z WoS: Q1, IF 5.8, percentile 94%
- Mikolasch, A., Berzhanova, R., Omirbekova, A., Reinhard, A., Zühlke, D., Meister, M., Mukasheva, T., Riedel, K., Urich, T., & Schauer, F. Moniliella spathulata, an oil-degrading yeast, which promotes growth of barley in oil-polluted soil // Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology January 2021 105(W1):1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-020-11011-1 WoS: Q1, IF 4.813, percentile 85%.
- Pidlisnyuk, V., Newton, R. A., & Mamirova, A. (2021). Miscanthus biochar value chain—A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 290, 112611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112611 WoS: Q1, IF 6.789, percentile 95%
- Kononchuk, O.; Pidlisnyuk, V.; Mamirova, A.; Khomenchuk, V.; Herts, A.; Grycová, B.; Klemencová, K.; Leštinský, P.; Shapoval, P. Evaluation of the Impact of Varied Biochars Produced from M. × giganteus Waste and Application Rate on the Soil Properties and Physiological Parameters of Spinacia oleracea L. Environmental Technology & Innovation 2022, 28, 102898, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2022.102898 WoS: Q1, IF 5.263, percentile 83%
- Mamirova A.A., Nurzhanova A.A., Pidlisnyuk V.V. POP pesticides and reclamation methods (review). Reports of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. – 2019. – V.6(328). – P.21-34. (Eng) https://doi.org/10.32014/2019.2518-1483.164
Results for 2024: The influence of biochar on the composition of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere soil, rhizoplane and endosphere of M. giganteus roots, and on their physiological and biochemical properties in soil contaminated with heavy metals was studied. The research is ongoing.
Publications (2024):
Results for 2025
Biochar is an effective pollutant sorbent that enhances soil fertility and plant growth by reducing nutrient leaching and improving their bioavailability. It also serves as a matrix for the immobilization of microorganisms, supporting their proliferation and biofilm formation, which makes biochar a promising carrier for the introduction of specialized decomposer microorganisms for the bioaugmentation of contaminated soils. Immobilization of microorganisms on various carriers, which increases their resistance to adverse conditions, can provide a basis for developing effective bioremediation methods, particularly in arid regions.
To develop the technique for immobilizing microbial cells on the surface of biochar, three types of biochar were used: birch biochar, biochar from bottom sediments (SSP), and biochar from Miscanthus stems at a concentration of 5% (w/w). Two types of PGP microorganisms were used as immobilizers: Trichosporon sp. CA1 and Rhizobium sp. Zn1.
The developed protocol for microbial cell immobilization on the surface of biochar included the following steps: determination of the optical density (OD) of the microbial suspension in a 0.9% NaCl solution and verification of its homogeneity before the immobilization procedure; comparison of OD changes in suspensions with different initial culture concentrations; assessment of the stability of microbial cell immobilization on the biochar surface by measuring the degree of desorption after re-incubation in fresh physiological solution; and evaluation of the viability of the cells immobilized on biochar.
It was established that the optical density of a 0.5% microbial suspension in 0.9% NaCl (volume 250 mL) was 1.02±0.03. Comparison of 1% and 0.5% suspensions showed that at a 0.5% concentration, the immobilization efficiency reached 98.8% after 6 hours. Evaluation of the stability of cell immobilization on biochar from Miscanthus stems (specific surface area – 672 m²/g, pore size – 0.85 nm) showed a desorption rate of 3.87%. Comparative analysis of the efficiency of PGP microorganism immobilization on biochars of different origins indicated that microbial cells adhered better to biochars derived from plant material (birch biochar and Miscanthus stem biochar) than to biochar from bottom sediments. These results highlight the need for a selective approach when choosing a sorbent for microbial culture immobilization.
Information for potential users
Method for immobilization of a bacterial-yeast consortium on biochar
Publications 2025
List of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed in the Web of Science and (or) Scopus databases
Asil Nurzhanova, Eugenia Boulygina, Irina Sungurtseva, Aigerim Mamirova, Ramza Berzhanova, Anna Muratova. Miscanthus × giganteus Rhizobacterial Community Responses to Zn and Oil Sludge Co-Contamination // Agronomy, 2025, 15, 2232. https://doi.org/
10.3390/agronomy15092232. IF = 3.4, Percentile = 84%, WoS — Q1.
Abstracts of the international conference (indicating the form of the report)
Nurzhanova A.A. (online) presented on the topic “Biochar: Phytoremediation of Soils Contaminated with Organic and Inorganic Pollutants” at the International Scientific and Practical Hybrid Conference “Current Issues in Natural Sciences and Modern Approaches to Biological Education,” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Honored Professor A.S. Sartaev, Kazakh National Women’s Pedagogical University, 05.11.2025.
Patents:
- Method for immobilization of bacterial-yeast consortium cells on the surface of biochar. Registration No. 2025/1860.2, filed on 04.12.2025.
- Method for production of biochar from post-phytoremediation biomass of the energy crop Miscanthus × giganteus. Registration No. 2025/1820.2, filed on 27.11.2025.
