Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Biomass Production and Nickel Yield in the Hyperaccumulator Bornmuellera emarginata Under Field Conditions

Le résumé fourni par la source

ABSTRACT Nickel (Ni) plays a crucial role in the green transition, driven by the climate crisis and the demand for sustainable energy. Ensuring a stable and sustainable supply of Ni is essential for supporting future energy needs and global decarbonization. Nickel agromining aims to develop cultivation systems that efficiently manage Ni‐rich soils by integrating agriculture with sustainable resource extraction. The Greek endemic species Bornmuellera emarginata (Brassicaceae), known for its exceptional Ni hyperaccumulation, is a promising candidate for agromining applications. This study evaluated the effect of fertilization type (organic vs. inorganic) on B. emarginata , cultivated in 25 m 2 plots over a three‐year period (2018–2020), with a focus on Ni yield. Organic fertilization significantly increased biomass production in the second year (9.9 t ha −1 ) compared with inorganic fertilization (4.4 t ha −1 ), primarily due to improved soil structure and moisture retention. As a result, Ni yield was higher in organically fertilized plots (58.2 kg ha −1 ) than in inorganically fertilized plots (41.9 kg ha −1 ) during the same year. However, this pattern was reversed in the following year (2020). A combined fertilization approach using inorganic and organic fertilizers may be the most effective strategy to maximize both biomass production and Ni yield, thereby enhancing the efficiency of Ni agromining.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.