The lack of effective methods to utilize coal gangue and mitigate its environmental harm

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated research gap and future-work section and future work of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 3 journals. Those papers have been cited 33 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps

• Coal Gangue Ecological Matrix Coupled with Microalgae for Soil Improvement and Plant Growth in Reclaimed Mining Areas (2025) · Biology · cited 9× · doi

  The lack of effective methods to utilize coal gangue and mitigate its environmental harm. The need for innovative approaches to improve soil conditions in ecologically vulnerable coal-mining regions. The gap in understanding the effects of microalgae on soil quality and plant growth in coal-mining regions.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: lack effective methods utilize coal gangue mitigate environmental
• Harnessing Microalgae and Cyanobacteria for Sustainable Pesticide Biodegradation: Advances, Challenges, and Ecological Benefits (2025) · Microorganisms · cited 10× · doi

  interdisciplinary collaboration in strain selection, metabolic engineering, and process intensification is needed, - addressing complexities in large-scale cultivation of microalgae and cyanobacteria is necessary, - developing more sustainable management strategies that reduce reliance on chemical inputs is a future research direction, - investigating the potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria for bioremediation of soil pesticide degradation is a future research direction

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: interdisciplinary collaboration strain selection metabolic engineering process intensification
• Microalgae-Based Strategies for Soil Health and Crop Productivity: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Pathways to Climate-Resilient Agriculture (2025) · Agronomy · cited 14× · doi

  Future research on microalgae-based soil amendments should focus on overcoming  the  current  technological,  ecological,  and  economic  limitations  that  hinder  their  large- scale adoption. One of the main priorities is still developing economical cultivation and  processing systems. Integrating microalgae production with wastewater treatment or bi- orefineries can increase economic viability while encouraging resource recycling and en- vironmental sustainability.  Another key direction is the advancement of microalgal strains that are adapted to  soil conditions. The majority of microalgae species thrive in aquatic environments and are      Agronomy 2025, 15, 2669  20  of  32  not well-suited for terrestrial habitats. Consequently, the identification and cultivation of  terrestrial  or soil-dwelling  species such as  Chlorococcum,  Nostoc, or Scenedesmus  can im- prove their persistence and functionality in soil ecosystems. Applying adaptive laboratory  evolution or genetic engineering could enhance tolerance to desiccation, salinity, and tem- perature fluctuations, traits vital for soil survival [224]. For example, research on Scenedes‐ mus sp. IITRIND2 revealed that under elevated salinity, the microalga restricted ion chan- nels, secreted EPS, and accumulated osmolytes such as proline and sugars, indicating co- ordinated metabolic adjustments that maintain cellular homeostasis and identify potential  genetic  engineering  targets  for  enhancing  salt  tolerance  [225].  Similarly,  research  by  Schroda et al. [226] illustrated that the overexpression of the HSP70B gene in Chlamydo‐ monas reinhardtii led to a substantial improvement in thermotolerance for the green alga  by stabilizing photosystem II and safeguarding cellular proteins under elevated tempera- ture conditions. The transgenic lines showed higher photosynthetic efficiency and growth  rates compared to the wild type when subjected to heat stress, suggesting that strategi- cally manipulating heat-shock proteins can improve resilience to temperature changes, a  crucial attribute for soil endurance and applications geared toward climate resilience.  To  strengthen  field  performance,  co-inoculation  strategies  combining  microalgae  with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) or mycorrhizal fungi can improve nu- trient cycling, water retention, and microbial synergy [127,227–230]. Co-inoculation led to  a reduction in acidity, enhancement of aggregate stability, an increase in soil nutrients, an  improvement in the soil quality index, and superior plant growth compared to single in- oculations. Moreover, advanced formulation techniques, such as encapsulation, biochar  carriers, or hydrogel matrices, can safeguard microalgae from harsh soil conditions and  prolong their active duration.  It is crucial to develop standardized application protocols that account for various  soil types, climates, and cropping systems in order to assess and enhance the agronomic  and environmental advantages of microalgal amendments. Long-term field trials should  be prioritized to evaluate persistence, functional stability, and ecological impacts in real- world  conditions.  Future  investigations  should  concentrate  on  assessing  the  ecological  compatibility of microalgae through the examination of their interactions with indigenous  soil microorganisms, plant roots, and environmental stresses. Understanding these inter- actions is crucial to ensure that microalgal applications enhance soil health without dis- rupting existing soil microbial communities or ecosystem balance.  Collectively,  advancing  microalgae-based  applications  requires  multidisciplinary  collaboration among researchers, industry, and policymakers to integrate biological inno- vation with practical field implementation. Addressing these research gaps will allow mi- croalgae  to  play  a  transformative  role  in  sustainable  agriculture,  soil  fertility  enhance- ment, and climate change mitigation.

  generalfuture workevidence 5/5
  Keywords: soil microalgae conditions enhance ecological microalgal growth crucial applications plant future based amendments economic cultivation

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