**3. Change in vegetation at the planted plots**

*A. rosea* flower (hollyhock) (Original) *A.rosea* plant group in the plot (Original)

*M. officinalis* flower (yellow melilot)(Original) *M. officinalis* plant group in the plot (Original)

*C. dactylon* (Bermuda grass) (Original) *C. dactylon* covering in the plot (Original)

**Figure 3.** Photographs of plant species in the plots

232 Advances in Bioremediation of Wastewater and Polluted Soil

The experimental design of the study was based on the plot applications, and the study was conducted at three independent plots. Treatment equipment was constructed in the Sofulu waste landfill, which was covered with 30 cm of soil in the B soil horizon. Experimental plots 6 m2 (2 m × 3 m) in size were prepared, and three types of plants (*A. rose, C. dactylon* and *M. officinalis*) were each planted on 6 plots. The climate in the site is typical of the Mediterranean, and is characterized by a hot, dry period between May and September. The mean annual rainfall in the area is 647 mm, which occurs in the winter and spring seasons, and therefore irrigation is necessary in the summer for any plant growth [8].

The plants in the experiments were irrigated with either tap water or leachate wastewa‐ ter under drought conditions. Nine plots were not irrigated and were used as controls in order to evaluate the effects of irrigation. The leachate waste water was taken from the basin of the Sofulu landfill site [8]. Figure 4 shows the changes in vegetation at the plots of south waste landfill over 2 years. Few plants were observed in the spring after plant seeds were sown in February. However, growth of *A. rosea* was observed, and the flower bloomed in autumn of that year; *M. officinalis* and *C. dactylon* also grew in the spring of the following year. Moreover, the mixed vegetation of the three plants was found in the next autumn. Subsequently, 41wild plant species were also seen in the experiment parcels. The names of the species are given in Table 1. In this study, gramines (*Bromus arvensis, Lolium temulentum* and *Polypogon monspeliensis)* grew in high numbers in the plot irrigated with tap and leachate wastewater.

Figure 5 shows high numbers of *L. temulentum* and *Silybum marianum* in the plots. In contrast, legumes (*Lathyrus annuus, Psoralea bituminosa, Trifolium campestre* and *Trifolium speciosum*) were not able to propagate insufficient numbers. A study by Arambatsiz et al. [11] was able to achieve significant rehabilitation after mining activities with gramines and legumes, and another study[40] reported that gramines and legumes were grown for the rehabilitation of a degraded study area.

We were able to obtain a sufficient number of wild plants on the landfill and achieve a green landscape when the field was irrigated with leachate water during the drought season. Therefore, the planting of appropriate plants and the use of irrigation by leachate water appears to be an efficient means of rapid landfill remediation as well as removal of pollutants contained in leachate water.

As shown in Table 1, the highest number of wild plant species, 21, was in the *M. officinalis* plots. The *C. dactylon* plots had 17 and *A. rosea* plots had 16 wild plant species with landfill leachate irrigation. *C. dactylon* is so dominant plant species [41, 42], Figure 6 shows that it did not permit to sprawl the wild plants in some plots. *M. officinalis* was also dominant in the spring in some plots.

The first spring in the study area The second spring in the study area

gramines and legumes were grown for the rehabilitation of a degraded study area.

The first autumn in the study area The second autumn in the study area rehabilitation after mining activities with gramines and legumes, and another study[40] reported that

**Figure 4.** Change in vegetation at the plots of the Sofulu landfill

Figure5. High-number species in the plots

*Lolium temulentum* in the plot *Silybum marianum* in the plot

to propagate insufficient numbers. A study by Arambatsiz et al. [11]was able to achieve significant

We were able to obtain a sufficient number of wild plants on the landfill and achieve a green

landscape when the field was irrigated with leachate water during the drought season. Therefore, the

planting of appropriate plants and the use of irrigation by leachate water appears to be an efficient

As shown in Table 1, the highest number of wild plant species, 21, was in the *M. officinalis* plots. The

*C. dactylon* plots had 17 and *A. rosea* plots had 16 wild plant species with landfill leachate irrigation.

means of rapid landfill remediation as well as removal of pollutants contained in leachate water.

**Figure 5.** High-number species in the plots

*C. dactylon* plot *M. officinalis* plot

 **Figure 6.** Some of the dominant species in the plots

The first spring in the study area The second spring in the study area

The first autumn in the study area The second autumn in the study area

gramines and legumes were grown for the rehabilitation of a degraded study area.

rehabilitation after mining activities with gramines and legumes, and another study[40] reported that

Figure 5 showshigh numbers of*L. temulentum* and*Silybummarianum* in the plots. In contrast, legumes

(*Lathyrus annuus, Psoraleabituminosa, Trifolium campestre* and*Trifolium speciosum*) were not able

to propagate insufficient numbers. A study by Arambatsiz et al. [11]was able to achieve significant

Figure 5 showshigh numbers of*L. temulentum* and*Silybummarianum* in the plots. In contrast, legumes

(*Lathyrus annuus, Psoraleabituminosa, Trifolium campestre* and*Trifolium speciosum*) were not able

to propagate insufficient numbers. A study by Arambatsiz et al. [11]was able to achieve significant

*Lolium temulentum* in the plot *Silybum marianum* in the plot

We were able to obtain a sufficient number of wild plants on the landfill and achieve a green

landscape when the field was irrigated with leachate water during the drought season. Therefore, the

planting of appropriate plants and the use of irrigation by leachate water appears to be an efficient

As shown in Table 1, the highest number of wild plant species, 21, was in the *M. officinalis* plots. The

*C. dactylon* plots had 17 and *A. rosea* plots had 16 wild plant species with landfill leachate irrigation.

means of rapid landfill remediation as well as removal of pollutants contained in leachate water.

Figure 4. Change in vegetation at the plots of the Sofulu landfill

**Figure 4.** Change in vegetation at the plots of the Sofulu landfill

234 Advances in Bioremediation of Wastewater and Polluted Soil

Figure5. High-number species in the plots

**Figure 5.** High-number species in the plots



*cd* co-dominant presence (50–80 %), *r* rare presence (1–20 %), *blank columns* no presence

**Table 1.** Wild plant species grown in plots irrigated with leachate wastewater and tap water [8, 36]

The dominance of plants belonging to four families, viz., Poaceae, Asteraceae, Polygonaceae and Chenopodiaceae, while other species were found to occur only sporadically in the Stockholm, Malmo and Helsingborg landfills of Sweden [43].At the Kodungaiyur and Perungudi dumping grounds in Chennai, India, the dominant plant species recorded were *Acalypha indica*, *Solanum lycopersicum, Parthenium hysterophorus*, *C. dactylon* and *Cucurbita maxima* [44].

The wild plant species in the Sofulu landfill experimental plots are shown in Figure 7.

The Characteristics of Phytoremediation of Soil and Leachate Polluted by Landfills http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/61105 237

**Wild species Waste leachate irrigation Tap water irrigation**

*Melilotus officinalis cd r r r*

*Psoralea bituminosa r*

*Silybum marianum r cd r r*

*Stellaria media r*

*Scrophularia canina r Senecio vernalis r*

*Silene colorata r r r*

*Trifolium lappaceum r*

*Verbena sp. r*

*cd* co-dominant presence (50–80 %), *r* rare presence (1–20 %), *blank columns* no presence

**Table 1.** Wild plant species grown in plots irrigated with leachate wastewater and tap water [8, 36]

The dominance of plants belonging to four families, viz., Poaceae, Asteraceae, Polygonaceae and Chenopodiaceae, while other species were found to occur only sporadically in the Stockholm, Malmo and Helsingborg landfills of Sweden [43].At the Kodungaiyur and Perungudi dumping grounds in Chennai, India, the dominant plant species recorded were *Acalypha indica*, *Solanum lycopersicum, Parthenium hysterophorus*, *C. dactylon* and *Cucurbita*

The wild plant species in the Sofulu landfill experimental plots are shown in Figure 7.

*Polygonum lapathifolium r r*

236 Advances in Bioremediation of Wastewater and Polluted Soil

*Trifolium campestre r r*

*Trifolium speciosum r Triticum aestivum* L. *r*

*maxima* [44].

*Psoralea bituminosa r Rumex acetosa r*

*Lactuca serriola r r r r r Lolium temulentum r r cd cd cd r*

*Polygonum aviculare r r r Polygonum equisetiforme r*

*Polypogon monspeliensis r r r r cd*

*Setaria viridis r r r r r r*

*Sinapis arvensis r r r r r r Sonchus oleraceus r r r r r*

*Lactuca serriola Rumex acetosa Silybum marianum*

*Solanum nigrum Chenopodium* sp. *Melilotus* sp.

**4. Microbial soil analysis** 

*Xanthium spinosum Amaranthus deflexus Heliotropium europium*

*Lathyrus annuus Echinops ritro Sinapis arvensis*

Figure7. The wild plants in the Sofulu landfill experimental plots **Figure 7.** The wild plants in the Sofulu landfill experimental plots
