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Maqbool Z, Shahbaz Farooq M, Rafiq A, Uzair M, Yousuf M, Ramzan Khan M, Huo S. Unlocking the potential of biochar in the remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals for sustainable agriculture. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2024; 51:FP23257. [PMID: 38310926 DOI: 10.1071/fp23257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs) impose a threat to the environmental and to human health. Amendment with biochar could be an eco-friendly and cost-effective option to decrease HMs in contaminated soil. This paper reviews the application of biochar as a soil amendment to immobilise HMs in contaminated soil. We discuss the technologies of its preparation, their specific properties, and effect on the bioavailability of HMs. Biochar stabilises HMs in contaminated soil, enhance the overall quality of the contaminated soil, and significantly reduce HM uptake by plants, making it an option in soil remediation for HM contamination. Biochar enhances the physical (e.g. bulk density, soil structure, water holding capacity), chemical (e.g. cation exchange capacity, pH, nutrient availability, ion exchange, complexes), and biological properties (e.g. microbial abundance, enzymatic activities) of contaminated soil. Biochar also enhances soil fertility, improves plant growth, and reduces the plant availability of HMs. Various field studies have shown that biochar application reduces the bioavailability of HMs from contaminated soil while increasing crop yield. The review highlights the positive effects of biochar by reducing HM bioavailability in contaminated soils. Future work is recommended to ensure that biochars offer a safe and sustainable solution to remediate soils contaminated with HMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubaira Maqbool
- School of Food Science and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China; and Department of Soil Science and Environmental Science, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shahbaz Farooq
- School of Food Science and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China; and Rice Research Program, Crop Sciences Institute (CSI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Park Road, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Anum Rafiq
- Institute Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Muhammad Uzair
- National Institute of Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), National Agriculture Research Center (NARC), Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Yousuf
- Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), G5, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ramzan Khan
- National Institute of Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), National Agriculture Research Center (NARC), Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Shuhao Huo
- School of Food Science and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
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Garau M, Pinna MV, Nieddu M, Castaldi P, Garau G. Mixing Compost and Biochar Can Enhance the Chemical and Biological Recovery of Soils Contaminated by Potentially Toxic Elements. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:284. [PMID: 38256837 PMCID: PMC10818981 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Biochar and compost are able to influence the mobility of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil. As such, they can be useful in restoring the functionality of contaminated soils, albeit their effectiveness can vary substantially depending on the chemical and/or the (micro)biological endpoint that is targeted. To better explore the potential of the two amendments in the restoration of PTE-contaminated soils, biochar, compost (separately added at 3% w/w), and their mixtures (1:1, 3:1, and 1:3 biochar-to-compost ratios) were added to contaminated soil (i.e., 2362 mg kg-1 of Sb and 2801 mg kg-1 of Zn). Compost and its mixtures promoted an increase in soil fertility (e.g., total N; extractable P; and exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg), which was not found in the soil treated with biochar alone. All the tested amendments substantially reduced labile Zn in soil, while biochar alone was the most effective in reducing labile Sb in the treated soils (-11% vs. control), followed by compost (-4%) and biochar-compost mixtures (-8%). Compost (especially alone) increased soil biochemical activities (e.g., dehydrogenase, urease, and β-glucosidase), as well as soil respiration and the potential catabolic activity of soil microbial communities, while biochar alone (probably due to its high adsorptive capacity towards nutrients) mostly exhibited an inhibitory effect, which was partially mitigated in soils treated with both amendments. Overall, the biochar-compost combinations had a synergistic effect on both amendments, i.e., reducing PTE mobility and restoring soil biological functionality at the same time. This finding was supported by plant growth trials which showed increased Sb and Zn mineralomass values for rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) grown on biochar-compost mixtures, suggesting a potential use of rigid ryegrass in the compost-biochar-assisted phytoremediation of PTE-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Garau
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (M.G.); (M.V.P.); (M.N.); (P.C.)
| | - Maria Vittoria Pinna
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (M.G.); (M.V.P.); (M.N.); (P.C.)
| | - Maria Nieddu
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (M.G.); (M.V.P.); (M.N.); (P.C.)
| | - Paola Castaldi
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (M.G.); (M.V.P.); (M.N.); (P.C.)
- Nucleo Ricerca Desertificazione, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Garau
- Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (M.G.); (M.V.P.); (M.N.); (P.C.)
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Beljin J, Arsenov D, Slijepčević N, Maletić S, Đukanović N, Chalot M, Župunski M, Tomašević Pilipović D. Recycling of polluted dredged sediment - Building new materials for plant growing. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 166:13-24. [PMID: 37141783 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The worldwide concern is caused by a large quantity of dredged sediment. The issue becomes more severe when contaminated sediment has to be landfilled. Therefore, researchers involved in the dredged sediment management are increasingly motivated to improve circularity in sediment management processes. Prior to the dredged sediment usage in agriculture, its necessary to confirm conclusively its safety in the context of trace elements (TEs) levels. This study reports the use of different solidification/stabilization (S/S) sediment amendments (cement, clay, fly ash and green synthetized nano-zerovalent iron-nZVI) to remediate dredged sediment. The aim was to identify the effects of applied sediment S/S treatments on the growth and development of Brassica napus. The results showed that in all S/S mixtures TEs levels in the highly labile and bioavailable fraction were significantly decreased (less than 10%, while untreated sediment contained up to 36% of TEs). Simultaneously, the highest share of metals (69-92%) was in the residual fraction, which is considered as chemically stable and biologically inert fraction. Nevertheless, it was noticed that different S/S treatments trigger plants' functional traits indicating that plants' establishment in S/S treated sediment can be limited to certain extent. Besides, based on primary and secondary metabolites (elevated specific leaf area along with declined malondialdehyde content) it was concluded that Brassica plants employ a conservative resource use strategy aiming to buffer phenotypes against stress condition. Lastly, it was inferred that among all analyzed S/S treatments, green synthetized nZVI from oak leaves can effectively promote TEs stabilization in dredged sediment, concurrently enabling plant's establishment and fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Beljin
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - D Arsenov
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - N Slijepčević
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - S Maletić
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - N Đukanović
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - M Chalot
- Chrono-Environnement UMR6249, CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France; Université de Lorraine, Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - M Župunski
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - D Tomašević Pilipović
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
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Radziemska M, Gusiatin MZ, Cydzik-Kwiatkowska A, Blazejczyk A, Holatko J, Brtnicky M. Does biochar in combination with compost effectively promote phytostabilization of heavy metals in soil under different temperature regimes? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 882:163634. [PMID: 37088391 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The article presents the effect of a combined amendment, i.e., biochar+compost (BC), on the process of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn immobilization in soil cultivated with L. perenne under freezing and thawing conditions (FTC). In particular, the speciation analysis of the examined elements in phytostabilized soils based on their response using the sequential extraction, and the variability of the soil microbiome using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing were systematically assessed. Metal stability in soils was evaluated by the reduced distribution index (Ir). Plants were grown in pots for 52 days under greenhouse conditions. After termination, phytostabilization was continued in a temperature chamber for 64 days to provide FTC. As a result, it was noted that biomass yield of L. perenne was promoted by BC (39 % higher than in the control pots) and reduced by FTC (45 % lower than in the BC-enriched soil not exposed to FTC). An efficacious level of phytostabilization, i.e., higher content of heavy metals in plant roots, was found in the BC-enriched soil, regardless of the changes in soil temperature conditions. BC improved soil pH before applying FTC more than after applying FTC. BC had the greatest impact on increasing Cu stability by redistributing it from the F1 and F2 fractions to the F3 and F4 fractions. For most metals, phytostabilization under FTC resulted in an increase in the proportion of the F1 fraction and a decrease in its stability. Only for Pb and Zn, FTC had greater impact on their stability than BC addition. In all soil samples, the core genera with about 2-3 % abundances were Sphingomonas sp. and Mycobacterium sp. FTC favored the growth of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in soil. Microbial taxa that coped well with FTC but only in the absence of BC were Rhodococcus, Alkanindiges sp., Flavobacterium sp., Williamsia sp. Thermomonas sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Radziemska
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Mariusz Z Gusiatin
- Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Słoneczna St. 45G, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aurelia Blazejczyk
- Institute of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jiri Holatko
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic; Agrovyzkum Rapotin, Ltd., Vyzkumniku 267, 788 13 Rapotin, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Brtnicky
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
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Mineral Neutralizers as a Tool for Improving the Properties of Soil Contaminated with Copper. MINERALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/min12070895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In phytoremediation processes implemented in highly contaminated areas, there is a high risk of contaminant toxicity during the germination of freshly sown plants. In such conditions, it is recommended to support phytoremediation by using neutralizing additives. The present study aimed at assessing the effect of the addition of mineral neutralizers (MNs), i.e., limestone, clay, and zeolite, to soil contaminated with copper (0, 200, 400, 600 mg kg−1). Basic soil indicators were analyzed, such as pH, hydrolytic acidity (HAC), total exchangeable bases (TEB), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), electrolytical conductivity (EC), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (Ntot), carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N),, and interactions of soil micronutrients, such as Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Mn, and Fe with MNs. Copper contamination significantly decreased the soil pH and increased its HAC. A decrease in the share of TEB was found, which resulted in a decrease in the CEC and in BS of the soil. Among the additives, limestone had the most beneficial effect on reducing soil acidity, contributing to a significant increase in TEB, CEC, and BS. The least favorable effect was shown for clay, which generally caused the deterioration of soil properties. The MNs significantly increased the content of Zn, Cr, and Fe and lowered the content of Ni in the soil compared to the control. The demonstrated interactions indicate the diversified activity of MNs at different levels of soil contamination with copper.
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