Potential of organic and inorganic amendments for stabilizing nickel in acidic soil, and improving the nutritional quality of spinach.

Contamination of soils by nickel (Ni) has become a serious environmental problem throughout the world, and this substance wields dangerous effects on the ecosystem and food chain. A pot experiment was conducted to examine the effect of rice straw (RS), rice straw biochar (BI), and calcite (CC) at 1% and 2% application rates in a Ni-contaminated soil. The objective was to potentially stabilize Ni and reduce its bioavailability to spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L.). Spinach plants were grown in a Ni-contaminated Ultisol (commonly known as a red clay soil). Plant growth parameter results indicated that a BI 2% application rate significantly increased the root and shoots dry biomass increased by 1.7- and 6.3-fold, respectively, while essential nutrients were enhanced in the spinach plant compared to those in the untreated soil (CK). Moreover, adding amendments significantly decreased CaCl2 extractable Ni by 62.5% 94.1%, and 87.2%, while the toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) fell by 26.7%, 47.8%, and 41.7% when using RS, BI, and CC, respectively, at 2% compared to CK. The Ni concentrations in the spinach roots declined by 51.6%, 73.3%, and 68.9%, and in the shoots reduced by 54.1%, 76.7%, and 70.8% for RS, BI, and CC, at a 2% application rate, respectively. Bio-concentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) dropped significantly by as much as 72.7% and 20%, respectively, for BI 2% application rate. Results of the present study clearly indicated that biochar potential soil amendments for Ni stabilization, thereby reducing its bioavailability in the Ni-contaminated soil. This process enhanced the safety of food to be consumed and mitigated security risks.

A concise review of biochar application to agricultural soils to improve soil conditions and fight pollution.

Application of biochar to soil can play a significant role in the alteration of nutrients dynamics, soil contaminants as well as microbial functions. Therefore, strategic biochar application to soil may provide agronomic, environmental and economic benefits. Key environmental outcomes may include reduced availability of toxic metals and organic pollutants, reduced soil N losses and longer-term storage of carbon in soil. The use of biochar can certainly address key soil agronomic constraints to crop production including Al toxicity, low soil pH and may improve nutrient use efficiency. Biochar application has also demerits to soil properties and attention should be paid when using a specific biochar for a specific soil property improvement. This review provides a concise assessment and addresses impacts of biochar on soil properties.

Comparative efficiency of rice husk-derived biochar (RHB) and steel slag (SS) on cadmium (Cd) mobility and its uptake by Chinese cabbage in highly contaminated soil.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in red soil has been considered as a severe threat due to its toxic effects on plants and food security. This study aims to evaluate the comparative efficiency of rice husk-derived biochar (RHB) and steel slag (SS) metal stabilizer on decreasing Cd mobility and bioavailability to Chinese cabbage grown on acidic contaminated red soil. Several extraction techniques: a sequential extraction procedure, the European Community Bureau of Reference, toxicity characteristics leaching procedure, ammonium nitrate, and simple bioaccessibility extraction test were used to measure Cd mobility after amelioration of the investigated soil. The results indicated that application of stabilizer significantly increased soil chemical properties including soil pH, cation exchange capacity, nutrients, and organic matter. The soluble portion of Cd in soil was significantly decreased by 17.6-31.2% and 7.8-11.7% for RHB and SS at 1.5% and 3% application rate, respectively. Moreover, Cd bioaccessibility was significantly declined by 37.08% with RHB and 11.3% with SS at 3% rate. Inlcorporation of RHB at 3% can effectively immobilize Cd and thereby, reduce its phytoavailability to cabbage in Cd-contaminated soil to mitigate food security risks.

Identifying the functional groups and the influence of synthetic chelators on Cd availability and microbial biomass carbon in Cd-contaminated soil.

Synthetic chelators play an important role in boosting the microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and heavy metal solubility in a contaminated soil toward a sustainability of environment for agricultural crops. Castor plant was grown under different levels of Cd contaminated soil (-Cd and +Cd) following adding three chelating agents, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (H4EDTA), nitriloacetic acid (H3 NTA), and NH4 citrate (ammonium citrate) to the soil at rates of 10, 15, and 25 mmol in 5 kg of soil per pot. The highest bioavailable Cd concentrations in soil and castor plant were obtained from NH4 citrate and H4EDTA treatments in the contaminated soil. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that NH4 citrate was the most effective chelator in Cd-contaminated soil. MBC and DOC contents were significantly increased and reached at 81.98-80.37 and 1.96-1.90 mg kg-1 respectively, in the (H3 NTA) and NH4 citrate treatments in Cd-contaminated soil. Further research is needed to investigate the use of chelators in the phytoextraction of Cd-contaminated soils under field conditions and whether it may be beneficial in accelerating the phytoextraction of Cd through hyperaccumulating plants.

Influence of ameliorating soil acidity with dolomite on the priming of soil C content and CO2 emission.

Lime or dolomite is commonly implemented to ameliorate soil acidity. However, the impact of dolomite on CO2 emissions from acidic soils is largely unknown. A 53-day laboratory study was carried out to investigate CO2 emissions by applying dolomite to an acidic Acrisol (rice-rapeseed rotation [RR soil]) and a Ferralsol (rice-fallow/flooded rotation [RF soil]). Dolomite was dosed at 0, 0.5, and 1.5 g 100 g-1 soil, herein referred to as CK, L, and H, respectively. The soil pH(H2O) increased from 5.25 to 7.03 and 7.62 in L and H treatments of the RR soil and from 5.52 to 7.27 and 7.77 in L and H treatments of the RF soil, respectively. Dolomite application significantly (p ≤ 0.001) increased CO2 emissions in both RR and RF soils, with higher emissions in H as compared to L dose of dolomite. The cumulative CO2 emissions with H dose of dolomite were greater 136% in the RR soil and 149% in the RF soil as compared to CK, respectively. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) increased and reached at 193 and 431 mg kg-1 in the RR soil and 244 and 481 mg kg-1 in the RF soil by H treatments. The NH4--N and NO3--N were also increased by dolomite application. The increase in C and N contents stimulated microbial activities and therefore higher respiration in dolomite-treated soil as compared to untreated. The results suggest that CO2 release in dolomite-treated soils was due to the priming of soil C content rather than chemical reactions.

Immobilization of Pb and Cu in polluted soil by superphosphate, multi-walled carbon nanotube, rice straw and its derived biochar.

Lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) contamination in croplands pose severe health hazards and environmental concerns throughout soil-food chain transfer. In the present study, BCR, TCLP, CaCl2, and SBET techniques were employed to evaluate the simultaneous effectiveness of rice straw (RS) and its derived biochar (BC), multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and single superphosphate (SSP) to immobilize the Pb and Cu in co-contaminated soil. The BCR sequential extraction results suggested that with increasing BC and SSP amount, the acid-soluble fractions decreased while oxidizable and residual proportions of Pb and Cu were increased significantly. Compared to SSP, the application of BC amendment substantially modified partitioning of Cu from easily exchangeable phase to less bioavailable residual bound fraction. The immobilized Pb and Cu were mainly transformed to reducible forms. The TCLP and CaCl2-extracted Pb and Cu were reduced significantly by the addition of BC compared to RS and MWCNT, whereas the bio-accessibility of Pb significantly reduced with RS addition. SSP showed better results for Pb immobilization while marginal for Cu in co-contaminated soil. Overall, the addition of BC offered the best results and could be effective in both Pb and Cu immobilization thereby reducing their mobility and bioavailability in the co-contaminated soil.

Influence of pyrolytic and non-pyrolytic rice and castor straws on the immobilization of Pb and Cu in contaminated soil.

Soil contamination with heavy metals has become a global environmental health concern. In the present study, European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) techniques were used to evaluate the Pb and Cu subsequent transformations, immobilizing impact of pyrolytic and non-pyrolytic rice and castor straws and their efficiency to reduce the metals mobility and leachability in the polluted soil. Obtained results highlight the potential of biochar over non-pyrolytic residues to enhance the immobilization of Pb and Cu in the soil. Castor leaves-derived biochar (CLB), castor stem-derived biochar (CSB), and rice straw-derived biochar (RSB) prominently decreased the mobility (acid-soluble fraction) of Pb 49.8%, 31.1%, and 31.9%, respectively, while Cu decreased 15.8%, 11.5%, and 12%, respectively, as compare to control. Sequential extraction showed that biochar treatments prominently modified the proportioning of Pb and Cu from acid soluble to a less bioavailable fraction and increased the geochemical stability in the polluted soil as compared to relative feedstocks as well as the controlled soil. Additionally, the soil pH increased markedly after the addition of biochar. Compared with control, the TCLP-extractable Pb and Cu were reduced to 29.2-41.4% and 5.7-22.8% from the soil respectively by the application of CLB. The immobilization and reduction in leachability of Pb and Cu were correlated with the soil pH. The biochar effect on the Pb immobilization was much better as compared to Cu in co-contaminated soil. Overall addition of CLB offered the best results and could be effective in both Pb and Cu immobilization thereby reducing their mobility and bioavailability in the co-contaminated soil.

Enhanced accumulation of Cd in castor (Ricinus communis L) by soil-applied chelators.

Phytoextraction has been identified as one of the most propitious methods of phytoremediation. This pot experiment were treated with varying amounts of (ethylenediamine triacetic acid) EDTA 3-15, (Nitriloacetic acid) NTA 3-10, (Ammonium citrate) NH4 citrate 10 - 25 mmol and one mg kg(-1)Cd, filled with 5 kg soil. The addition of chelators significantly increased Cd concentration in soil and plant. The results showed that maximum Cd uptake was noted under root, shoot and leaf of castor plant tissue (2.26, 1.54, and 0.72 mg kg(-1)) under EDTA 15, NTA 10, and NH4 citrate 25 mmol treatments respectively, and in soil 1.08, 1.06 and 0.52 mg kg(-1) pot(-1) under NH4 citrate 25, NTA 10 and EDTA 15 mmol treatments respectively, as against to control (p < 0.05). Additions of chelators reduction biomass under the EDTA 15 mmol as compared to other treatments, However, Bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF) and remediation factor (RF) were significantly increased under EDTA 15 and NH4 citrate 25 mmol as against control. Our results demonstrated that castor plant proved satisfactory for phytoextraction on contaminated soil, and EDTA 15 and NH4 citrate 25 mmol had the affirmative effect on the Cd uptake in the artificial Cd-contaminated soil.