The effect of biochar and crop straws on heavy metal bioavailability and plant accumulation in a Cd and Pb polluted soil.

Biochar derived from various materials has been investigated with regard to its ability to decrease the bioavailability of heavy metals in contaminated soils, and thus reduce their potential to enter the food chain. However, little attention has been given to the adsorption capacity of untreated crop straws, which are commonly used as a biochar feedstock, especially in soils. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of crop straws on heavy metal immobilization and subsequent heavy metal uptake by maize and ryegrass in a soil artificially polluted by Cd and Pb. Bamboo biochar, rice straw, and wheat straw were mixed into soil four weeks before the experiment, enabling them to reach equilibrium at 2% (w/w), 1% (w/w), and 1% (w/w), respectively. The results showed that soil pH for both species was significantly increased by all treatments, except when wheat straw was used for ryegrass cultivation. Soil organic carbon was only improved in the rice straw treatment and the soil alkali-hydrolyzable N content was significantly decreased with all of the amendments, which may have contributed to the lack of an effect on plant biomass. Soil available Cd was significantly lower in the rice straw treatment than in the control soil, while Pb levels clearly decreased in wheat straw treatment. The Cd concentration in shoots of maize was reduced by 50.9%, 69.5%, and 66.9% with biochar, rice straw, and wheat straw, respectively. In addition, shoot Cd accumulation was decreased by 47.3%, 67.1%, and 66.4%, respectively. Shoot Pb concentration and accumulation were only reduced with the rice straw treatment for both species. However, metal uptake in plant roots was more complex, with increased metal concentrations also detected. Overall, the direct application of crop straw could be considered a feasible way to immobilize selected metals in soil, once the long-term effects are confirmed.

[Degradation of carbendazim in paddy soil and the influencing factors].

The influences of microorganism, soil moisture and cadmium (Cd) on degradation of carbendazim in paddy soil were investigated with laboratory microcosm experiments. The results showed that the half-life of carbendazim (5.0 mg x kg(-1) and 10.0 mg x kg(-1)) in sterilized soils was 12.6-13.8 times of those in non-sterilized soils. The half-life of carbendazim was decreased by 32.1%-37.1% when the soils were inoculated with carbendazim-degrading strains. When the soil moisture was increased from 40% to 60% or 80% of water holding capacity, the half life of carbendazim was decreased by 46.2% or 74.0%, respectively. Low level of Cd (5 mg x kg(-1)) enhanced the degradation of carbendazim in soils with half-life time decreased by 32.1%-52.4%, but high level of Cd (50 mg x kg(-1)) inhibited the degradation of carbendazim in soils with half-life time increased by 92.6%-103.0%. For the soils inoculated with carbendazim-degrading strains, the half life of carbendazim was decreased by 34.0% -34.4% with the addition of low level of Cd (5.0 mg x kg(-1)), while the half life time was increased by 74.4% -109.4% with the addition of high level of Cd (50 mg x kg(-1)). The results demonstrate that indigenous microorganisms is a critical factor that influences carbendazim degradation in soils, and that carbendazim-degrading strains, high soil moisture and low Cd level enhance the degradation of carbendazim.