Application of Biochar Produced from Crop Residues on Trace Elements Contaminated Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Enzymatic Activities and <i>Brassica rapa</i> Growth
Soil pollution by trace elements is a huge problem around the globe. In addition, heavy metal immobilization and primary productivity are two soil ecosystem services of contemporary importance to society. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of using olive pit and rice husk biochars as...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/7/1394 |
| _version_ | 1797527824077160448 |
|---|---|
| author | Paloma Campos Heike Knicker Rafael López José María De la Rosa |
| author_facet | Paloma Campos Heike Knicker Rafael López José María De la Rosa |
| author_sort | Paloma Campos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil pollution by trace elements is a huge problem around the globe. In addition, heavy metal immobilization and primary productivity are two soil ecosystem services of contemporary importance to society. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of using olive pit and rice husk biochars as soil amendments for the immobilization of trace elements and on plant development growing in heavy metals-polluted soils under greenhouse conditions. The application of high doses (5% and 10%) of biochar significantly increased pH, water holding capacity and total C content of the soils. Dehydrogenase activity in the moderately acidic soil was greater than in the acidic soil due to the high concentration of metals and high acidity of the latter. The application of biochar reduced the β–glucosidase activity. Furthermore, the concentrations of CaCl<sub>2</sub>-extractable heavy metals significantly decreased in biochar amended pots, indicating metal immobilization, which was consistent with the increase in soil pH. Distribution of trace elements in the different fractions was modified after 65 days of incubation, independently of the treatment. The Cu and Zn contents in the oxidizable fraction were reduced with incubation, whereas Cd and Zn in the residual fraction increased. The reduction of bioavailable concentrations and increments in the residual or more stable fractions indicated less risk for the organisms in the environment. All biochars addition significantly increased the root-to-shoot ratio compared to the control soil. Particularly, 10% of amendment increased this ratio in the greatest extent. The application of 10% <i>w</i>/<i>w</i> of rice husk biochar produced at 500 °C was the most effective in restoring soil functionality and reducing the availability of heavy metals in the polluted soils. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:49:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0cd52a22f1444b1a8439d2b1fa11a6a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:49:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0cd52a22f1444b1a8439d2b1fa11a6a2023-11-22T02:58:29ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-07-01117139410.3390/agronomy11071394Application of Biochar Produced from Crop Residues on Trace Elements Contaminated Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Enzymatic Activities and <i>Brassica rapa</i> GrowthPaloma Campos0Heike Knicker1Rafael López2José María De la Rosa3Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Reina Mercedes Av., 10, 41012 Seville, SpainInstituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Reina Mercedes Av., 10, 41012 Seville, SpainInstituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Reina Mercedes Av., 10, 41012 Seville, SpainInstituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Reina Mercedes Av., 10, 41012 Seville, SpainSoil pollution by trace elements is a huge problem around the globe. In addition, heavy metal immobilization and primary productivity are two soil ecosystem services of contemporary importance to society. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of using olive pit and rice husk biochars as soil amendments for the immobilization of trace elements and on plant development growing in heavy metals-polluted soils under greenhouse conditions. The application of high doses (5% and 10%) of biochar significantly increased pH, water holding capacity and total C content of the soils. Dehydrogenase activity in the moderately acidic soil was greater than in the acidic soil due to the high concentration of metals and high acidity of the latter. The application of biochar reduced the β–glucosidase activity. Furthermore, the concentrations of CaCl<sub>2</sub>-extractable heavy metals significantly decreased in biochar amended pots, indicating metal immobilization, which was consistent with the increase in soil pH. Distribution of trace elements in the different fractions was modified after 65 days of incubation, independently of the treatment. The Cu and Zn contents in the oxidizable fraction were reduced with incubation, whereas Cd and Zn in the residual fraction increased. The reduction of bioavailable concentrations and increments in the residual or more stable fractions indicated less risk for the organisms in the environment. All biochars addition significantly increased the root-to-shoot ratio compared to the control soil. Particularly, 10% of amendment increased this ratio in the greatest extent. The application of 10% <i>w</i>/<i>w</i> of rice husk biochar produced at 500 °C was the most effective in restoring soil functionality and reducing the availability of heavy metals in the polluted soils.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/7/1394olive pitrice husksoil remediationincubation experimentdehydrogenasebioavailable concentration |
| spellingShingle | Paloma Campos Heike Knicker Rafael López José María De la Rosa Application of Biochar Produced from Crop Residues on Trace Elements Contaminated Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Enzymatic Activities and <i>Brassica rapa</i> Growth Agronomy olive pit rice husk soil remediation incubation experiment dehydrogenase bioavailable concentration |
| title | Application of Biochar Produced from Crop Residues on Trace Elements Contaminated Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Enzymatic Activities and <i>Brassica rapa</i> Growth |
| title_full | Application of Biochar Produced from Crop Residues on Trace Elements Contaminated Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Enzymatic Activities and <i>Brassica rapa</i> Growth |
| title_fullStr | Application of Biochar Produced from Crop Residues on Trace Elements Contaminated Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Enzymatic Activities and <i>Brassica rapa</i> Growth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of Biochar Produced from Crop Residues on Trace Elements Contaminated Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Enzymatic Activities and <i>Brassica rapa</i> Growth |
| title_short | Application of Biochar Produced from Crop Residues on Trace Elements Contaminated Soils: Effects on Soil Properties, Enzymatic Activities and <i>Brassica rapa</i> Growth |
| title_sort | application of biochar produced from crop residues on trace elements contaminated soils effects on soil properties enzymatic activities and i brassica rapa i growth |
| topic | olive pit rice husk soil remediation incubation experiment dehydrogenase bioavailable concentration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/7/1394 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT palomacampos applicationofbiocharproducedfromcropresiduesontraceelementscontaminatedsoilseffectsonsoilpropertiesenzymaticactivitiesandibrassicarapaigrowth AT heikeknicker applicationofbiocharproducedfromcropresiduesontraceelementscontaminatedsoilseffectsonsoilpropertiesenzymaticactivitiesandibrassicarapaigrowth AT rafaellopez applicationofbiocharproducedfromcropresiduesontraceelementscontaminatedsoilseffectsonsoilpropertiesenzymaticactivitiesandibrassicarapaigrowth AT josemariadelarosa applicationofbiocharproducedfromcropresiduesontraceelementscontaminatedsoilseffectsonsoilpropertiesenzymaticactivitiesandibrassicarapaigrowth |