Changes in phosphorus fractions in three tropical soils amended with corn cob and rice husk biochars

ABSTRACT

The formation of phosphorus (P) compounds including iron-P, aluminum-P and calcium-P in highly weathered tropical soils can be altered upon biochar addition. We investigated the effect of corn cob biochar (CC) and rice husk biochar (RH) pyrolyzed at three temperatures (300°C, 450°C and 650°C) on phosphorus (P) fractions of three contrasting soils. A 90d incubation study was conducted by mixing biochar with soil at a rate of 1% w/w and at 70% field capacity. Sequential P fraction was performed on biochar, soil and soil-biochar mixtures. Increase in most labile P (resin-P_i, NaHCO₃-P_i) and organic P fraction (NaHCO₃-P_o + NaOH-P_o) in CC and RH biochars were inversely related to increasing temperature. HCl-P_i and residual P increased with increasing temperature. Interaction of CC and RH with soils resulted in an increase in most labile P as well as moderately labile P (NaOH-P_i) fractions in the soils. CC increased most labile P in the soils more than RH. The increase in most labile P fraction in soils was more significant at relatively lower temperatures (300°C and 450°C) than 650°C. However, the increase in HCl-P_i and residual P of the soils was more predominant at high temperature (650°C). The study suggested that biochar pyrolyzed at 300–450°C could be used to increase P bioavailability in tropical soils.     

Short-term effects of raw rice straw and its derived biochar on greenhouse gas emission in five typical soils in China

Abstract

A short-term study was conducted to investigate the greenhouse gas emissions in five typical soils under two crop residue management practices: raw rice straw (Oryza sativa L., cv) and its derived biochar application. Rice straw and its derived biochar (two biochars, produced at 350 and 500°C and referred to as BC350 and BC500, respectively) were incubated with the soils at a 5% (weight/weight) rate and under 70% water holding capacity for 28 d. Incorporation of BC500 into soils reduced carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission in all five soils by 4?40% and 62?98%, respectively, compared to the untreated soils, whereas methane (CH₄) emission was elevated by up to about 2 times. Contrary to the biochars, direct return of the straw to soil reduced CH₄ emission by 22?69%, whereas CO₂ increased by 4 to 34 times. For N₂O emission, return of rice straw to soil reduced it by over 80% in two soils, while it increased by up to 14 times in other three soils. When all three greenhouse gases were normalized on the CO₂ basis, the global warming potential in all treatments followed the order of straw > BC350 > control > BC500 in all five soils. The results indicated that turning rice straw into biochar followed by its incorporation into soil was an effective measure for reducing soil greenhouse gas emission, and the effectiveness increased with increasing biochar production temperature, whereas direct return of straw to soil enhanced soil greenhouse gas emissions.     

Carbon mineralization in subtropical alluvial arable soils amended with sugarcane bagasse and rice husk biochars

Subtropical recent alluvial soils are low in organic carbon (C). Thus, increasing organic C is a major challenge to sustain soil fertility. Biochar amendment could be an option as biochar is a C-rich pyrolyzed material, which is slowly decomposed in soil. We investigated C mineralization (CO₂-C evolution) in two types of soils (recent and old alluvial soils) amended with two feedstocks (sugarcane bagasse and rice husk) (1%, weight/weight), as well as their biochars and aged biochars under a controlled environment (25 ±2 ℃) over 85 d. For the recent alluvial soil (charland soil), the highest absolute cumulative CO₂-C evolution was observed in the sugarcane bagasse treatment (1 140 mg CO₂-C kg^-1 soil) followed by the rice husk treatment (1 090 mg CO₂-C kg^-1 soil); the lowest amount (150 mg CO₂-C kg^-1 soil) was observed in the aged rice husk biochar treatment. Similarly, for the old alluvial soil (farmland soil), the highest absolute cumulative CO₂-C evolution (1 290 mg CO₂-C kg^-1 soil) was observed in the sugarcane bagasse treatment and then in the rice husk treatment (1 270 mg CO₂-C kg^-1 soil); the lowest amount (200 mg CO₂-C kg^-1 soil) was in the aged rice husk biochar treatment. Aged sugarcane bagasse and rice husk biochar treatments reduced absolute cumulative CO₂-C evolution by 10% and 36%, respectively, compared with unamended recent alluvial soil, and by 10% and 18%, respectively, compared with unamended old alluvial soil. Both absolute and normalized C mineralization were similar between the sugarcane bagasse and rice husk treatments, between the biochar treatments, and between the aged biochar treatments. In both soils, the feedstock treatments resulted in the highest cumulative CO₂-C evolution, followed by the biochar treatments and then the aged biochar treatments. The absolute and normalized CO₂-C evolution and the mineralization rate constant of the stable C pool (K_s) were lower in the recent alluvial soil compared with those in the old alluvial soil. The biochars and aged biochars had a negative priming effect in both soils, but the effect was more prominent in the recent alluvial soil. These results would have good implications for improving organic matter content in organic C-poor alluvial soils.     

土壤及生物炭对草甘膦的吸附作用

为了确定生物炭修复草甘膦污染土壤的可行性,通过添加不同比例和种类的生物炭到土壤中,研究土壤对草甘膦的吸附效果。采用吸附动力学拟合、等温吸附分析、红外光谱测定分析方法。结果表明:草甘膦能强烈地吸附在红壤及稻壳炭、竹炭、竹柳炭中,相比于红壤,3种生物炭达到吸附平衡时间短。吸附动力学符合准二级动力学方程,等温吸附符合Freundlich吸附等温方程。Freundlich吸附等温方程中1/n数值均<1,表明红壤和3种生物炭对草甘膦的吸附方式是非线性吸附,且非线性程度大小为竹柳炭>竹炭>红壤>稻壳炭。生物炭添加到红壤中,可以提高红壤吸附草甘膦的量,生物炭添加比例越高,土壤吸附草甘膦的量也越高。土壤中添加生物炭比例相同时,竹炭使土壤吸附草甘膦的量最高,竹柳炭次之、稻壳炭最低。3种生物炭吸附草甘膦前后的红外光谱分析阐明了酚、胺、芳香烃、羧酸、羧酸盐、脂肪醚等在吸附过程中起重要作用。     

Influence of Biochar Addition on the Denitrification Process and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Emission in Cd-Contaminated Soil

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar addition on the denitrification process and N₂O emission in Cd-contaminated soil. Four different biochars, i.e., dairy manure and rice straw pyrolyzed at 350 and 550 °C, respectively, were added into a Cd-contaminated soil and incubation experiments were conducted for 8 weeks. Results showed that Cd had an inhibitory effect on denitrifying reductase enzymes and reduced the abundance of functional genes. On the contrary, amendment with the biochars increased denitrifying enzyme activity and gene abundance, and thus, enhanced the denitrification process. Labile carbon (C) in the biochar-amended soil, which was calculated based on the two-pool exponential model, was the key factor to facilitate this process. As a less important factor, elevated soil pH by biochar addition also increased denitrifying activity as well as the nosZ abundance. Decrease of Cd bioavailability by the biochar addition was beneficial to the denitrification process. Addition of the biochars with higher amount of NO₃ ^?-N, especially the rice straw-derived biochars, increased cumulative N₂O emission by more than ten times relative to the Cd-contaminated soil. With the great amount of labile C and NO₃ ^?-N, the treatment of biochars prepared at 350 °C released the larger amount of CO₂ and N₂O than other treatments. The biochar addition could totally release the heavy metal stress and restore the Cd-contaminated soil in terms of bacterial community.     

Single and competitive adsorption isotherms of some heavy metals onto a light textured calcareous soil amended with agricultural wastes-biochars

This study investigated the adsorption behavior of selected heavy metals (Pb, Cu, and Ni) under single and multi-metal conditions by a light textured calcareous soil amended with plant residue biochars (corn straw, wheat straw, rice husk and licorice root pulp each at 3% w/w). The Freundlich isotherm best described the heavy metal adsorption suggesting multilayer adsorption. For all treatments under both adsorption conditions, the heavy metal adsorption capacity followed the order of Pb > Cu > Ni, which was associated with the hydrolysis constant, ionic radius, and electronegativity of these metals. Simultaneous presence of multiple metals decreased the adsorption capacity for each metal and the sequence was in the order of Ni > Pb > Cu. The corn straw biochar (CSB) had the highest adsorption capacity (Freundlich K_f (mg g^?1) for Ni = 0.23, Cu = 1.41 and Pb = 2.73) and medium distribution coefficient (K_{d medium}(L kg^?1) for Ni = 59.30, Cu = 1961.00 and Pb = 2602.00), indicating the CSB is the best treatment for stabilization of heavy metals in the soil. This was associated with the chemical characteristics of the CSB (high amounts of CaCO₃ and P) and the greatest increase in soil pH value.     

培养条件下生物炭对土壤锌的吸附作用

将稻壳分别在350℃和550℃热解温度下制备成生物质炭,按土壤质量的1%、3%和5%的添加量施入土壤中,保持一定的土壤含水率,探究施入生物炭的土壤对重金属锌吸附的影响。结果表明,土壤中施入生物炭之后,会提高土壤对重金属的吸附固定能力,生物炭的添加量越高,土壤对锌的最大吸附量越大。在试验开始阶段,随着生物炭的老化,土壤对锌的吸附性能会增强,同时土壤对锌的解吸率降低,随着时间的延长,生物炭与土壤发生的共腐殖化过程,导致土壤对锌的吸附性能逐渐降低,同时土壤对锌的解吸率提高。     

The dynamic changes of phosphorus availability in straw/biochar-amended soils during the rice growth revealed by a combination of chemical extraction and DGT technique

Purpose

This study compares the dynamic effects of straw and biochar on soil acidity and phosphorus (P) availability in the rice growth period to reveal how straw and biochar affect the availability of phosphorus in soil and utilization of P for rice crop.

Materials and methods

In the pot experiment, rice straw, canola stalk, and corresponding biochars were mixed uniformly with the Ultisol. Soil samples were collected at four stages of rice growth to analyze the dynamic changes of soil acidity and P availability. The availability of phosphate in straw/biochar-amended soils were evaluated using a combination of chemical extraction and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique.

Results

Soil pH, KCl-P, Olsen-P, DGT-P, and Al-P deceased with the rice growth, while Fe-P increased. Biochar increased soil pH and P availability more than straw returning, especially in the mature stage, while the DGT-P only increased in the tillering stage. The DGT-induced fluxes in sediments (DIFS) model revealed that all treatments increased the capacity of soil solid phase supplementing P to pore water in the filling and mature stages. The content of total P in different rice tissues followed the order of grain?>?straw?>?root, and RB350 treatment had the highest P content in rice tissues. In the mature stage, soil pH had positive correlations with KCl-P and Olsen-P, and soil Fe-P had positive correlations with total P of root and straw.

Conclusions

Application of biochar made at 550 ℃ resulted in a larger increase in available P in soil, while biochar made at 350 ℃ had more effect on the chemical forms of P. The canola stalk biochar showed a larger influence on the P availability than rice straw biochar. Biochar treatments had a larger effect on inhibiting soil acidification and improving P availability than straw returning directly.

     

Improvement of physical and hydraulic properties of desert soil with amendment of different biochars

Purpose

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of amendment of different biochars on the physical and hydraulic properties of desert soil.

Materials and methods

Biochars were produced with woodchip, rice straw, and dairy manure at temperatures of 300 and 700 °C, respectively. Each biochar at 5% (w/w) was mixed with desert soil, and the mixtures were incubated for 120 days.

Results and discussion

The different biochar treatments greatly reduced soil bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Especially the rice straw biochar addition resulted in the lowest saturated hydraulic conductivities among the treatments. Biochar addition significantly increased water retention of desert soil at any suction. At the same suction and experimental time, the treatment with the rice straw biochar produced at the lower temperature resulted in higher water content than the other treatments. The biochar additions slightly enhanced formation of soil macro-aggregates in the early experimental time. However, the aggregate contents gradually decreased with time due to the lack of effective binding agents (e.g., soil organic matter and clay minerals).

Conclusions

The changes of hydraulic properties of desert soil were attributable to the biochar properties. The higher fine particle content, porosity, and surface hydrophilicity of rice straw biochars were the most beneficial properties to increase soil water retention and to reduce water flow in the desert soil. The improvement of hydraulic properties by biochar addition may provide a potential solution to combat desertification.

     

Biochars influence sweet‐potato yield and nutrient uptake in tropical Papua New Guinea

Currently, the biomass of an invasive and obnoxious weed, kunai grass (Imperata cylindrica), is uncontrollably burnt in Papua New Guinea in subsistence farming systems resulting in unwarranted negative environmental consequences. We explored the possibility of sustainable utilization of biochar produced from the weed biomass along with a standard feedstock‐rice husk (Oryza sativa). Biochars were produced with lab‐scale pyrolysis at 550°C, characterized for chemical properties and plant nutrient composition. Further, agronomic efficacy of soil incorporation of biochars (5 t ha^?1) or co‐applied with mineral fertilizers (100, 11, and 62 kg ha^?1 N, P, K, respectively) was tested for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam) in a field experiment. The two biochars differed significantly (P < 5%) with respect to recovery from the feedstocks, chemical characters and nutrient composition. Kunai grass biochar was poorer in nutrients (< 1%) with distinctly alkaline pH and higher electrical conductivity. Biochar amendment to soil showed significant (P < 5%) improvement of soil moisture, while co‐application of biochars along with mineral fertilizers showed soil moisture decrease. Biochar amendment improved the growth parameters and total tuber yield of sweet potato by about 20%, while co‐application with mineral fertilizers augmented total tuber yield by 100% and above‐ground biomass yields by > 75%. Besides, improving agronomic performance of sweet potato crop, co‐application of biochars with mineral fertilizers enhanced uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S. Production and utilization of biochar in sweet‐potato production could offer an efficient means of disposing biomass of kunai grass with concomitant productivity improvement in Papua New Guinea.     

Retention and release of diethyl phthalate in biochar-amended vegetable garden soils

Purpose

Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is one of the most commonly used plasticizers as well as a soil contaminant. Using biochar to remediate soils contaminated with DEP can potentially reduce the bioavailability of DEP and improve soil properties. Therefore, a laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar on soil adsorption and desorption of DEP.

Materials and methods

Two surface soils (0–20 cm) with contrasting organic carbon (OC) contents were collected from a vegetable garden. Biochars were derived from bamboo (BB) and rice straw (SB) that were pyrolyzed at 350 and 650 °C. Biochars were added to two types of soil at rates of 0.1 and 0.5 % (w/w). A batch equilibration method was used to measure DEP adsorption-desorption in biochar treated and untreated soils at 25 °C. The adsorption and desorption isotherms of DEP in the soils with or without biochar were evaluated using the Freundlich model.

Results and discussion

The biochar treatments significantly enhanced the soil adsorption of DEP. Compared to the untreated low organic matter soil, the soils treated with 0.5 % 650BB increased the adsorption by more than 19,000 times. For the straw biochar treated soils, the increase of DEP adsorption followed the order 350SB?>?650SB. However, for the bamboo biochars, the order was 650BB?>?350BB. Bamboo biochars were more effective than the straw biochars in improving soils’ adsorption capacity and reducing the desorption ability of DEP.

Conclusions

Adding biochar to soil can significantly enhance soil’s adsorption capacity on DEP. The 650BB amended soil showed the highest adsorption capacity for DEP. The native soil OC contents had significant effects on the soils’ sorption capacity treated with 650BB, whereas they had negligible effects on the other biochar treatments. The sorption capacity was affected by many factors such as the feedstock materials and pyrolysis temperature of biochars, the pH value of biochar, and the soil organic carbon levels.     

Chemically and biologically activated biochars slow down urea hydrolysis and improve nitrogen use efficiency

Biochar is considered a potential technology to enhance chemical fertilizer use efficiency through intensification of the interactions between nutrients and the functional groups on biochar surfaces. However, little is known about how the application of activated biochars mixed with urea influences nitrogen(N) mineralization and crop performance in paddy fields. Here, a sawdust-derived fresh biochar (FBC)(ca. 400?C) was activated chemically with 15%hydrogen peroxide and biologically with a nutri...     

Short-term effects of biochar amendment on soil microbial community in humid tropics

Biochar is known to ameliorate soil fertility and improve crop production but information regarding soil microbiota responses on biochar amendment remains limited. The experiment was conducted to study the effect of biochars from palm kernel (pyrolysed at 400°C) and rice husk (gasified at 800°C) in a sandy loam Acrisol from Peninsular Malaysia. The soil was amended with palm kernel shell biochar (PK), rice husk biochar (RH), palm kernel biochar with fertilizer (FPK), rice husk biochar with fertilizer (FRH), fertilizer and control soil. Soil samples were taken during maize harvesting and were analysed for physico-chemical properties, microbial biomass, microbial abundance and microbial diversity. Increase in pH, moisture content, CEC, organic C, and labile C were recorded in all biochar amended soils. Microbial biomass C was 65% and 36% higher in RH and FRH, respectively, than control. Microbial biomass N was greatest in FPK and FRH with respective increment of 359% and 341% than control. β-glucosidase and xylanase activities were significantly increased in all biochar treated soils than control. A shift in microbial diversity was not detected. The biochar affects the microbial community by altering the soil environment and increasing labile active carbon sources in the short-term amendment.     

Effects of three biochar types on activity of β-glucosidase enzyme in two agricultural soils of different textures

ABSTRACT

Biochar has attracted significant attention due to the long-lasting nature, and prominent influence on soil characteristics. This study was conducted to evaluate changes in the activity of β-glucosidase enzyme (BG) in loamy and sandy loam texture soils following two winter wheat growing seasons. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replicates and four treatments. The treatments were two soils, three biochars (rice husk, corn cob and bean harvest residue), five biochar rates (BR) and five levels of mineral fertilizers (FR) or dairy effluent (DE). The fertilizers were applied at the beginning of each season, while biochars were applied only at the beginning of experiment. Soil samples were collected following the second season and analyzed for the BG activity. Addition of biochars reduced the BG activity and the decline was higher in sandy loam compared to loamy soils. Negative effect of biochar to BG activity was greater at the highest BR (3.0%) than the lower BR. Fertilizer additions along with DE biochar had significant effect on BG activity that increased with higher FR. Given the importance of BG activity in soil organic matter decomposition, biochar application can be considered a sustainable way of increase in carbon sequestration.     

Effect of Organic Residues and Their Derived Biochars on the Zinc and Copper Chemical Fractions and Some Chemical Properties of a Calcareous Soil

ABSTRACT

Addition of more resistant organic materials, such as biochars, to soils not only enhances soil C sequestration but also can also benefit soil fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two organic materials (sheep manure and vermicompost) and their biochars produced at two pyrolysis temperatures (300 and 500°C) applied at 5% (w/w) on the chemical fractions of Zn and Cu and some chemical characteristics of an unpolluted, light textured calcareous soil. Addition of the raw organic materials and their-derived biochars significantly enhanced plant available K, P, and Zn but significantly decreased plant available Cu in the soil. Sheep manure biochar produced at 300°C was most effective at increasing plant available P (13-fold) and K (1.9 fold) likely due to formation of more soluble forms of P and K compared to raw material or biochar produced at higher temperature (500°C). Whereas, raw vermicompost and sheep manure were most effective at enhancing plant available Zn, by increasing water soluble and exchangeable Zn fraction likely due to organic complexation. All amendments, especially biochars produced at 300°C reduced water soluble and exchangeable Cu mainly attributed to increased soil P availability. The results of this study showed that in the short-term, addition of the low-temperature biochars was best for enhancing soil P and K availability, but concomitantly reduced Cu availability the most, whereas, addition of the raw organic materials was better for enhancing Zn availability compared to the biochars.     

Effect of coffee husk and cocoa pods biochar on phosphorus fixation and release processes in acid soils from West Cameroon

Acid soil in West Cameroon has limited phosphorus (P) availability which limits plant growth. This is mainly because of low pH, high levels of exchangeable aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) and fixation of P. In this study, acid soils, sampled in Bafang, were amended with biochar produced from coffee husks (CH) and cocoa pod husks (CP) at two different temperatures (350 and 550 °C) in other to evaluate the effect on the physicochemical properties of the acid soil and the effect on P sorption and desorption. The soil was amended with biochar at a rate of 0, 20, 40 and 80 g/kg and incubated for 7 and 60 days. Physicochemical properties of all soil–biochar samples were determined followed by sorption experiments and data fitted in the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models in other to evaluate soil P sorption capacity and its affinity to soil amended with biochar. Moreover, desorption studies were done to evaluate the availability of P in soil amended with biochar after sorption. The outcomes of this study reveal an increase in soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), available P, soil organic carbon and a drastic decrease in exchangeable Al and Fe. The point of zero charge of biochar-amended soil was higher than the control and increased with amendment rate. The experimental data of the sorption of P on soils and soil–biochar samples fits into Langmuir and Freundlich models (R² > 0.9) suggesting that the P adsorption is controlled by both model mechanisms. Soil–biochar mixture results in a decrease in the sorption capacity as compared with the control and the decrease was predominant with increasing amendment rate. At amendment rates of 20, 40 and 80 g/kg after 7 days of incubation, $Q_{\max }$ for SCH350 were 2267, 2048 and 1823 mg/kg which increased to 2407, 2112 and 1990 mg/kg after 60 days of incubation. This tendency was observed for all biochar inputs with respect to the increase in incubation days. Furthermore, desorption of P from soil–biochar mixtures was enhanced with biochar added at greater rate and produced at higher temperature. The desorption percentage was increased by more than around 10% for all biochar types from 20 mg/kg to 80 mg/kg amendment. Thus, biochar addition to acid soils reduces P fixation to acid soil and improves P desorption to soil solution, thereby providing more available P in the soil solution and better conditions for plant growth.     

生物质炭对不同pH值土壤矿质氮含量的影响

为了揭示生物质炭作为土壤调理剂添加后对土壤矿质氮形态、含量等土壤性质的影响,该研究利用芒草分别在350和700℃裂解制得生物质炭,发现2个温度尤其是700℃制得的生物质炭,对NH4+有很强的吸附能力,但对NO3-的吸附能力很弱。将生物质炭分别加入到酸性(pH值为3.8)和碱性(pH值为7.6)土壤中,25℃下室内培养180d。结果表明,生物质炭提高了土壤全氮含量,酸性和碱性土壤分别平均提高了22%和17%;但使土壤铵态氮含量大幅降低至接近仪器检测限水平;生物质炭对土壤硝态氮含量的影响因生物质炭和土壤类型而异。生物质炭对土壤矿质氮形态和含量的影响,显然与生物质炭对铵的吸附作用、提高土壤pH值、增强氨挥发损失,以及形成微生物量氮等密切相关。该研究可为开展生物质炭基氮素新型肥料及制剂等方面的科学研究提供参考。     

Forms and solubility of plant nutrient elements in tropical plant waste biochars

Thailand is an agriculture‐based country which produces large amounts of agricultural waste. Making biochar from this waste can reduce pollution, decrease costs of production, and increase C sequestration. The agronomic benefits of biochar are partly derived from the available plant nutrients in biochar. This study investigated the fertilizer value of biochars manufactured by slow pyrolysis. Pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type affect nutrient concentrations and nutrient element speciation in biochar. The physio‐chemical, mineralogical and structural properties of biochars made from 14 agriculture wastes (soybean cake, corncob, lemon peel, sugar palm fibre, durian shell, tamarind wood, coconut fibre, coconut shell, bamboo wood, rice husk, eucalyptus wood, oil palm fruit, coffee waste, and bagasse) were investigated. The plant nutrients in biochar mostly occurred in crystalline minerals which were present on the surface and inside the cell structure of biochar. Most biochars examined in this research contained calcite (CaCO₃). The presence in biochars of several K‐minerals [archerite (KH₂PO₄), chlorocalcite (KCaCl₃), kalicinite (KHCO₃), pyrocoproite (K₂MgP₂O₇), struvite‐K (KMgPO₄ · 6 H₂O), and sylvite (KCl)] encourages the use of biochar as a K‐fertilizer. Fibre, fruit and wood biochars contained considerable amounts of K, Ca, and P. Sugar palm and coconut fibres also contained high level of Na in halite. This study recommends the utilization of biochars manufactured from sugar palm fibre, coconut fibre, durian shell, and oil palm fruit as fertilizers. With their appreciable contents of plant nutrients in highly to moderately soluble compounds these biochars should be effective fertilizers, especially for use by organic farmers who cannot use any chemical fertilizers.     

Growth,survival, and heavy metal (Cd and Ni) uptake of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata) in a biochar‐amended sewage‐irrigated contaminated soil

Irrigation of arable land with contaminated sewage waters leads to the accumulation of trace metals in soils with subsequent phyto‐/zootoxic consequences. In this study, biochar derived from cotton sticks was used to amend an agricultural silt‐loam soil that had been previously irrigated with trace metal contaminated sewage waters. Metal accumulation and toxicity to spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and fenugreek (Trigonella corniculata) was investigated by measuring concentrations of Cd and Ni in plant tissues and various photosynthetic and biochemical activities of plants. Positive impacts of biochar on both spinach and fenugreek were observed in terms of biomass production that increased from 29% to 36% in case of spinach, while for fenugreek this increase was 32% to 36%. In the control treatment there was an increase in malondialdihyde, soluble sugar, and ascorbic acid contents, indicating heavy metal stress. Biochar applications increased soluble proteins and amino acids in plants and reduced the uptake of Cd from 5.42 mg kg^?1 at control to 3.45 mg kg^?1 at 5% biochar amended soil and Ni (13.8 mg kg^?1 to 7.3 mg kg^?1 at 5% biochar) by the spinach plants. In fenugreek, the Cd was reduced from 7.72 mg kg^?1 to 3.88 mg kg^?1 and reduction in Ni was from 15.45 mg kg^?1 to 9.46 mg kg^?1 at 5% biochar treated soil, reducing the possibility of transfer up the food chain. This study demonstrates that the use of biochar made from cotton‐sticks, as an amendment to arable soils that have received contaminated irrigation water, could improve plant growth and decrease Cd and Ni uptake to crops, alleviating some of the negative impacts of using sewage waters on arable land.