scholarly journals Heavy metals immobilization and improvement in maize (Zea mays L.) growth amended with biochar and compost

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Muhammad Mudassir ◽  
Muhammad Jamal Khan ◽  
Khadim Muhammad Dawar ◽  
Dost Muhammad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Root Weight ◽  
Maximum Increase ◽  
Chlorophyll Contents ◽  
Cr Concentration

AbstractSoil with heavy metals contamination, mainly lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) is a progressively worldwide alarming environmental problem. Recently, biochar has been used as a soil amendment to remediate contaminated soils, but little work has been done to compare with other organic amendments like compost. We investigated biochar and compost's comparative effect on Pb, Cd, and Cr immobilization in soil, photosynthesis, and growth of maize plants. Ten kg soil was placed in pots and were spiked with Pb, Cd, and Cr at concentrations 20, 10, 20 mg kg−1. The biochar and compost treatments included 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4% were separately applied to the soil. The crop from pots was harvested after 60 days. The results show that the highest reduction of AB-DTPA extractable Pb, Cd, and Cr in soil was 79%, 61% and 78% with 4% biochar, followed by 61%, 43% and 60% with 4% compost compared to the control, respectively. Similarly, the highest reduction in shoot Pb, Cd, and Cr concentration was 71%, 63% and 78%with 4% biochar, followed by 50%, 50% and 71% with 4% compost than the control, respectively. The maximum increase in shoot and dry root weight, total chlorophyll contents, and gas exchange characteristics were recorded with 4% biochar, followed by 4% compost than the control. The maximum increase in soil organic matter and total nitrogen (N) was recorded at 4% biochar application while available phosphorus and potassium in the soil at 4% compost application. It is concluded that both biochar and compost decreased heavy metals availability in the soil, reducing toxicity in the plant. However, biochar was most effective in reducing heavy metals content in soil and plant compared to compost. In the future, more low-cost, eco-friendly soil remediation methods should be developed for better soil health and plant productivity.

scholarly journals Ornamental Plant Efficiency for Heavy Metals Phytoextraction from Contaminated Soils Amended with Organic Materials

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3360
Author(s):  
Mahrous Awad ◽  
M. A. El-Desoky ◽  
A. Ghallab ◽  
Jan Kubes ◽  
S. E. Abdel-Mawly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Organic Materials ◽  
Ornamental Plants ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Chemical Agent ◽  
Rf Values

Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) by ornamental plants (OPs) from contaminated agriculture soils is a unique technique that can efficiently reduce the metal load in the food chain. Amaranthus tricolor L. has attractive characteristics acquiring a higher growth rate and large biomass when grown at heavy metal contaminated soils. Site-specific detailed information is not available on the use of A. tricolor plant in metal phytoremediation from the polluted sites. The study aimed to enhance the uptake of HMs (Pb, Zn, and Cu) via amending poultry litter extract (PLE), vinasse sugarcane (VSC), and humic acid (HA) as natural mobilized organic materials compared to ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), as a common mobilized chemical agent by A. tricolor plant. The studied soils collected from Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar (Cairo Governorate), Arab El-Madabeg (Assiut Governorate), Egypt, and study have been conducted under pot condition. Our results revealed all organic materials in all studied soils, except EDTA in EL-Gabal El-Asfar soil, significantly increased the dry weight of the A. tricolor plant compared to the control treatment. The uptake of Pb and Zn significantly (p > 0.05) increased due to applying all organic materials to the studied soils. HA application caused the highest uptake as shown in Pb concentration by more than 5 times in Helwan soil and EDTA by 65% in El-Gabal El-Asfar soil while VSC increased it by 110% in El-Madabeg soil. Also, an increase in Zn concentration due to EDTA application was 58, 42, and 56% for Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar, and El-Madabeg soil, respectively. In all studied soils, the application of organic materials increased the remediation factor (RF) than the control. El-Madabeg soil treated with vinasse sugarcane gave the highest RF values; 6.40, 3.26, and 4.02% for Pb, Zn, and Cu, respectively, than the control. Thus, we identified A. tricolor as a successful ornamental candidate that, along with organic mobilization amendments, most efficiently develop soil health, reduce metal toxicity, and recommend remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, long-term application of organic mobilization amendments and continued growth of A. tricolor under field conditions could be recommended for future directions to confirm the results.

scholarly journals Immobilization of Cd, Pb and Zn through Organic Amendments in Wastewater Irrigated Soils

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2392
Author(s):  
Kouser Majeed Malik ◽  
Khalid Saifullah Khan ◽  
Shah Rukh ◽  
Ahmad Khan ◽  
Saba Akbar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Toxic Metals ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Wastewater Irrigation ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Irrigated Soils

Due to the scarcity of water, raw sewage effluents are often used to irrigate arable suburban soils in developing countries, which causes soil contamination with toxic metals. Soil microorganisms involved in biochemical transformations are sensitive to heavy metals contamination. The study was designed to investigate the effect of organic amendments on the microbial activity of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) fractions and their bioavailability in soils contaminated with wastewater irrigation. Three metal contaminated soils under wastewater irrigation were collected, ground, sieved and added to incubation jars. Two organic amendments: wheat straw and chickpea straw, were applied (1% w/w) to the soil before incubation for 84 days at 25 °C. The CO2-C evolution after 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days was measured and thereafter was also measured weekly. Soil samples collected at 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days after incubation were analyzed for microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Sequential extraction for metal fractionation of samples was carried out collected at 0, 28, 56 and 84 days. Three soils differed significantly in evolved MBC and ∑CO2-C. Chickpea straw addition significantly increased soil MBC as compared to the wheat straw. Organic amendments significantly increased ∑CO2-C evolution from the soils, which was higher from chickpea straw. The addition of crop residues did not affect total Pb, Cd and Zn contents in soils. The concentration of exchangeable, carbonate bound and residual fractions of Pb, Cd and Zn decreased (6–27%), while the organic matter bound fraction increased (4–75%) with straw addition. Overall, the organic amendments improved microbial activity and reduce the bioavailability of toxic metals in wastewater irrigated soils. Furthermore, organic amendments not only reduce economic losses as they are cheap to produce but also minimize human health risks from heavy metals by hindering their entry into the food chain.

scholarly journals Changes in Soil Health with Remediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils Using Two Different Remediation Technologies

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10078
Author(s):  
Sang Hwan Lee ◽  
Jung Hyun Lee ◽  
Woo Chul Jung ◽  
Misun Park ◽  
Min Suk Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Thermal Desorption ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Petroleum Hydrocarbon ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Accurate Estimation

For sustainable soil management, there is an increasing demand for soil quality, resilience, and health assessment. After remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)-contaminated soils, changes in the physicochemical and ecological characteristics of the soil were investigated. Two kinds of remediation technologies were applied to contaminated soils: land farming (LF) and high temperature thermal desorption (HTTD). As a result of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), PHC-contaminated soils were efficiently remediated by LF and HTTD. The soil health could not be completely recovered after the removal of pollutants due to adverse changes in the soil properties, especially in soil enzyme activities. Therefore, monitoring is necessary for accurate estimation of soil ecotoxicity and effective remediation, and additional soil management, such as fertilizer application or organic amendments, is needed to restore soil heath. In the case of HTTD, soil ecological properties are severely changed during the remediation process. The decision to reuse or recycle remediated soils should reflect changes in soil quality. HTTD is a harsh remediation method that results in deterioration of soil fertility and ecological functions. Alternatives, such as low-temperature thermal desorption or additional soil management using fertilizer or organic amendments, for example, are needed.

Phytoremediation of Cadmium Contaminated Soils: Advances and Researching Prospects

2013 ◽  
Vol 743-744 ◽  
pp. 732-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Su ◽  
Zhang Cai ◽  
Qi Xing Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Soil Contamination ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Metal Contamination ◽  
Heavy Metal Contamination ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Organic Contamination ◽  
Metal Organic

More and more attention has been paid to soil contamination by heavy metals in recent years. Heavy metal contamination includes heavy metal - heavy metal contamination, heavy metal - organic contamination, and heavy metal nutrient contamination. In particular, soil contamination by cadmium (Cd) is the most typical one. In terms of the current remediation technologies, phytoremediation of Cd contaminated soil remains popular due to its low cost, environmental aesthetics and in-situ effective treatment. Therefore, screening-out and identification of Cd hyperaccumulators becomes a hotspot in this researching domain. In order to further improve the efficiency of phytoremediation, we have developed a variety of joint remediation technologies. Based on these work at home and abroad, we summed up the studying progress in this field. Some main researching contents and directions of phytoremediation for Cd contaminated soils were also proposed.

A Primary Study on Assessment of Phytoremediation Potential of Biofuel Crops in Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil

2013 ◽  
Vol 295-298 ◽  
pp. 1135-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kokyo Oh ◽  
Tao Li ◽  
Hong Yan Cheng ◽  
Xu Feng Hu ◽  
Qi Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Tagetes Patula ◽  
Biofuel Crops ◽  
Accumulation Capacity

Phytoremediation is a low cost and eco-friendly emerging technology for treatment of contaminated soils with the use of green plants. In this study, the accumulation potential to heavy metals by two biofuel crops (maize and sunflower) and two metal accumulator plants (Elsholtzia splendens (ES), Tagetes patula L. (TP)) was studied with pot culture filled with a heavy metal contaminated soil, in order to compare their suitability for phytoremediation of contaminated soils. Sunflower showed the highest accumulation level for Cu (150 ug/pot) and Zn (10893 ug/pot) in the shoot part compared to other three plants. Maize showed a similar accumulation level for Cu (104 ug/pot) and Zn (7454 ug/pot) to TP, but a much higher level than ES. TP showed noticeable accumulation levels for Pb (196 ug/pot) and Cd (637 ug/pot). ES generally had the lowest accumulation capacity for Cu (38.5 ug/pot), Zn (2784 ug/pot), Pb (35.4 ug/pot) and Cd (18.2 ug/pot). Therefore, the two biofuel plants had higher or similar phytoremediation potential of heavy metals compared to the two accumulator plants. This study provided useful data for considering biofuel plants as potential economic crops for phytoremediation.

scholarly journals Effects of Heavy Metals/Metalloids and Soil Properties on Microbial Communities in Farmland in the Vicinity of a Metals Smelter

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuewu Hu ◽  
Jianlei Wang ◽  
Ying Lv ◽  
Xingyu Liu ◽  
Juan Zhong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Multiple Heavy Metals

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in biogeochemical cycling and are highly sensitive to environmental factors, including the physiochemical properties of the soils and the concentrations of heavy metals/metalloids. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to study the microbial communities of farmland soils in farmland in the vicinity of a lead–zinc smelter. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Gemmatimonadetes were the predominant phyla in the sites of interest. Sphingomonas, Gemmatimonas, Lysobacter, Flavisolibacter, and Chitinophaga were heavy metal-/metalloid-tolerant microbial groups with potential for bioremediation of the heavy metal/metalloid contaminated soils. However, the bacterial diversity was different for the different sites. The contents of heavy metal/metalloid species and the soil properties were studied to evaluate the effect on the soil bacterial communities. The Mantel test revealed that soil pH, total cadmium (T-Cd), and available arsenic played a vital role in determining the structure of the microbial communities. Further, we analyzed statistically the heavy metals/metalloids and the soil properties, and the results revealed that the microbial richness and diversity were regulated mainly by the soil properties, which correlated positively with organic matter and available nitrogen, while available phosphorus and available potassium were negatively correlated. The functional annotation of the prokaryotic taxa (FAPROTAX) method was used to predict the function of the microbial communities. Chemoheterotrophy and airborne chemoheterotrophy of the main microbial community functions were inhibited by soil pH and the heavy metals/metalloids, except in the case of available lead. Mantel tests revealed that T-Cd and available zinc were the dominant factors affecting the functions of the microbial communities. Overall, the research indicated that in contaminated soils, the presence of multiple heavy metals/metalloids, and the soil properties synergistically shaped the structure and function of the microbial communities.

scholarly journals Phytoremediation of Industrial and Pharmaceutical Pollutants

2016 ◽  
Vol 02 ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Swarna Shikha ◽  
Pammi Gauba ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Inorganic Compounds ◽  
Environmental Issue ◽  
Accidental Release ◽  
Pharmaceutical Pollutants ◽  
Complex Organic

Pollution in water bodies and soil is a major and ever-increasing environmental issue nowadays, and most conventional remediation approaches do not provide appropriate solutions. The contamination of soil is a major concern for the environment and needs to be remediated. These pollutants include complex organic compounds, heavy metals released from industries and plants and natural products such as oils from accidental release. Further the nature of pollution will be governed by the source and type of the contaminant, and other inorganic compounds are released into the environment from a number of sources like mining, smelting, electroplating, and farming. Plants can clean up many types of contaminants like metals, pesticides, oils, and explosives. Phytoremediation is emerging as a bio-based and low-cost alternative in the cleanup of heavy metal-contaminated soils.

Organic amendments influence nutrient availability and cotton productivity in irrigated Vertosols

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhadip Ghosh ◽  
Nilantha Hulugalle ◽  
Peter Lockwood ◽  
Kathleen King ◽  
Paul Kristiansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Active Growth ◽  
Cotton Plants ◽  
Microbiological Properties

There is increasing interest in the use of organic amendments in the Australian cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) industry because of perceived benefits to soil health and the environment. A 2-year field experiment was conducted at the Australian Cotton Research Institute (ACRI), near Narrabri, NSW, using three locally available organic amendments applied at typical farmers’ rates to irrigated cotton. The amendments used were cattle manure (10 t/ha), composted cotton gin trash (7.5 t/ha), and a commercial liquefied vermicompost (50 L/ha), and their effects on soil quality characteristics were compared with those of control soil where no amendment was added. The soil (0–0.10 m) was sampled on six occasions and analysed for selected chemical and microbiological properties. The physiological characteristics and nutrient uptake of mature cotton plants were also examined. The organic amendments did not have a significant effect on microbiological properties as measured by microbial biomass and respiration. Of the chemical properties measured, manure-amended plots showed higher nitrate-nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium (K) concentrations over 2 years. Exchangeable K was 28% higher where cattle manure was applied than in control plots during the active growth stage of cotton in the first year of experiment. Higher nutrient uptake by mature cotton plants and lower nutrient concentration in soil were observed in the second year. Cotton physiological properties and lint yield were not significantly affected by the application of organic amendments. Seasonal parameters had a strong effect. The results suggest that there are few short-term benefits to be gained in terms of soil quality from application of organic amendments to Vertosols at the rates used in these trials.

scholarly journals Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil by Switchgrass: A Comparative Study Utilizing Different Composts and Coir Fiber on Pollution Remediation, Plant Productivity, and Nutrient Leaching

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 1261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paliza Shrestha ◽  
Korkmaz Bellitürk ◽  
Josef Görres
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Plant Productivity ◽  
Nutrient Leaching ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Coir Fiber ◽  
Trade Offs

We investigated the effects of organic amendments (thermophilic compost, vermicompost, and coconut coir) on the bioavailability of trace heavy metals of Zn, Cd, Pb, Co, and Ni from heavy metal-spiked soils under laboratory conditions. To test switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a potential crop for phytoremediation of heavy metal from soil, we investigated whether the addition of organic amendments promoted switchgrass growth, and consequently, uptake of metals. Compost is a valuable soil amendment that supplies nutrients for plant establishment and growth, which is beneficial for phytoremediation. However, excess application of compost can result in nutrient leaching, which has adverse effects on water quality. We tested the nutrient leaching potential of the different organic amendments to identify trade-offs between phytoremediation and water quality. Results showed that the amendments decreased the amount of bioavailable metals in the soils. Organic amendments increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and soil nutrient status. Switchgrass shoot and root biomass was significantly greater in the amended soils compared to the non-amended control. Amended treatments showed detectable levels of heavy metal uptake in switchgrass shoots, while the control treatment did not produce enough switchgrass biomass to measure uptake. Switchgrass uptake of certain heavy metals, and concentrations of some leachate nutrients significantly differed among the amended treatments. By improving soil properties and plant productivity and reducing heavy metal solubility that can otherwise hamper plant survival, organic amendments can greatly enhance phytoremediation in heavy metal-contaminated soils.

scholarly journals Potential of rice straw biochar, sulfur and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in remediating soil contaminated with nickel through irrigation with untreated wastewater

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inas A. Hashem ◽  
Aonalah Y. Abbas ◽  
Abo El-Nasr H. Abd El-Hamed ◽  
Haythum M.S. Salem ◽  
Omr E.M. El-hosseiny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Incubation Experiment ◽  
Untreated Wastewater ◽  
Rice Straw Biochar

Background Untreated wastewater carries substantial amount of heavy metals and causes potential ecological risks to the environment, food quality, soil health and sustainable agriculture. Methodology In order to reduce the incidence of nickel (Ni2+) contamination in soils, two separate experiments (incubation and greenhouse) were conducted to investigate the potentials of rice straw biochar and elemental sulfur in remediating Ni2+ polluted soil due to the irrigation with wastewater. Five incubation periods (1, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days), three biochar doses (0, 10 and 20 g kg−1 of soil) and two doses of sulfur (0 and 5 g kg−1 of soil) were used in the incubation experiment then the Ni2+ was extracted from the soil and analyzed, while ryegrass seeds Lolium perenne L. (Poales: Poaceae) and the same doses of biochar and sulfur were used in the greenhouse experiment then the plants Ni2+-uptake was determined. Results The results of the incubation experiment revealed a dose-dependent reduction of DTPA-extractable Ni2+ in soils treated with biochar. Increasing the biochar dose from 0 g kg−1 (control) to 10 or 20 g kg−1 (treatments) decreased the DTPA-extractable Ni2+ from the soil by 24.6% and 39.4%, respectively. The application of sulfur increased the Ni2+-uptake by ryegrass plant which was used as hyper-accumulator of heavy metals in the green house experiment. However, the biochar decreased the Ni2+-uptake by the plant therefore it can be used as animal feed. Conclusions These results indicate that the biochar and sulfur could be applied separately to remediate the Ni2+-contaminated soils either through adsorbing the Ni2+ by biochar or increasing the Ni2+ availability by sulfur to be easily uptaken by the hyper-accumulator plant, and hence promote a sustainable agriculture.

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