Animal carcass- and wood-derived biochars improved nutrient bioavailability, enzyme activity, and plant growth in metal-phthalic acid ester co-contaminated soils: A trial for reclamation and improvement of degraded soils

Hanbo Chen; Xing Yang; Hailong Wang; Binoy Sarkar; Sabry M Shaheen; Gerty Gielen; Nanthi Bolan; Jia Guo; Lei Che; Huili Sun; Jörg Rinklebe

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110246

Animal carcass- and wood-derived biochars improved nutrient bioavailability, enzyme activity, and plant growth in metal-phthalic acid ester co-contaminated soils: A trial for reclamation and improvement of degraded soils

J Environ Manage. 2020 May 1:261:110246. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110246. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Authors

Hanbo Chen¹, Xing Yang², Hailong Wang³, Binoy Sarkar⁴, Sabry M Shaheen⁵, Gerty Gielen⁶, Nanthi Bolan⁷, Jia Guo⁸, Lei Che⁹, Huili Sun¹⁰, Jörg Rinklebe¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China.
² Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China; University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany.
³ Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China; Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China. Electronic address: hailong.wang@fosu.edu.cn.
⁴ Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK.
⁵ University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany; King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment, and Arid Land Agriculture, Department of Arid Land Agriculture, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; University of Kafrelsheikh, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil and Water Sciences, 33 516, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt.
⁶ Scion, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua, 3046, New Zealand.
⁷ Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2308, Australia.
⁸ Chengbang Eco-Environment Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310008, China.
⁹ School of Engineering, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, China.
¹⁰ Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510301, China.
¹¹ University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany; University of Sejong, Department of Environment, Energy and Geoinformatics, 98 Gunja-Dong, Guangjin-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.

PMID: 32148312
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110246

Abstract

Reclamation of degraded soils such as those with low organic carbon content and soils co-contaminated with toxic elements and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) is of great concern. Little is known about the efficiency of plant- and animal-derived biochars for improving plant growth and physicochemical and biological properties of co-contaminated soils, particularly under low content of organic matter. Hence, a pot trial was carried out by growing pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) to assess the influence of different doses (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4%) of animal (pig carcass) and wood (Platanus orientalis) derived biochars on soil properties, nutrient availabilities, plant growth, and soil enzyme activities in two soils containing low (LOC) and high (HOC) organic carbon contents and co-contaminated with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalic acid (DEHP) and cadmium (Cd). Biochar applications improved pH, salinity, carbon content, and cation exchange capacity of both soils. Addition of biochars significantly increased the bioavailability and uptake of phosphorus and potassium in the plants in both soils with greater effects from pig biochar than wood biochar. Biochar additions also significantly enhanced urease, sucrase, and catalase activities, but suppressed acid phosphatase activity in both soils. The impact of pig biochar was stronger on urease and acid phosphatase, while the wood biochar was more effective with sucrase and catalase activities. The biomass yield of pak choi was significantly increased after biochar addition to both soils, especially in 2% pig biochar treatment in the LOC soil. The positive response of soil enzymes activities and plant growth for biochar addition to the Cd and DEHP co-contaminated soils indicate that both biochars, particularly the pig biochar can mitigate the risk of these pollutants and prove to be eco-friendly and low-cost amendments for reclaiming these degraded soils.

Keywords: Charcoal; Degraded land; Nutrients availability; Soil biology; Soil restoration.

MeSH terms

Animals
Biological Availability
Charcoal
Metals
Phthalic Acids
Soil Pollutants*
Soil*
Swine
Wood

Substances

Metals
Phthalic Acids
Soil
Soil Pollutants
biochar
Charcoal
phthalic acid