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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology
Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
ISSN: 1735-1472 EISSN: 1735-1472
Vol. 13, No. 10, 2016, pp. 2467-2474
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Bioline Code: st16229
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology, Vol. 13, No. 10, 2016, pp. 2467-2474
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Biochar effects on metal bioaccumulation and arsenic speciation in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L. ) grown in contaminated soil
Ibrahim, M.; Khan, S.; Hao, X. & Li, G.
Abstract
Mining and geogenic activities can lead to elevated
concentrations of potentially toxic elements in soil.
Biochar amendment to soil is a cost-effective technology
and environmentally friendly approach to control soil
pollution, improve phytoremediation and mitigate health
risks due to agricultural products. Greenhouse pot experiments
were conducted to investigate the effects of rice husk
biochar on alfalfa biomass, metal bioaccumulation and
arsenic speciation. Results indicated that rice husk biochar
amendments to contaminated soil increased plants biomass
by improving soil fertility and available nutrients. Biochar
also increased soil cation change capacity, dissolved
organic carbon, while decreased available concentrations
of potentially toxic elements (except for arsenic). The
accumulation of nickel, lead, cadmium and zinc (except for
chromium and arsenic) significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased
as compared with unamended control plants. In addition,
increases were observed for inorganic arsenite and
arsenate. Current findings demonstrate that rice husk biochar
can be used as a beneficial amendment for contaminated
soil. However, further field experiments are needed
to validate its long-term effectiveness where environmental
factors are diverse and complex.
Keywords
Alfalfa; Arsenic speciation; Biochar; Metals bioaccumulation
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