Effects of Applying Biochar on Soil Cadmium Immobilisation and Cadmium Pollution Control in Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.)

Lina Zhou, Leijinyu Zhou, Hongbo Wu, Jinsheng Li, Lijuan Kong and Haoyu Yang ()
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Lina Zhou: College of Engineering and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Leijinyu Zhou: College of Engineering and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Hongbo Wu: College of Engineering and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Jinsheng Li: College of Engineering and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Lijuan Kong: College of Engineering and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Haoyu Yang: State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: In order to analyse the impact of biochar in terms of reducing the bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) in soil, a study was conducted on the solidification effect of biochar on soil cadmium and its resistance to cadmium contamination in lettuce. In this study, soil which was contaminated with 10 mg/kg cadmium was used as the substrate; corn, rice, and wheat straw biochar were used as solidification and amendment materials; and lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids ) was used as the test plant. The morphological characteristics of the biochar, soil pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and soil-available Cd, as well as lettuce plant height, fresh weight, and leaf Cd content, were measured and analysed. The results showed that all three types of biochar possessed distinct porous structures and functional groups such as hydroxyl, ether, and carbonyl groups. Increases in soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), lettuce plant height, and fresh weight were effectively promoted. Additionally, a significant reduction in the available Cd content in the soil and Cd content in lettuce leaves was observed, with the inhibitory effect becoming more pronounced as the biochar application rate increased. When 5% corn straw biochar was added (1 kg of substrate with 50 g of biochar), the best inhibitory effect on Cd contamination was observed, with a cadmium content of 4.63 mg/kg in lettuce leaves. The available Cd in the soil and the Cd content in lettuce leaves decreased by 32.00% and 49.78%, respectively, compared to the CK group (without biochar treatment). Additionally, the plant height and fresh weight of lettuce increased by 25.56% and 31.31%, respectively, compared to the CK group. This indicated that the application of straw biochar can stabilise soil Cd, reduce the availability of Cd in the soil, inhibit the transfer of Cd into lettuce, promote the growth of lettuce, and lower the ecological environmental risk of Cd. These research results can provide a theoretical basis and scientific guidance for the remediation of soil Cd contamination and the safe production of lettuce.

Keywords: Cd; biochar; inhibition; growth; ameliorative effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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