Influence of Aged Biochar Modified by Cd 2+ on Soil Properties and Microbial Community

Kun Li, Guangcai Yin, Qiuyuan Xu, Junhua Yan, Zeng-Yei Hseu, Liwei Zhu and Qintie Lin
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Kun Li: Guangdong Industrial Contaminated Site Remediation Technology and Equipment Engineering Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Guangcai Yin: Guangdong Industrial Contaminated Site Remediation Technology and Equipment Engineering Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Qiuyuan Xu: Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Junhua Yan: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
Zeng-Yei Hseu: Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Liwei Zhu: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
Qintie Lin: Guangdong Industrial Contaminated Site Remediation Technology and Equipment Engineering Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Biochar is a promising addition for cadmium-contaminated soil in-situ remediation, but its surface properties change after aging, cadmium adsorption is not well-documented, and subsequent environmental effects are still unknown. In this study, wood-derived ( Eucalyptus saligna Sm.) biochar was pre-treated to simulate aging and the cadmium sorption process. We then analyzed the resulting physicochemical characteristics. We conducted comparative incubation studies on three age stages of biochar under cadmium adsorption or no cadmium adsorption and then measured soil properties and microbial communities after incubation. Biochar addition raised soil organic carbon (SOC), and aging significantly increased C/N ratios. Aged biochar promoted higher microbial abundance. Aged biochar treatments possessed different microflora with more gram-positive bacteria, significantly altering gram-positive/gram-negative bacteria ratios. Aging significantly increased the oxygen-containing functional groups (OCFGs) and surface area (SA) of biochar. Thus, aged biochar adsorbed more cadmium. Cadmium-binding biochar increased the proportion of gram-negative bacteria and decreased the proportions of gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Similar patterns in phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) across adsorption treatments indicated that changes in microbial communities due to the effects of cadmium were confined. The results reveal that biochar aging altered microbial community structure and function more than cadmium binding.

Keywords: biochar aging; cadmium adsorption; soil property; microbial community (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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