title: Effect of biochar on cadmium bioavailability and uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in a soil with aged contamination.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known and widespread toxic heavy metal while the effects of biochar (BC) on Cd bioavailability and toxicity in wheat, especially in soils with aged contamination are largely unknown. In the present study, the effect of rice straw BC on Cd immobilization in soil and uptake by wheat in an agricultural contaminated-soil was investigated. Different levels of rice straw BC (0%, 1.5%, 3.0% and 5% w/w) were incorporated into the soil and incubated for two weeks. After this, wheat plants were grown in the amended soil until maturity. The results show that the BC treatments increased the soil and soil solution pH and silicon contents in the plant tissues and in the soil solution while decreased the bioavailable Cd in soil. The BC application increased the plant-height, spike-length, shoot and root dry mass and grain yield in a dose additive manner when compared with control treatment. As compared to control, BC application increased the photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange parameters in leaves. Biochar treatments decreased the oxidative stress while increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes in shoots compared to the control. The BC treatments decreased the Cd and Ni while increased Zn and Mn concentrations in shoots, roots, and grains of wheat compared to the control. As compared to the control, Cd concentration in wheat grains decreased by 26%, 42%, and 57% after the application of 1.5%, 3.0%, and 5.0% BC respectively. Overall, the application of rice straw BC might be effective in immobilization of metal in the soil and reducing its uptake and translocation to grains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: mrazi1532@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizwan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shafaqat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zia-Ur-Rehman
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farooq Qayyum
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fakhir
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hannan
authors.affiliation: University of Wuppertal, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rinklebe
authors.affiliation: Korea Biochar Research Centre and Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sik Ok
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry; D010154:Pakistan; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C540010:biochar; D002104:Cadmium; D002606:Charcoal
keywords: Bioavailability; Grain yield; Heavy metals; Photosynthesis; Rice straw biochar