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The compound effects of biochar and iron on watercress in a Cd/Pb–contaminated soil

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Abstract

Pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two types of biochar (2% (w/w)), Pennisetum sinese Roxb biochar (PB) and coffee grounds biochar (CB), combined with iron fertilizer (1.3 g kg−1 Fe) on the growth, quality, Cd/Pb accumulation in watercress, soil physicochemical properties, soil fertility, soil enzyme activities, and fraction distribution of Cd/Pb in soil. The results showed that the two types of biochar combined with iron fertilizer (BC-Fe) amendments could increase the shoot height, root length, plant biomass, soluble sugar and soluble protein of watercress, soil pH value, soil organic matter (SOM), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), available phosphorus, and available potassium. CB-Fe amendment enhanced soil urease, sucrose, and catalase activities, while PB-Fe amendment only enhanced soil urease activity among the three enzymes. The two BC-Fe amendments decreased exchangeable-Cd/Pb and reducible-Cd/Pb concentrations, while enhanced oxidizable-Cd/Pb and residual-Cd/Pb concentrations. Furthermore, the two BC-Fe amendments decreased significantly Cd and Pb accumulation in watercress root and shoot. The reduction rate for Cd and Pb in shoot by 42.9%, 20.0%, and 68.2%, 58.4% under PB-Fe and by 38.1%, 20%, and 62.5%, 48.8% under CB-Fe, respectively, for the first crop and the second crop. In conclusion, BC-Fe amendment could improve soil physicochemical properties and soil fertility, promote Cd and Pb transfer to the stable form, thus, reduce the bioavailability and mobility of Cd and Pb, and further, decrease Cd and Pb ecotoxicity and its accumulation in watercress and improve watercress quality.

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Funding

This work was co-funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFD0801500), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2019A1515012177), and the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (201903010012).

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  1. Bozhong Yu and Dongqin Li contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Bozhong Yu, Dongqin Li, Yahui Wang, Hongzhi He, Huashou Li & Guikui Chen

  2. College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Guangzhou, 510642, People’s Republic of China

    Bozhong Yu, Yahui Wang, Hongzhi He, Huashou Li & Guikui Chen

  3. Life Science and Technology School, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang, 524048, People’s Republic of China

    Dongqin Li

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  1. Bozhong Yu
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Correspondence to Guikui Chen.

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Yu, B., Li, D., Wang, Y. et al. The compound effects of biochar and iron on watercress in a Cd/Pb–contaminated soil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 6312–6325 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07353-7

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