Sorption, desorption, and degradation of (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid in representative soils of the Danubian Lowland, Slovakia

Herbicide leaching through soil into groundwater greatly depends upon sorption-desorption and degradation phenomena. Batch adsorption, desorption and degradation experiments were performed with acidic herbicide MCPA and three soil types collected from their respective soil horizons. MCPA was found to be weakly sorbed by the soils with Freundlich coefficient values ranging from 0.37 to 1.03 mg^1−1/n kg⁻¹ L^1/n. It was shown that MCPA sorption positively correlated with soil organic carbon content, humic and fulvic acid carbon contents, and negatively with soil pH. The importance of soil organic matter in MCPA sorption by soils was also confirmed by performing sorption experiments after soil organic matter removal. MCPA sorption in these treated soils decreased by 37-100% compared to the original soils. A relatively large part of the sorbed MCPA was released from soils into aqueous solution after four successive desorption steps, although some hysteresis occurred during desorption of MCPA from all soils. Both sorption and desorption were depth-dependent, the A soil horizons exhibited higher retention capacity of the herbicide than B or C soil horizons. Generally, MCPA sorption decreased in the presence of phosphate and low molecular weight organic acids. Degradation of MCPA was faster in the A soil horizons than the corresponding B or C soil horizons with half-life values ranging from 4.9 to 9.6 d in topsoils and from 11.6 to 23.4 d in subsoils.     

Effects of sewage sludge amendments on pesticide sorption and leaching through undisturbed Mediterranean soils

The Gharb region in Morocco is an important agricultural zone where soils receive pesticide treatments and organic amendments to increase yields. The groundwater aquifer in the Gharb region is relatively shallow and thus vulnerable. The objective of this work was to study the influence of organic amendments on diuron, cyhalofop-butyl and procymidone leaching through undisturbed soil columns. Two soils were sampled from the Gharb region, a Dehs (sandy soil) and a R’mel (loamy clay soil). Following elution (124.5 mm), the amount of pesticide residues in the leachates of the sandy soil (0.06–0.21 %) was lower than in those of the loamy clay soil (0.20–0.36 %), which was probably due to preferential flow through the loamy clay soil. The amount of procymidone leached through the amended soil columns was greater than the control for the sandy soil only. The organic amendments did not significantly influence diuron and cyhalofop-butyl leaching in either of the soils. The application of organic amendments affected the amounts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) eluted and thus pesticide leaching as a function of soil-type. Nevertheless, in some case, the formation of pesticide-DOM complexes appeared to promote pesticide leaching, thus increasing groundwater contamination risks.     

Effects of sewage sludge amendments on pesticide sorption and leaching through undisturbed Mediterranean soils

The Gharb region in Morocco is an important agricultural zone where soils receive pesticide treatments and organic amendments to increase yields. The groundwater aquifer in the Gharb region is relatively shallow and thus vulnerable. The objective of this work was to study the influence of organic amendments on diuron, cyhalofop-butyl and procymidone leaching through undisturbed soil columns. Two soils were sampled from the Gharb region, a Dehs (sandy soil) and a R'mel (loamy clay soil). Following elution (124.5 mm), the amount of pesticide residues in the leachates of the sandy soil (0.06-0.21 %) was lower than in those of the loamy clay soil (0.20-0.36 %), which was probably due to preferential flow through the loamy clay soil. The amount of procymidone leached through the amended soil columns was greater than the control for the sandy soil only. The organic amendments did not significantly influence diuron and cyhalofop-butyl leaching in either of the soils. The application of organic amendments affected the amounts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) eluted and thus pesticide leaching as a function of soil-type. Nevertheless, in some case, the formation of pesticide-DOM complexes appeared to promote pesticide leaching, thus increasing groundwater contamination risks.     

Factors influencing 2,4-D sorption and mineralization in soil

This study quantified 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] sorption and mineralization rates in five soils as influenced by soil characteristics and nutrient contents. Results indicated that 2.4-D was weakly sorbed by soil, with Freundlich distribution coefficients ranging from 0.81 to 2.89 microg(1 - 1/n) g(-1) mL(1/n). First-order mineralization rate constants varied from 0.03 to 0.26, corresponding to calculated mineralization half-lives of 3 and 22 days, respectively. Herbicide sorption generally increased with increasing soil organic carbon content, but the extent of 2,4-D sorption per unit organic carbon varied among the soils due to differences in soil pH, clay content and/or organic matter quality. Herbicide mineralization rates were greater in soils that sorbed more 2,4-D per unit organic carbon, and that had greater soil nitrogen contents. We conclude that the effect of sorption on herbicide degradation cannot be generalized without a better understanding of the effects of soil characteristics and nutrient content on herbicide behavior in soil.     

A lysimeter experiment to investigate temporal changes in the availability of pesticide residues for leaching

Leaching of three pesticides (isoproturon, chlorotoluron and triasulfuron) and a tracer (bromide) were determined in four contrasting soils ranging in texture from sandy loam to clay. The compounds were applied to undisturbed columns of soil and four columns for each soil were randomly selected and leached with 24-mm equivalent of water at prescribed time intervals (3, 9, 24, 37 and 57 d after application). A rapid decline in leached loads of isoproturon and chlorotoluron as time from application to irrigation increased was observed in all soils. In contrast, triasulfuron and bromide loads only decreased rapidly in the clay soil. Bromide losses decreased with decreasing clay contents of the soil and therefore with a decrease in structural development. Magnitudes of pesticide losses varied from soil to soil, depending on structural development and the organic carbon content. Pesticide degradation experiments on disturbed and undisturbed soil samples showed that the rapid decline of leached loads with time was faster than could be explained by degradation alone. Five physico-chemical processes are put forward to explain the different patterns of pesticide leached loads observed in the soils: (1) relative extent of preferential flow, (2) sorption capacity of the compounds to the different soils, (3) extent of degradation of the compounds in the soil, (4) variation in sorption kinetics between compounds associated with pesticide diffusion into soil aggregates, and (5) protection of the compounds by a combination of intra-aggregate diffusion and the presence of preferential flow pathways.     

Influence of selected cyclodextrins in sorption-desorption of chlorpyrifos,chlorothalonil, diazinon,and their main degradation products on different soils

Cyclodextrins (CDs) can improve the apparent solubility and bioavailability of a variety of organic compounds through the formation of inclusion complexes; accordingly, they are suitable for application in innovative remediation technologies of contaminated soils. However, the different interactions in the tertiary system CD/contaminant/soil matrix can affect the bioavailability of the inclusion complex through the possible sorption of CD and CD complex in the soil matrix, as well as with the potential of the sorbed CD to form the complex, concurrent with the desorption processes. This work focuses in changes produced by three different CDs in soil sorption-desorption processes of chlorpyrifos (CPF), diazinon (DZN), and chlorothalonil (CTL), and their major degradation products, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP), 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol, and hydroxy-chlorothalonil (OH-CTL). Cyclodextrins used were β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), methyl-β-cyclodextrin (Mβ-CD), and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβ-CD). The studied soils belong to the orders Andisol, Ultisol, and Mollisol with different organic matter contents, mineral composition, and pH. The apparent sorption constants were significantly lower for the three pesticides in the presence of all CDs. The highest displacement of sorption equilibria was produced by the influence of Mβ-CD, with the most pronounced effect for CPF, a pesticide strongly sorbed on soils. The same was obtained for TCP and OH-CTL, highlighting the need to assess the risk of generating higher levels of groundwater contamination with polar metabolites if degradation rates are not controlled. The highest desorption efficiency was obtained for the systems CPF-β-CD, DZN-Mβ-CD, and CTL-Mβ-CD. Since the degree of adsorption of the complex is relevant to obtain an increase in the bioavailability of the contaminant, a distribution coefficient for the complexed pesticide in all CD–soil–pesticide system was estimated by using the apparent sorption coefficients, the stability constant for each CD–pesticide complex, and the distribution coefficients of free pesticide.     

Behaviour of simazine in soil amended with the final residue of the olive-oil extraction process

Addition of organic wastes to agricultural soils is becoming a common practice as a disposal strategy and to improve the physical and chemical soil properties. However, in order to optimise the use of organic wastes as soil amendments, their effect on the behaviour of other compounds that are also used in agriculture, such as pesticides, needs to be assessed. In this work, we have investigated the effects of the addition of the final solid residue of the new technology of olive-oil extraction (extracted alperujo or solid olive-mill waste, SOMW2) on the sorption, degradation and leaching of the herbicide simazine in a sandy loam soil. The results are compared with those of a previous study, where the intermediary by-product of the olive-oil processing technology (unextracted alperujo or SOMW1) was applied to the same soil. The soil was amended in the laboratory with SOMW2 at two different rates (5% and 10% w/w). Simazine sorption isotherms showed a great increase in herbicide sorption after SOMW2 addition to soil. SOMW2 addition also increased sorption irreversibility. Incubation studies revealed reduced biodegradation of simazine in the soil amended with SOMW2 compared to the unamended soil. Breakthrough curves of simazine in handpacked soil columns showed that SOMW2 addition retarded the vertical movement of the herbicide through the soil and greatly reduced the amount of herbicide available for leaching. Interestingly, the results were quantitatively different from those obtained for the intermediary by-product SOMW1, illustrating the importance of the specific characteristics of the organic amendment in determining its effect on pesticide behaviour.     

Sorption of naphthalene derivatives to soils from a long-term field experiment

The influence of long-term farming practices on the soil's behaviour to adsorb hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) over long times was investigated. Adsorption of five naphthalene derivatives (naphthalene, 1-naphthol, 1-naphthylamine, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, 1,4-naphthoquinone) was examined on soils with varying amounts and origins of soil organic matter obtained after amendment with different organic materials over more than 40 years. Soil organic matter, pore sizes and aggregate stability were significantly altered influencing the adsorption behaviour of the soils. Samples of soil amended with peat having an organic carbon content of 3.4% sorbed naphthalene derivatives stronger than the soil treated with sewage sludge (2.6% C(org)). All other treatments, calcium nitrate, plots without nitrogen fertilizers, grassland, animal manure, green manure and the fallowed soil sorbed less and no significant difference was found between them although the organic carbon content ranged from 1.0% to 2.6%. Thus, a decrease of the carbon content of a soil does not necessarily imply a reduction of sorption capacities for hydrophobic compounds such as naphthalene derivatives. Furthermore, the importance of protonation of HOCs for the adsorption on soil surfaces was shown. Different polarities of electronic structures of HOCs distinctly influence their adsorption behaviour.     

Factors Influencing 2,4-D Sorption and Mineralization in Soil

Abstract

This study quantified 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] sorption and mineralization rates in five soils as influenced by soil characteristics and nutrient contents. Results indicated that 2,4-D was weakly sorbed by soil, with Freundlich distribution coefficients ranging from 0.81 to 2.89 µg^1?1/n  g^?1 mL^{1/ n} . First-order mineralization rate constants varied from 0.03 to 0.26, corresponding to calculated mineralization half-lives of 3 and 22 days, respectively. Herbicide sorption generally increased with increasing soil organic carbon content, but the extent of 2,4-D sorption per unit organic carbon varied among the soils due to differences in soil pH, clay content and/or organic matter quality. Herbicide mineralization rates were greater in soils that sorbed more 2,4-D per unit organic carbon, and that had greater soil nitrogen contents. We conclude that the effect of sorption on herbicide degradation cannot be generalized without a better understanding of the effects of soil characteristics and nutrient content on herbicide behavior in soil.     

2,4-Dichlorophenoxy Acetic Acid Mineralization in Amended Soil

The application of municipal biosolid or liquid hog manure to agricultural soils under laboratory conditions at 20°C influenced the fate of the herbicide 2,4-D [2,4-(dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] in soil. When 2,4-D was added to soil at agronomic rates immediately after the addition of manure or biosolids to a coarse-textured soil, the percentage of 2,4-D mineralized at 100 days was about 47% for both treatments, compared to only 31% for control soils without amendments. The enhanced 2,4-D mineralization as a result of amendment addition was due to an increased heterotrophic microbial activity, with the greatest increases in soil respiration occurring for soils amended with biosolids. When additions of 2,4-D were delayed for one, two, or four weeks after the amendments were applied, the additions of amendments generally reduced 2,4-D mineralization in soil, particularly for manure, indicating that the effect of amendments on enhancing soil microbial activities diminished over time. In contrast, the mineralization of 2,4-D in control soils was less dependent on when 2,4-D was applied in relation to pre-incubations of soil for zero, one, two, or four weeks. The effect of manure on decreasing 2,4-D mineralization in specific soils was as large as the effect of soil texture on differences in 2,4-D mineralization across soils. Because manure was not found to impact 2,4-D sorption by soil, it is possible that 2,4-D mineralization decreased because 2,4-D transformation products were strongly sorbed onto organic carbon constituents in manure-amended soils and were therefore less accessible to microorganisms. Alternatively, microorganisms were less likely to metabolize the herbicide because they preferentially consumed the type of organic carbon in manure that is a weak sorbent for 2,4-D.     

A review of biochars' potential role in the remediation, revegetation and restoration of contaminated soils

Biochars are biological residues combusted under low oxygen conditions, resulting in a porous, low density carbon rich material. Their large surface areas and cation exchange capacities, determined to a large extent by source materials and pyrolysis temperatures, enables enhanced sorption of both organic and inorganic contaminants to their surfaces, reducing pollutant mobility when amending contaminated soils. Liming effects or release of carbon into soil solution may increase arsenic mobility, whilst low capital but enhanced retention of plant nutrients can restrict revegetation on degraded soils amended only with biochars; the combination of composts, manures and other amendments with biochars could be their most effective deployment to soils requiring stabilisation by revegetation. Specific mechanisms of contaminant-biochar retention and release over time and the environmental impact of biochar amendments on soil organisms remain somewhat unclear but must be investigated to ensure that the management of environmental pollution coincides with ecological sustainability.     

2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid mineralization in amended soil

The application of municipal biosolid or liquid hog manure to agricultural soils under laboratory conditions at 20 degrees C influenced the fate of the herbicide 2,4-D [2,4-(dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] in soil. When 2,4-D was added to soil at agronomic rates immediately after the addition of manure or biosolids to a coarse-textured soil, the percentage of 2,4-D mineralized at 100 days was about 47% for both treatments, compared to only 31% for control soils without amendments. The enhanced 2,4-D mineralization as a result of amendment addition was due to an increased heterotrophic microbial activity, with the greatest increases in soil respiration occurring for soils amended with biosolids. When additions of 2,4-D were delayed for one, two, or four weeks after the amendments were applied, the additions of amendments generally reduced 2,4-D mineralization in soil, particularly for manure, indicating that the effect of amendments on enhancing soil microbial activities diminished over time. In contrast, the mineralization of 2,4-D in control soils was less dependent on when 2,4-D was applied in relation to pre-incubations of soil for zero, one, two, or four weeks. The effect of manure on decreasing 2,4-D mineralization in specific soils was as large as the effect of soil texture on differences in 2,4-D mineralization across soils. Because manure was not found to impact 2,4-D sorption by soil, it is possible that 2,4-D mineralization decreased because 2,4-D transformation products were strongly sorbed onto organic carbon constituents in manure-amended soils and were therefore less accessible to microorganisms. Alternatively, microorganisms were less likely to metabolize the herbicide because they preferentially consumed the type of organic carbon in manure that is a weak sorbent for 2,4-D.     

Copper and zinc retention by an organically amended soil

This paper describes changes in retention of Cu and Zn in laboratory experiments by a sandy soil that had been amended in the field with different composted wastes. The amounts of the metals retained increased as a result of the amendments, especially after two years. Desorption of the sorbed metals was always negligible, regardless of the treatment. The proportion of Cu retained was considerably higher than that of Zn, suggesting a higher affinity of the soil for the former. The greater sorption in the amended soils indicates a build-up of fresh sites for metal retention.The use of 'log(activity) vs. pH' plots showed that the nature of the surfaces retaining metals on the untreated and amended soils is different. At comparable pH values, the amended soils gave higher solution metal concentrations. Some of the possible environmental consequences of the use of these amendments for remediation purposes are discussed.     

Reduction of the movement and persistence of pesticides in soil through common agronomic practices

Laboratory and field studies were conducted in order to determine the leaching potential of eight pesticides commonly used during pepper cultivation by use of disturbed soil columns and field lysimeters, respectively. Two soils with different organic matter content (soils A and B) were used. Additionally, soil B was amended with compost (sheep manure). The tested compounds were cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos-methyl, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin, endosulfan, malathion and tolclofos-methyl. In soil B (lower organic matter content), only endosulfan sulphate, malathion and tolclofos-methyl were found in leachates. For the soil A (higher organic matter content) and amended soil B, pesticide residues were not found in the leachates. In addition, this paper reports on the use of common agronomic practices (solarization and biosolarization) to enhance degradation of these pesticides from polluted soil A. The results showed that both solarization and biosolarization enhanced the degradation rates of endosulfan, bifenthrin and tolclofos-methyl compared with the control. Most of the studied pesticides showed similar behavior under solarization and biosolarization conditions. However, chlorpyrifos was degraded to a greater extent in the solarization than in biosolarization treatment. The results obtained point to the interest in the use of organic amendment in reducing the pollution of groundwater by pesticide drainage and in the use of solarization and biosolarization in reducing the persistence of pesticides in soil.     

Carbon deposition in soil rhizosphere following amendments with compost and its soluble fractions, as evaluated by combined soil-plant rhizobox and reporter gene systems

We determined the organic carbon released by roots of maize plants (Zea mays L.) when grown in soils amended with compost and its soluble fractions. In rhizobox systems, soil and roots are separated from the soil of a lower compartment by a nylon membrane. Treatments are applied to the upper compartment, while in the lower compartment luminescent biosensors measure the bioavailable organic carbon released by roots (rhizodeposition). The rhizobox-plants systems were amended with a compost (COM), its water extract (TEA), the hydrophobic (HoDOM) and hydrophilic (HiDOM) fractions of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) extracted from the compost. After root development, the lower untreated compartments were sampled and sliced into thin layers. The bioavailable organic carbon in each layer was assessed with the lux-marked biosensor Pseudomonas fluorescens 10586 pUCD607, and compared with total organic carbon (TOC) analyses. The TOC values ranged between 8.4 and 9.6 g kg(-1) and did not show any significant differences between bulk and rhizosphere soil samples in any treatment. Conversely, the biosensor detected significant differences in available C compounds for rhizosphere soils amended with various organic materials. Concentrations of available organic compounds in the first 2 mm of soil rhizosphere were 1.69 (control), 1.09 (COM), 2.87 (HiDOM), 4.73 (HoDOM) and 2.14 (TEA)micromol Cg(-1) soil g(-1) roots. The applied rhizobox-biosensor integrated method was successful in detecting and quantifying effects of organic amendments on organic carbon released by maize plant roots. This approach may become important in assessing the carbon cycle in agricultural soils and soil-atmosphere compartments.     

Characteristics of oxytetracycline sorption and potential bioavailability in soils with various physical-chemical properties

Veterinary antibiotics are widely used for disease treatment, prevention and animal growth promoting. Frequent detection of veterinary antibiotics in environments, caused by land application of untreated or even treated antibiotics-containing animal wastes, has posed the growing concern of their adverse effect on natural ecosystems. Oxytetracycline (OTC) is one of the most widely-used veterinary antibiotics in livestock industry. OTC present as a cation, zwitterions, or net negatively charged ion in soils complicates predicting its sorption characteristics and potential bioavailability and toxicity. This study was to identify soil properties influencing OTC sorption and its subsequent bioavailability in five soils with various physical-chemical properties. A solution used to determine bioavailable analytes in soils and sediments, 1 M MgCl₂ (pH 8.5), was chosen to desorb the potentially bioavailable fraction of OTC sorbed onto soils. Our results demonstrated that soils with higher illite content and permanent cation exchange capacity have higher OTC sorption capacity, but increase the availability of sorbed OTC indicated by higher release of sorbed OTC from soils into aqueous phase in 1 M MgCl₂ (pH 8.5). Reversely, soil organic matter (SOM), clay, kaolinite, variable cation exchange capacity, DCB-Fe and -Al have lower OTC sorption capacity, but decrease the release of sorbed OTC from soils into 1 M MgCl₂. These findings indicate that SOM and clay greatly influence OTC adsorption and potential availability. This study contributes significantly to our understanding of the potential bioavailability of sorbed OTC and the effects of soil properties on OTC sorption behaviors in soils.     

Carbendazim sorption-desorption in Vietnamese soils

Four Vietnamese soils (denoted AG, CT, ST and TG) which differed with respect to pH (pH 2.9-5.4), clay (17-50%) and organic matter (0.3-9.8%) content, were selected for sorption and desorption studies of carbendazim using the batch equilibration technique. Sorption increased with increasing organic carbon (OC) and clay content. Kd values for carbendazim sorption on AG, CT, ST, TG soils at initial concentration of 20 microg/g were 12.5, 127, 8.1 and 9.6 ml/g, respectively. The OC partition coefficients (Koc) for AG, CT, ST and TG were 1140, 1300, 2700 and 960 ml/g, respectively. Carbendazim was strongly sorbed and the binding was less reversible in the acid sulfate soil (CT), than in the other soils. The CT soil had both the highest OC content (9.8%) and the highest clay content (49.8%). The influence of pH on carbendazim sorption was studied in the ST and CT soils. Sorption of carbendazim by the sandy ST soil (OC 0.3%; clay content 26.3%) increased as the pH decreased, while sorption of carbendazim by the CT soil decreased as pH decreased.     

Sorption kinetics of atrazine and diuron in soils from southern Brazil

Sorption kinetics of atrazine and diuron was evaluated in soil samples from a typical landscape in Paraná. Samples were collected (0-20 cm) in a no-tillage area from Mamborê, PR, which has been cultivated under a crop rotation for the last six years. Six sampling points of the slope were selected to represent a wide range of soil chemical and physical properties found in this area. Radiolabeled tracers (14C-atrazine and 14C-diuron) were used and the radioactivity was detected by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). Sorption was accomplished for increasing equilibration periods (0.5, 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h). Kinetics data fitted adequately well to Elovich equation, providing evidences that soil reaction occurs in two distinct stages: a fast, initial one followed by a slower one. During the fast phase, 34-42 and 71-79% of total atrazine and diuron applied were sorbed to soil samples. No important differences were found among combinations of soil and herbicide sorption during the slow phase. The unrealistic conditions under batch experiments should be overestimating sorption in the fast phase and underestimating diffusion in the slow phase. Sorption of both herbicides was positively correlated to organic carbon and clay contents of soils, but atrazine was much less sorbed than diuron, showing its higher potential to contaminate groundwater, specially in sandy, low organic carbon soils.     

Persistence and biodegradation of carbaryl in soils

Abstract

The persistence of the methylcarbamate pesticide carbaryl was studied in four soils under flooded conditions. A substantial portion of the pesticide was recovered from all soils even after 15 days of its application, with the recovery ranging from 37% in an alluvial soil to 73% in an acid sulfate soil. The degradation of carbaryl was more rapid under flooded conditions than under nonflooded conditions. A bacterium, Pseudomonas cepacia, isolated from a flooded soil amended with a related methylcarbamate pesticide carbofuran, degraded carbaryl in a mineral medium supplemented with yeast extract.     

Influence of soil properties on heavy metal sequestration by biochar amendment: 2. Copper desorption isotherms

Contaminant desorption constrains the long-term effectiveness of remediation technologies, and is strongly influenced by dynamic non-equilibrium states of environmental and biological media. Information is currently lacking in the influence of biochar and activated carbon amendments on desorption of heavy metal contaminants from soil components. In this study, copper sorption-desorption isotherms were obtained for clay-rich, alkaline San Joaquin soil with significant heavy metal sorption capacity, and eroded, acidic Norfolk sandy loam soil having low capacity to retain copper. Acidic pecan shell-derived activated carbon and basic broiler litter biochar were employed in desorption experiments designed to address both leaching by rainfall and toxicity characteristics. For desorption in synthetic rain water, broiler litter biochar amendment diminished sorption-desorption hysteresis. In acetate buffer (pH 4.9), significant copper leaching was observed, unless acidic activated carbon (pH_pzc = 3.07) was present. Trends observed in soluble phosphorus and zinc concentrations for sorption and desorption equilibria suggested acid dissolution of particulate phases that can result in a concurrent release of copper and other sorbed elements. In contrast, sulfur and potassium became depleted as a result of supernatant replacements only when amended carbon (broiler litter biochar) or soil (San Joaquin) contained appreciable amounts. A positive correlation was observed between the equilibrium aluminum concentration and initial copper concentration in soils amended with acidic activated carbon but not basic biochar, suggesting the importance of cation exchange mechanism, while dissolution of aluminum oxides cannot be ruled out.