Enrichment and solubility of trace metals associated with magnetic extracts in industrially derived contaminated soils

Magnetic fractions (MFs) in industrially derived contaminated soils were extracted with a magnetic separation procedure. Total, soluble, and bioaccessible Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in the MFs and non-magnetic fractions (NMFs) were analyzed using aqua regia and extraction tests, such as deionized water, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), and gastric juice simulation (GJST) test. Compared with the non-magnetic fractions, soil MFs were enriched with Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni. Extraction tests indicated that soil MFs contained higher water, TCLP, and GJST-extractable Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations than the soil NMFs. The TCLP-extractable Pb concentration in the MFs exceeded the USEPA hazardous waste criteria, suggesting that soil MFs have a potentially environmental pollution risk. Solubility of trace metals was variable in the different extraction tests, which has the order of GJST?>?TCLP?>?water. TCLP test showed Cu and Zn were more mobile than Cr and Pb while bioaccessibility of trace metal defined by GJST test showed the order of Cu?≈?Cr?≈?Zn?>?Pb. These findings suggested that the MFs in the industrially derived contaminated soils had higher possibility of polluting water bodies, and careful environmental impact assessment was necessary.     

Biosolids application affects the competitive sorption and lability of cadmium,copper, nickel,lead, and zinc in fluvial and calcareous soils

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of biosolids on the competitive sorption and lability of the sorbed Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in fluvial and calcareous soils. Competitive sorption isotherms were developed, and the lability of these metals was estimated by DTPA extraction following their sorption. Sorption of all metals was higher in the fluvial than in the calcareous soil. Sorption of Cu and Pb was stronger than that of Cd, Ni, and Zn in all soils. Biosolids application (2.5%) reduced the sorption of all metals especially Cu and Pb (28–43%) in both soils (especially the calcareous soil) at the lower added metal concentrations (50 and 100 mg L^?1). However, it increased the sorption of all metals especially Pb and Cu in both soils (especially the calcareous soil; 15.5-fold for Cu) at the higher added concentrations (250 and 300 mg L^?1). Nickel showed the highest lability followed by Cd, Zn, and Pb in both soils. Biosolids increased the lability of the sorbed Ni in the fluvial soils at all added concentrations and the lability of Cd, Pb, and Zn at 50 mg L^?1, but decreased the lability of Cd, Pb, and Zn at 250 and 300 mg L^?1 in both soils. We conclude that at low loading rate (e.g., 50 mg L^?1) biosolids treatment might increase the lability and environmental risk of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. However, at high loading rate (e.g., 300 mg L^?1) biosolids may be used as an immobilizing agent for Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and mobilizing agent for Ni.     

Assessment of toxicity of heavy metal contaminated soils by the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure

The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in soils near a lead–zinc mine located in Shangyu, Zhejiang Province, China, were determined and their toxicity was assessed using the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The TCLP method is a currently recognized international method for evaluation of heavy metal pollution in soils. The available levels of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd were 8.2–36, 23–143, 6.4–1367 and 0.41–2.2 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, while the international standards were 15, 25, 5 and 0.5 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Soils around the mine were more polluted with Zn and Pb, followed by Cd and Cu. Moreover, the levels of heavy metals in the soils extracted by TCLP indicated that extraction fluid 2 was more effective than extraction fluid 1 in extracting the heavy metals from the polluted soils and there was a positive correlation between fluids 1 and 2. Available heavy metal contents determined by TCLP were correlated with soil total heavy metal contents.     

TCLP法评价酸性矿山废水污染稻田土壤重金属的生态风险

采用美国最新的法定重金属污染评价方法TCLP(Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure,TCLP)法对粤北大宝山矿山下游受酸性矿山废水长期污染的稻田土壤的重金属(Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu)污染状况进行评价,以国际规定的TCLP法标准评价重金属生态环境风险.结果表明,TCLP试剂提取的土壤重金属Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn含量分别在0.02～0.58、1.42～38.07、0.16-31.01和1.84～75.29 mg·kg-1之间.酸性矿山废水污染稻田土壤不同程度地受到Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn的污染,其中以Pb、Zn污染最为严重,其次为Cu污染,Cd污染程度最轻.     

Phosphates for Pb immobilization in soils: a review

In its soluble ionic forms, lead (Pb) is a toxic element occurring in waters and soils mainly as the result of human activities. The bioavailability of lead ions can be decreased by complexation with various materials in order to decrease their toxicity. Pb chemical immobilization using phosphate addition is a widely accepted technique to immobilize Pb from aqueous solution and contaminated soils. The application of different P amendments cause Pb in soils to shift from forms with high availability to the most strongly bound Pb fractions. The increase of Pb in the residual or insoluble fraction results from formation of pyromorphite Pb₅(PO₄)₃X where X = F, Cl, Br, OH, the most stable environmental Pb compounds under a wide range of pH and Eh natural conditions. Accidental pyromorphite ingestion does not yield bioavailable lead, because pyromorphite is insoluble in the intestinal tract. Numerous natural and synthetic phosphates materials have been used to immobilize Pb: apatite and hydroxyapatite, biological apatite, rock phosphate, soluble phosphate fertilizers such as monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, phosphoric acid, biosolids rich in P, phosphatic clay and mixtures. The identification of pyromorphite in phosphate amended soils has been carried out by different non destructive techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray absorption fine structure, transmission electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The effectiveness of in situ Pb immobilization has also been evaluated by selective sequential extraction, by the toxicity leaching procedure and by a physiologically based extraction procedure simulating metal ingestion and gastrointestinal bioavailability to humans. Efficient Pb immobilization using P amendments requires increasing the solubility of the phosphate phase and of the Pb species phase by inducing acid conditions. Although phosphorus addition seems to be highly effective, excess P in soil and its potential effect on eutrophication of surface water, and the possibility of As enhanced leaching remains a concern. The use of mixed treatments may be a useful strategy to improve their effectiveness in reducing lead phyto- and bioavailability.     

Natural and synthesised iron-rich amendments for As and Pb immobilisation in agricultural soil

The immobilisation of heavy metals in contaminated soils is a promising alternative to conventional remediation techniques. Very few studies have focused on the use of iron-rich nanomaterials and natural materials for the adsorption of toxic metals in soils. Synthesised iron-rich nanomaterials (Fe and Zr–Fe oxides) and natural iron-rich materials (natural red earth; NRE) were used to immobilise As and Pb in contaminated agricultural soil. Total concentrations of As and Pb in the initial soil (as control) were 170.76 and 1945.11 mg kg^?1, respectively. Amendments were applied into the soil at 1, 2.5 and 5% (w/w) in triplicate and incubated for 150 days. Except for the NRE-amended soil, soil pH decreased from 5.6 to 4.9 with increasing application rates of Fe and Zr–Fe oxides. With addition of Fe and Zr–Fe oxides at 5%, the ammonium acetate (NHO₄Ac)-extractable Pb was greatly decreased by 83 and 65% compared with NRE addition (43%). All subjected amendments also led to a decrease in NHO₄Ac-extractable As in the soils, indicating the high capacity of As immobilisation. Soil amended with NRE showed a lower ratio of cy19:0 to 18:1ω7c, indicating decreased microbial stress. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure produced results similar to the NHO₄Ac extraction for As and Pb. The NRE addition is recommended for immobilising heavy metals and maintaining biological soil properties.     

Toxic elements leaching in different soils affected by the spill from the aznalcollar pyrite mine (Sevilla,Spain)

A study has been made of the leaching of Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Tl and As in three representative soils of the zone affected by the spill from a pyrite mine in Aznalcollar (Sevilla, Spain) employing packed soil columns. According to the breakthrough and cumulative leaching curves, the relative mobilities of the different toxic elements in the columns are as follows: Tl > Cd > Zn > As > Cu > Pb. The results also show that the soils themselves have a good capacity for immobilizing the soluble fraction of the elements from the spilled mud, this capacity varying as follows: clayey soil with a high carbonate content > clayey soil with a moderate carbonate content > sandy‐clay loam soil with a low carbonate content. The results obtained in the work are a valuable contribution to the necessary assessment of the impact of the toxic spill on underground waters.     

海泡石和磷酸盐对镉铅污染稻田土壤的钝化修复效应与机理研究

采用盆栽实验,研究了海泡石、酸改性海泡石以及二者与磷酸盐联合使用对镉铅复合污染稻田土壤的钝化修复效果,并通过培养实验和重金属形态分析探讨了不同钝化剂处理的作用机理。结果表明：添加海泡石可以显著提高污染土壤pH值,而磷酸盐和改性海泡石则对土壤pH值无显著影响。钝化处理能显著降低土壤TCLP提取态Cd、Pb的质量分数,最大降低率分别可达23.3%和47.2%,钝化剂复配处理对土壤TCLP提取态重金属的抑制效果优于单一处理。施用海泡石和磷酸盐,通过提高土壤pH值、物理化学吸附以及生成矿物沉淀等作用,可以促进污染土壤中的Cd、Pb由活性高的交换态向活性低的残渣态转化,从而显著降低Cd、Pb的生物有效性和迁移能力。添加钝化剂可以显著提高水稻各部位的产量,稻谷和稻草的最大增产率分别为34.3%和26.6%;钝化剂复配处理对水稻的增产作用明显优于单一处理。施用钝化剂可以显著降低水稻各部位的Cd、Pb质量分数,最大可使精米的Cd、Pb质量分数分别降低35.8%和40.9%,钝化剂复配处理对水稻吸收Cd、Pb的抑制作用明显优于单一处理,海泡石和磷酸盐复配处理中精米的Cd、Pb质量分数符合国家食品卫生标准要求。综合分析不同钝化处理的增产作用、降低作物Cd、Pb吸收以及土壤Cd、Pb可迁移性的作用可知,海泡石与磷酸盐复配处理对稻田土壤Cd、Pb复合污染的钝化修复效果最佳。     

Impact of natural and calcined starfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Asterina pectinifera</Emphasis>) on the stabilization of Pb,Zn and As in contaminated agricultural soil

Metal stabilization using soil amendments is an extensively applied, economically viable and environmentally friendly remediation technique. The stabilization of Pb, Zn and As in contaminated soils was evaluated using natural starfish (NSF) and calcined starfish (CSF) wastes at different application rates (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 wt%). An incubation study was conducted over 14 months, and the efficiency of stabilization for Pb, Zn and As in soil was evaluated by the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test. The TCLP-extractable Pb was reduced by 76.3–100 and 91.2–100 % in soil treated with NSF and CSF, respectively. The TCLP-extractable Zn was also reduced by 89.8–100 and 93.2–100 % in soil treated with NSF and CSF, respectively. These reductions could be associated with the increased metal adsorption and the formation of insoluble metal precipitates due to increased soil pH following application of the amendments. However, the TCLP-extractable As was increased in the soil treated with NSF, possibly due to the competitive adsorption of phosphorous. In contrast, the TCLP-extractable As in the 10 % CSF treatment was not detectable because insoluble Ca–As compounds might be formed at high pH values. Thermodynamic modeling by visual MINTEQ predicted the formation of ettringite (Ca₆Al₂(SO₄)₃(OH)₁₂·26H₂O) and portlandite (Ca(OH)₂) in the 10 % CSF-treated soil, while SEM–EDS analysis confirmed the needle-like structure of ettringite in which Pb was incorporated and stabilized in the 10 % CSF treatment.     

Urban Geochemistry: A Multimedia and Multielement Survey of a Small Town in Northern Europe

The concentrations and distributions of chemical elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W and Zn) were studied in till, humus and urban soil in Jakobstad, a small town (20,000 inhabitants) in W. Finland. The analyses were performed with ICP-MS after aqua regia leaching of till (n = 37), urban topsoil (n = 32) and subsoil (n = 32), and HNO3 leaching of humus (n = 37). The till and humus samples, collected at the same sites, were divided into urban and rural samples. The urban till was not significantly enriched in metals. In contrast, a majority of the elements occurred in higher concentrations in the urban than the rural humus samples. Statistical and spatial interpretations of the humus data revealed that traffic (Pb, V and Ni), metal industry (Pb, Zn, Bi, Sb and Cr), an abandoned shooting range (Pb and Sb) and other sources contribute to higher metal levels in the urban humus. The urban soil samples were collected at parks, yards, abandoned industrial sites, roadsides, etc. The topsoil samples were enriched in most elements, also by elements not enriched in the urban humus (e.g. Cd). At several sites, the concentrations far exceeded the limit concentrations for contaminated soils in Finland. A large variety of sources were identified or indicated.     

广西刁江流域Cd和Pb复合污染稻田土壤的钝化修复

采用田间小区试验,研究施用海泡石、石灰和磷酸盐对广西刁江流域Cd和Pb复合污染稻田土壤的钝化修复效应,并通过土壤重金属形态分析探讨不同钝化剂的作用机理。结果表明,添加钝化剂可显著提高稻谷和秸秆产量,最大增产率分别可达25．4％和28．3％,其中海泡石与磷酸盐复配处理增产效果最佳。施用钝化剂可以有效降低水稻各部位重金属含量,水稻糙米Cd和Pb含量最大降幅可达65．12％和61．86％;钝化剂复配处理对水稻地上部Cd和Pb含量的降低效果明显优于单一处理,其中海泡石和磷酸盐或石灰复配处理糙米cd含量符合GB2762--2005《食品中污染物限量》。不同钝化处理均能显著降低土壤TCLP（毒性特性浸出程序）提取态cd和Pb含量,最大降幅分别为28．86％和45．60％,其中钝化剂复配处理对土壤TCLP提取态重金属的抑制效果优于单一钝化处理。总体而言,海泡石与磷酸盐复配处理对广西刁江流域重金属复合污染稻田土壤的钝化修复作用最佳。     

Efficacy of woody biomass and biochar for alleviating heavy metal bioavailability in serpentine soil

Crops grown in metal-rich serpentine soils are vulnerable to phytotoxicity. In this study, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) biomass and woody biochar were examined as amendments on heavy metal immobilization in a serpentine soil. Woody biochar was produced by slow pyrolysis of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) biomass at 300 and 500 °C. A pot experiment was conducted for 6 weeks with tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) at biochar application rates of 0, 22, 55 and 110 t ha^?1. The CaCl₂ and sequential extractions were adopted to assess metal bioavailability and fractionation. Six weeks after germination, plants cultivated on the control could not survive, while all the plants were grown normally on the soils amended with biochars. The most effective treatment for metal immobilization was BC500-110 as indicated by the immobilization efficiencies for Ni, Mn and Cr that were 68, 92 and 42 %, respectively, compared to the control. Biochar produced at 500 °C and at high application rates immobilized heavy metals significantly. Improvements in plant growth in biochar-amended soil were related to decreasing in metal toxicity as a consequence of metal immobilization through strong sorption due to high surface area and functional groups.     

改性污泥对矿区铜、镉污染土壤的修复

城市污泥的重金属含量超标是限制其资源化利用的主要瓶颈,论文采用石灰＋硫粉＋生物淋滤的方法去除重金属,制备改性污泥,探讨其对矿区Cu、Cd污染农田土壤的修复效果,以期实现以废治污的目标。供试水稻土采自江西某矿区附近农田,土壤Cu和Cd的TCLP（Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure）浸出量分别为40.34 mg·kg-1和660.1μg·kg-1,其中Cu的质量分数超过国际标准值15 mg·kg-1。通过室内土培的方法,将改性污泥分别按土重的0%、1%、3%、5%和10%施入供试土壤培养30 d后,分析土壤Cu和Cd的活性、形态变化以及土壤蛋白酶和脲酶活性等指标评价改性污泥对污染土壤的修复效果及作用机理。结果表明,改性污泥对土壤Cu产生显著的钝化作用,且各施用量对Cu的有效态含量表现出显著差异。当改性污泥的用量为土重的5%时,Cu的有效态含量降至12.03 mg·kg-1,低于国际标准。改性污泥对土壤Cd的钝化效果相对较弱。当改性污泥的用量为1%时,土壤Cd的活性反而有所增加。当改性污泥的用量为5%时,Cd的活性显著降低,土壤Cd的浸出量降至539.6μg·kg-1。土壤重金属形态分析的结果表明,土壤Cu主要以碳酸盐结合态、有机结合态和残渣态存在。改性污泥用量增加,可交换态Cu含量下降,当改良剂用量为土重的5%时,可交换态Cu由8.10%降至4.10%。相反,有机结合态Cu含量由26.45%增加至32.34%。土壤的可交换态Cd含量由36.80%降至30.69%。说明施用改性污泥,土壤可交换态Cu、Cd向有机结合态发生转化。土壤蛋白酶和脲酶的活性变化能较好地指示修复效果,且土壤脲酶的指示效果优于蛋白酶。     

Relative extraction ratio (RER) for arsenic and heavy metals in soils and tailings from various metal mines, Korea

This study focused on the evaluation of leaching behaviours for arsenic and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in soils and tailings contaminated by mining activities. Ten representative mine soils were taken at four representative metal mines in Korea. To evaluate the leaching characteristics of the samples, eight extraction methods were adapted namely 0.1?M HCl, 0.5?M HCl, 1.0?M HCl, 3.0?M HCl, Korean Standard Leaching Procedure for waste materials (KSLP), Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP), Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) and aqua regia extraction (AR) methods. In order to compare element concentrations as extraction methods, relative extraction ratios (RERs, %), defined as element concentration extracted by the individual leaching method divided by that extracted by aqua regia based on USEPA method 3050B, were calculated. Although the RER values can vary upon sample types and elements, they increase with increasing ionic strength of each extracting solution. Thus, the RER for arsenic and heavy metals in the samples increased in the order of KSLP?相似文献   

Co-pyrolysis of sludge and kaolin/zeolite in a rotary kiln: Analysis of stabilizing heavy metals

• Adding kaolin/zeolite promotes the formation of stable heavy metals. • The potential ecological risk index of co-pyrolysis biochar is extremely low. • Increasing the pyrolysis temperature reduces the leaching toxicity of heavy metals. • The toxicity of biochar reduces with the increasing content of stable heavy metals. Pyrolysis is a promising technique used for treating of sewage sludge. However, the application of pyrolysis products is limited due to the presence of heavy metals. In this study, sewage sludge mixed with kaolin/zeolite was pyrolyzed in a rotary kiln, aiming to improve the immobilization of heavy metals in pyrolytic carbon. The total concentrations, speciation distributions, leaching toxicities, and potential ecological risk indices of heavy metals in pyrolysis biochar were explored to examine the effects of kaolin/zeolite and pyrolytic temperature on immobilizing heavy metals. Further, mineral composition and surface morphology of biochar were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to reveal the potential mechanism of immobilizing heavy metals. Increasing pyrolysis temperature facilitated the stabilization of heavy metals in pyrolysis biochar. The proportions of stable heavy metals in biochar obtained at 650℃ were 54.50% (Cu), 29.73% (Zn), 79.29% (Cd), 68.17% (Pb) and 86.70% (Cr). Compared to sewage sludge, the potential contamination risk index of pyrolysis biochar obtained at 650℃ was reduced to 17.01, indicating a low ecological risk. The addition of 7% kaolin/zeolite further reduced the risk index of co-pyrolysis biochar prepared at 650℃ to 10.86/15.28. The characterization of biochar revealed that increase in the pyrolysis temperature and incorporation of additives are conducive to the formation of stable heavy metal-inorganics. This study demonstrates that the formation of stable mineral compounds containing heavy metals is the key to stabilizing heavy metals in pyrolysis biochar.     

Stabilization of lead and copper contaminated firing range soil using calcined oyster shells and fly ash

A stabilization/solidification treatment scheme was devised to stabilize Pb and Cu contaminated soil from a firing range using renewable waste resources as additives, namely waste oyster shells (WOS) and fly ash (FA). The WOS, serving as the primary stabilizing agent, was pre-treated at a high temperature to activate quicklime from calcite. Class C FA was used as a secondary additive along with the calcined oyster shells (COS). The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by means of the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) and the 0.1 M HCl extraction tests following a curing period of 28 days. The combined treatment with 10 wt% COS and 5 wt% FA cause a significant reduction in Pb (>98 %) and Cu (>96 %) leachability which was indicated by the results from both extraction tests (TCLP and 0.1 M HCl). Scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX) analyses are used to investigate the mechanism responsible for Pb and Cu stabilization. SEM–EDX results indicate that effective Pb and Cu immobilization using the combined COS–FA treatment is most probably associated with ettringite and pozzolanic reaction products. The treatment results suggest that the combined COS–FA treatment is a cost effective method for the stabilization of firing range soil.     

赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)对三种土壤Zn、Pb有效态含量的影响

以褐土(Cinnamonsoil)、潮棕壤(Aquicbrownsoil)和酸性棕壤(Acidbrownsoil)为供试土壤,通过培养实验,研究了土壤中重金属Zn、Pb对赤子爱胜蚓(Eiseniafoetida)生长率的影响,赤子爱胜蚓(Eiseniafoetida)对不同土壤中有效态Zn、Pb含量的影响,并与野生环境中生长的灰暗异唇蚓(Allolobaphoracaliginosa)进行比较。结果表明:重金属的污染明显抑制了赤子爱胜蚓的生长;赤子爱胜蚓可以显著提高潮棕壤中DTPA-Pb的含量,对DTPA-Zn的含量影响不大;加赤子爱胜蚓,褐土中DTPA-Zn和Pb的含量显著高于加灰暗异唇蚓,潮棕壤中DTPA-Zn的含量和酸性棕壤中大DTPA-Pb的含量则相反。     

Trace elements in wild grasses: a phytoavailability study on a remediated field

There have been significant efforts to establish a widely usable method for the prediction of trace element bioavailability in soil. In this work, we used extraction with 0.01 M CaCl₂ and 0.05 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to estimate bioavailable concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in a soil moderately contaminated with trace elements 1 and 2 years after the application of three amendments. The experiment took place in a field plot of a soil affected by the toxic spill of the Aznalcóllar mine. Four treatments were established: three with amendments (biosolid compost, sugar beet lime, and a combination of leonardite plus sugar beet lime) and a control without amendment. Trace element concentrations of two representative species in each year (Lamarckia aurea and Poa annua in 2004 and Lamarckia aurea and Bromus rubens in 2005) were analyzed. The results showed a positive effect of the amendments both on soil and vegetation. Trace element concentrations in plants growing in the amended subplots were lower than those in plants from nonamended subplots. As a rule, concentrations of CaCl₂-soluble Cd, Cu, and Zn in soil were positively correlated with trace elements in plants, whereas EDTA extraction was scarcely correlated with plant concentration. For species of grasses, especially L. aurea, CaCl₂ seems to be a more suitable extractant to predict trace element bioavailability in this contaminated soil.     

Arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and lead (Pb) availability from Au-mine Technosols: a case study of transfer to natural vegetation cover in temperate climates

Soils from old Au-mine tailings (La Petite Faye, France) were investigated in relation to the natural vegetation cover to evaluate the risk of metals and metalloids (Pb, As, Sb) mobilizing and their potential transfer to native plants (Graminea, Betula pendula, Pteridium aquilinum, Equisetum telmateia). The soils are classified as Technosols with high contamination levels of As, Pb, and Sb. The single selective extractions tested to evaluate available fraction (CaCl₂, acetic acid, A-Rhizo, and DTPA) showed low labile fractions (<5 % of bulk soil contents), but still significant levels were observed (up to 342.6 and 391.9 mg/kg for As and Pb, respectively) due to the high contamination levels of soils. Even at high soil contaminations (considered as phytotoxic levels for plants), translocation factors for native plants studied are very low resulting in low concentrations of As, Sb, and Pb in their aerial part tissues. This study demonstrates the important role of (1) native plant cover in terms of “stabilization” of these contaminants, and (2) the poor effectiveness of extraction procedures used for this type of soil assemblages, i.e., rich in specific mineral phases.     

Cattle manure biochar and earthworm interactively affected CO2 and N2O emissions in agricultural and forest soils: Observation of a distinct difference

• Earthworms increase CO₂ and N₂O emissions in agricultural and forest soil. • 10% biochar suppresses CO₂ and N₂O emissions in forest soil. • Biochar interacted with earthworm to significant affect CO₂ and N₂O emissions. The application of manure-derived biochar offers an alternative to avoid the direct application of manure to soil causing greenhouse gas emission. Soil fauna, especially earthworms, can markedly stimulate carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from soil. This study therefore investigated the effect of cattle manure biochar (added at rates of 0, 2%, or 10%, coded as BC0, BC2 and BC10, respectively) application, with or without earthworm Aporrectodea turgida, on emissions of CO₂ and N₂O and changes of physic-chemical properties of agricultural and forest soils in a laboratory incubation experiment. The BC10 treatment significantly enhanced cumulative CO₂ emissions by 27.9% relative to the untreated control in the agricultural soil. On the contrary, the BC2 and BC10 treatments significantly reduced cumulative CO₂ emissions by 16.3%–61.1% and N₂O emissions by 92.9%–95.1% compared to the untreated control in the forest soil. The addition of earthworm alone significantly enhanced the cumulative CO₂ and N₂O fluxes in agricultural and forest soils. Cumulative CO₂ and N₂O fluxes were significantly increased when BC2 and BC10 were applied with earthworm in the agricultural soil, but were significantly reduced when BC10 was applied with earthworm in the forest soil. Our study demonstrated that biochar application interacted with earthworm to affect CO₂ and N₂O emissions, which were also dependent on the soil type involved. Our study suggests that manure biochar application rate and use of earthworm need to be carefully studied for specific soil types to maximize the climate change mitigation potential of such management practices.