Biochar amendment immobilizes arsenic in farmland and reduces its bioavailability

Abstract

This study aimed to determine effects of biochar derived from wheat straw at 500 °C on arsenic immobilization in a soil-Brassica campestris L system. When the soils amended with 4% modified biochar (MBC), 0.5% Fe grit as zero-valent iron (ZVI), 0.5% Fe grit + 4% MBC (ZMBC), 0.5% ZVI + 4% biochar (ZBC), 4% biochar (BC), and control (without amendments), it confirmed that available arsenic concentration in soils occurred in the following order: ZMBC < MBC < ZVI < ZBC < Control < BC. Water-soluble As (WSAs) was reduced by 89.74% and 92.30% in MBC- and ZMBC-amended soils, respectively, compared to the control. When MBC applied into soil, As uptake of shoot and root decreased by 44.55% and 45.40%, respectively, and ZMBC resulted in 74.92% and 71.80% reduction in shoot and root As of Brassica campestris L. Immobilization effect of As in ZBC was also observed though BC elevated plant As uptake significantly. The immobilization effect of MBC was mainly attributed to Fe₂O₃ impregnation illustrated by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images through sorption, precipitation, and coprecipitation. Such Fe containing complexes might impede As translocation from root to shoot and subsequently reduce As accumulation in the plant with modified biochar amendment.