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Biochar modulates heavy metal toxicity and improves microbial carbon use efficiency in soil

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Biochar modulates heavy metal toxicity and improves microbial carbon use efficiency in soil. / Xu, Y; Seshadri, B; Sarkar, B et al.
In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 621, 01.12.2017, p. 148-159.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Xu, Y, Seshadri, B, Sarkar, B, Wang, H, Rumpel, C, Sparks, D, Farrell, M, Hall, T, Yang, X & Bolan, N 2017, 'Biochar modulates heavy metal toxicity and improves microbial carbon use efficiency in soil', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 621, pp. 148-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.214

APA

Xu, Y., Seshadri, B., Sarkar, B., Wang, H., Rumpel, C., Sparks, D., Farrell, M., Hall, T., Yang, X., & Bolan, N. (2017). Biochar modulates heavy metal toxicity and improves microbial carbon use efficiency in soil. Science of the Total Environment, 621, 148-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.214

Vancouver

Xu Y, Seshadri B, Sarkar B, Wang H, Rumpel C, Sparks D et al. Biochar modulates heavy metal toxicity and improves microbial carbon use efficiency in soil. Science of the Total Environment. 2017 Dec 1;621:148-159. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.214

Author

Xu, Y ; Seshadri, B ; Sarkar, B et al. / Biochar modulates heavy metal toxicity and improves microbial carbon use efficiency in soil. In: Science of the Total Environment. 2017 ; Vol. 621. pp. 148-159.

Bibtex

@article{d7e4411df20c403eaa5fa9f831e91ccd,
title = "Biochar modulates heavy metal toxicity and improves microbial carbon use efficiency in soil",
abstract = "Soil organic carbon is essential to improve soil fertility and ecosystem functioning. Soil microorganisms contribute significantly to the carbon transformation and immobilisation processes. However, microorganisms are sensitive to environmental stresses such as heavy metals. Applying amendments, such as biochar, to contaminated soils can alleviate the metal toxicity and add carbon inputs. In this study, Cd and Pb spiked soils treated with macadamia nutshell biochar (5% w/w) were monitored during a 49 days incubation period. Microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were extracted and analysed as biomarkers in order to identify the microbial community composition. Soil properties, metal bioavailability, microbial respiration, and microbial biomass carbon were measured after the incubation period. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) was calculated from the ratio of carbon incorporated into microbial biomass to the carbon mineralised. Total PLFA concentration decreased to a greater extent in metal contaminated soils than uncontaminated soils. Microbial CUE also decreased due to metal toxicity. However, biochar addition alleviated the metal toxicity, and increased total PLFA concentration. Both microbial respiration and biomass carbon increased due to biochar application, and CUE was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in biochar treated soils than untreated soils. Heavy metals reduced the microbial carbon sequestration in contaminated soils by negatively influencing the CUE. The improvement of CUE through biochar addition in the contaminated soils could be attributed to the decrease in metal bioavailability, thereby mitigating the biotoxicity to soil microorganisms.",
author = "Y Xu and B Seshadri and B Sarkar and H Wang and C Rumpel and D Sparks and M Farrell and T Hall and X Yang and N Bolan",
year = "2017",
month = dec,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.214",
language = "English",
volume = "621",
pages = "148--159",
journal = "Science of the Total Environment",
issn = "0048-9697",
publisher = "Elsevier Science B.V.",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biochar modulates heavy metal toxicity and improves microbial carbon use efficiency in soil

AU - Xu, Y

AU - Seshadri, B

AU - Sarkar, B

AU - Wang, H

AU - Rumpel, C

AU - Sparks, D

AU - Farrell, M

AU - Hall, T

AU - Yang, X

AU - Bolan, N

PY - 2017/12/1

Y1 - 2017/12/1

N2 - Soil organic carbon is essential to improve soil fertility and ecosystem functioning. Soil microorganisms contribute significantly to the carbon transformation and immobilisation processes. However, microorganisms are sensitive to environmental stresses such as heavy metals. Applying amendments, such as biochar, to contaminated soils can alleviate the metal toxicity and add carbon inputs. In this study, Cd and Pb spiked soils treated with macadamia nutshell biochar (5% w/w) were monitored during a 49 days incubation period. Microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were extracted and analysed as biomarkers in order to identify the microbial community composition. Soil properties, metal bioavailability, microbial respiration, and microbial biomass carbon were measured after the incubation period. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) was calculated from the ratio of carbon incorporated into microbial biomass to the carbon mineralised. Total PLFA concentration decreased to a greater extent in metal contaminated soils than uncontaminated soils. Microbial CUE also decreased due to metal toxicity. However, biochar addition alleviated the metal toxicity, and increased total PLFA concentration. Both microbial respiration and biomass carbon increased due to biochar application, and CUE was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in biochar treated soils than untreated soils. Heavy metals reduced the microbial carbon sequestration in contaminated soils by negatively influencing the CUE. The improvement of CUE through biochar addition in the contaminated soils could be attributed to the decrease in metal bioavailability, thereby mitigating the biotoxicity to soil microorganisms.

AB - Soil organic carbon is essential to improve soil fertility and ecosystem functioning. Soil microorganisms contribute significantly to the carbon transformation and immobilisation processes. However, microorganisms are sensitive to environmental stresses such as heavy metals. Applying amendments, such as biochar, to contaminated soils can alleviate the metal toxicity and add carbon inputs. In this study, Cd and Pb spiked soils treated with macadamia nutshell biochar (5% w/w) were monitored during a 49 days incubation period. Microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were extracted and analysed as biomarkers in order to identify the microbial community composition. Soil properties, metal bioavailability, microbial respiration, and microbial biomass carbon were measured after the incubation period. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) was calculated from the ratio of carbon incorporated into microbial biomass to the carbon mineralised. Total PLFA concentration decreased to a greater extent in metal contaminated soils than uncontaminated soils. Microbial CUE also decreased due to metal toxicity. However, biochar addition alleviated the metal toxicity, and increased total PLFA concentration. Both microbial respiration and biomass carbon increased due to biochar application, and CUE was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in biochar treated soils than untreated soils. Heavy metals reduced the microbial carbon sequestration in contaminated soils by negatively influencing the CUE. The improvement of CUE through biochar addition in the contaminated soils could be attributed to the decrease in metal bioavailability, thereby mitigating the biotoxicity to soil microorganisms.

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.214

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.214

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29179070

VL - 621

SP - 148

EP - 159

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

SN - 0048-9697

ER -