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Rhizosphere Effect on Physicochemical Properties and Immobilization Performance of Biochar

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Abstract

The application effect of biochar in soil is often affected by environmental factors, but the effect of rhizosphere processes on the properties and functions of biochar remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of the rhizosphere process on biochar characteristics and heavy metal immobilization through different wheat rhizosphere simulation experiments. After aging in the wheat rhizosphere, the physicochemical properties of rice husk biochar (RH BC) and sludge biochar (Sl BC) changed significantly. In general, ash content, specific surface area (SAA), and thermal stability were significantly reduced, while the oxygen (O) content, polarity, and surface O–containing functional groups content were significantly increased. Meanwhile, the increase of C = O and O = C–OH on the aged biochar surface promotes its adsorption capability for Cd2+ and Pb2+ in solution. However, in heavy metal–contaminated rhizosphere soils, the immobilization effect of RH BC on heavy metals was significantly weakened by the rhizosphere process, which may be due to the elevated dissolved organic matter (DOM) content of the rhizosphere soil, but that of Sl BC was not affected. Therefore, although the rhizosphere process may enhance the adsorption performance of biochar for heavy metals, the actual immobilization effect of biochar in the rhizosphere soil was still at risk of being weakened, depending on the type of biochar. An in-depth understanding of how biochar properties change in soil–plant systems will help to scientifically evaluate the long-term effectiveness of biochar.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the earmarked fund for CARS-10-Sweetpotato and the Scientific and Technological Innovation Fund of Carbon Emissions Peak and Neutrality of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology (BE2022304).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China

    Jie Wang, Jiaqiang Liu, Jiayi Zhou, Luo Chang, Zhenguo Shen, Liang Shi & Yahua Chen

  2. Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China

    Zhenguo Shen, Liang Shi & Yahua Chen

  3. National Joint Local Engineering Research Center for Rural Land Resources Use and Consolidation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China

    Liang Shi & Yahua Chen

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  1. Jie Wang
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  2. Jiaqiang Liu
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Contributions

Jie Wang: Conceptualization, investigation, writing—original draft. Jiaqiang Liu: writing—reviewing and editing. Jiayi Zhou: visualization. Luo Chang: writing—reviewing and editing. Zhenguo Shen: writing—reviewing and editing and resources. Liang Shi: revision and editing. Yahua Chen: writing—reviewing and editing and resources.

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Wang, J., Liu, J., Zhou, J. et al. Rhizosphere Effect on Physicochemical Properties and Immobilization Performance of Biochar. Water Air Soil Pollut 233, 438 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-022-05902-4

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