Abstract
Nowadays, antibiotic-polluted soils have raised concerns regarding the health of soil ecosystems. It has been suggested that biochar can be used as an amendment to improve soil health conditions in polluted sites. The present research aimed to investigate the influence of walnut shell biochar and methanol-activated walnut shell biochar on tetracycline concentration in the presence of copper and the assessment of soil biological parameters (microbial biomass, urease and dehydrogenase enzymes). Therefore, a factorial experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design. The factors included two biochar levels without or with copper (0% biochar (control soil), soil amended with 5% walnut shell biochar and soil amended with 5% methanol-activated walnut shell biochar) and two tetracycline levels (0 and 400 mg/kg soil), which were measured at 10-, 30- and 50-day intervals. The results revealed that biochar and methanol-activated biochar efficiently decreased tetracycline concentration up to 46.5% and 80.4%, respectively. The application of biochar decreased tetracycline concentration through the formation of a stable complex with tetracycline and the reduction of its extractability as well as biodegradation. The decrease in tetracycline extractability was also facilitated by the presence of copper. Neither biochar had significant effects (P > 0.05) on microbial biomass. They also reduced enzymatic activities, probably due to a high application rate. However, they weakened the negative effects of tetracycline on microbial activities. It was concluded that the application of biochar in tetracycline-polluted soils could help expedite the decrease of residual tetracycline concentration, which, in turn, could improve soil biological parameters and soil health.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- BC:
-
Biochar
- WBC:
-
Walnut shell biochar
- WBCM:
-
Methanol-activated walnut shell biochar
- TC:
-
Tetracycline
- Cu:
-
Copper
- Cu-EDTA:
-
Copper concentration
- CEC:
-
Cation-exchange capacity
- EC:
-
Electrical conductivity
- dw:
-
Dry weight
- OM:
-
Organic matter
- AP:
-
Available phosphorus
- AK:
-
Available potassium
- TN:
-
Total nitrogen
- O:
-
Oxygen content
- N:
-
Nitrogen content
- C:
-
Carbon content
- H:
-
Hydrogen content
- K:
-
Unamended soil
References
Ahmad M, Lee SS, Dou X, Mohan D, Sung JK, Yang JE, Ok YS (2012) Effects of pyrolysis temperature on soybean stover-and peanut shell-derived biochar properties and TCE adsorption in water. Bioresour Technol 118:536–544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.05.042
Ahmad M, Rajapaksha AU, Lim JE, Zhang M, Bolan N, Mohan D, Vithanage M, Lee SS, Ok YS (2014) Biochar as a sorbent for contaminant management in soil and water: a review. Chemosphere 99:19–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.071
Anderson T-H (2003) Microbial eco-physiological indicators to asses soil quality. Agric Ecosyst Environ 98:285–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8809(03)00088-4
Aponte H, Herrera W, Cameron C, Black H, Meier S, Paolini J, Tapia Y, Cornejo P (2020) Alteration of enzyme activities and functional diversity of a soil contaminated with copper and arsenic. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 192:110264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110264
Beheshti M, Etesami H, Alikhani HA (2018) Effect of different biochars amendment on soil biological indicators in a calcareous soil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25(15):14752–14761. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1682-2
Bera T, Collins HP, Alva AK, Purakayastha TJ, Patra AK (2016) Biochar and manure effluent effects on soil biochemical properties under corn production. J Appl Soil Ecol 107:360–367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2016.07.011
Bloem J, Breure AM (2003) Microbial indicators. In: Markert BA, Breure AM, Zechmeister HG (eds) Bioindicators and biomonitors. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 259–282
Bremner JM, Mulvaney CS (1982) Nitrogen-total. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Kenny DR (eds) Method of soil analysis Part-2. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 595–624
Chapman H (1965) Cation-exchange capacity. In: Norman AG (ed) Method of soil analysis Part-2. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 891–901
Chen C, Ray P, Knowlton KF, Pruden A, Xia K (2018a) Effect of composting and soil type on dissipation of veterinary antibiotics in land-applied manures. Chemosphere 196:270–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.161
Chen T, Luo L, Deng S, Shi G, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Deng O, Wang L, Zhang J, Wei L (2018b) Sorption of tetracycline on H3PO4 modified biochar derived from rice straw and swine manure. Bioresour Technol 267:431–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.07.074
Chessa L, Pusino A, Garau G, Mangia NP, Pinna MV (2015) Soil microbial response to tetracycline in two different soils amended with cow manure. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23(6):5807–5817. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5789-4
Choudhary TK, Khan KS, Hussain Q, Ashfaq M (2021) Nutrient availability to maize crop (Zea mays L.) in biochar amended alkaline subtropical soil. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 21(2):1293–1306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00440-0
Daghrir R, Drogui P (2013) Tetracycline antibiotics in the environment: a review. Environ Chem Lett 11(3):209–227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-013-0404-8
Duan M, Li H, Gu J, Tuo X, Sun W, Qian X, Wang X (2017) Effects of biochar on reducing the abundance of oxytetracycline, antibiotic resistance genes, and human pathogenic bacteria in soil and lettuce. Environ Pollut 224:787–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.021
Gee GW, Bauder JW (1986) Particle-size analysis. In: Klute A (ed) Methods of soil analysis, vol 1. Part. Physical and Mineralogical Methods, Madison, pp 383–411
Gu C, Karthikeyan K (2005) Interaction of tetracycline with aluminum and iron hydrous oxides. Environ Sci Technol 39:2660–2667
Guo C, Wang M, Xiao H, Huai B, Wang F, Pana G, Liaoa X, Liu Y (2016) Development of a modified QuEChERS method for the determination of veterinary antibiotics in swine manure by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B 1027:110–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.05.034
Hailegnaw NS, Mercl F, Pračke K, Száková J, Tlustoš P (2019) Mutual relationships of biochar and soil pH, CEC, and exchangeable base cations in a model laboratory experiment. J Soils Sedim 19(5):2405–2416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02264-z
Hammesfahr U, Bierl R, Thiele-Bruhn S (2011) Combined effects of the antibiotic sulfadiazine and liquid manure on the soil microbial-community structure and functions. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 174(4):614–623. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201000322
Huang Y, Li T, Wu C, He Z, Japengaa J, Denga M, Yang X (2015) An integrated approach to assess heavy metal source apportionment in peri-urban agricultural soils. J Hazard Mater 299:540–549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.07.041
Huang D, Liu L, Zeng G, Xu P, Huang C, Deng L, Wang R, Wan J (2017) The effects of rice straw biochar on indigenous microbial community and enzymes activity in heavy metal-contaminated sediment. Chemosphere 174:545–553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.01.130
Jang HM, Yoo S, Choi YK, Park S, Kan E (2018) Adsorption isotherm, kinetic modeling and mechanism of tetracycline on Pinus taeda-derived activated biochar. Bioresour Technol 259:24–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.03.013
Jenkinson DS, Ladd JN (1981) Microbial biomass in soil: measurement and turnover. In: Paul EA, Ladd JN (eds) Soil Biochemistry. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 415–471
Jia M, Wang F, Bian Y, Jin X, Song Y, Kengara FO, Xu R, Jiang X (2013) Effects of pH and metal ions on oxytetracycline sorption to maize-straw-derived biochar. Bioresour Technol 136:87–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.02.098
Jing XR, Wang YY, Liu WJ, Wang YK, Jian H (2014) Enhanced adsorption performance of tetracycline in aqueous solutions by methanol-modified biochar. Chem Eng J 248:168–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.03.006
Kong X, Feng S, Zhang X, Li Y (2014) Effects of bile salts and divalent cations on the adsorption of norfloxacin by agricultural soils. J Environ Sci 26:846–854. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(13)60480-5
Li F, Feng D, Deng H, Yu H, Ge C (2016a) Effects of biochars prepared from cassava dregs on sorption behavior of ciprofloxacin. Procedia Environ Sci 31:795–803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2016.02.076
Li Y, Wang H, Liu X, Zhao G, Sun Y (2016b) Dissipation kinetics of oxytetracycline, tetracycline, and chlortetracycline residues in soil. Environ Sci Polluti Res 23(14):13822–13831. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6513-8
Li X, Luo J, Deng H, Huang P, Ge C, Yu H, Xu W (2018) Effect of cassava waste biochar on sorption and release behavior of atrazine in soil. Sci Total Environ 644:1617–1624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.239
Li X, Song Y, Wang F, Bian Y, Jiang X (2019) Combined effects of maize straw biochar and oxalic acid on the dissipation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and microbial community structures in soil: a mechanistic study. J Hazard Mater 364:325–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.10.041
Liang J, Tang S, Gong J, Zeng G, Tang T, Song B, Zhang P, Yang Z, Luo Y (2020) Responses of enzymatic activity and microbial communities to biochar/compost amendment in sulfamethoxazole polluted wetland soil. J Hazard Mater 385:121533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121533
Lindsay WL, Norvell WA (1978) Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Soil Sci Soc Am J 42(3):421–428. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1978.03615995004200030009x
Liu F, Ying GG, Tao R, Zhao JL, Yang JF, Zhao LF (2009) Effects of six selected antibiotics on plant growth and soil microbial and enzymatic activities. Environ Pollut 157:1636–1642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2008.12.021
Liu W, Pan N, Chen W, Jiao W, Wang M (2012) Effect of veterinary oxytetracycline on functional diversity of soil microbial community. Plant Soil Environ 58(7):295–301. https://doi.org/10.17221/430/2011-PSE
Liu B, Li Y, Zhang X, Wang J, Gao M (2015) Effects of chlortetracycline on soil microbial communities: comparisons of enzyme activities to the functional diversity via Biolog EcoPlates™. Eur J Soil Biol 68:69–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2015.01.002
Liu HY, Song C, Zhao S, Wang SG (2020) Biochar-induced migration of tetracycline and the alteration of microbial community in agricultural soils. Sci Total Environ 706:136086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136086
Luo Y, Xu L, Rysz M, Wang Y, Zhang H, Alvarez PJJ (2011) Occurrence and transport of tetracycline, sulfonamide, quinolone, and macrolide antibiotics in the Haihe River Basin. China Environ Sci Technol 45(5):1827–1833. https://doi.org/10.1021/es104009s
Luo Y, Durenkamp M, Nobili MD, Lin Q, Devonshire BJ, Brookes PC (2013) Microbial biomass growth, following incorporation of biochars produced at 350 °C or 700 °C, in a silty-clay loam soil of high and low pH. Soil Biol Biochem 57:513–523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.10.033
Luo J, Li X, Ge C, Müller K, Yu H, Huang P, Li J, Tsang DCW, Bolan NS, Rinklebe J, Wang H (2018) Sorption of norfloxacin, sulfamerazine and oxytetracycline by KOH-modified biochar under single and ternary systems. Bioresour Technol 263:385–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.05.022
Martinez JL (2008) Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in natural environments. Science 321:365–367. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1159483
Meier S, Curaqueo G, Khan N, Bolan N, Cea M, Eugenia GM, Cornejo P, Ok YS, Borie F (2017) Chicken-manure-derived biochar reduced bioavailability of copper in a contaminated soil. J Soils Sedim 17:741–750. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1256-6
Mitchell SM, Subbiah M, Ullman JL, Frear C, Call DR (2015) Evaluation of 27 different biochars for potential sequestration of antibiotic residues in food animal production environments. J Environ Chem Eng 3(1):162–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2014.11.012
Molaei A, Lakzian A, Datta R, Haghnia G, Astaraei A, Rasouli-Sadaghiani M, Ceccherini T (2017) Impact of chlortetracycline and sulfapyridine antibiotics on soil enzyme activities. Intl Agrophys 31(4):499–505. https://doi.org/10.1515/intag-2016-0084
Moore F, González ME, Khan N, Curaqueo G, Sanchez-Monedero M, Rilling J, Morales E, Panichini M, Mutis A, Jorquera M, Mejias J, Hirzel J, Meier S (2018) Copper immobilization by biochar and microbial community abundance in metal-contaminated soils. Sci Total Environ 616–617:960–969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.223
Ngigi AN, Magu MM, Muendo BM (2020a) Occurrence of antibiotics residues in hospital wastewater, wastewater treatment plant, and in surface water in Nairobi County. Kenya Environ Monit Assess 192(1):1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7952-8
Ngigi AN, Ok YS, Thiele-Bruhn S (2020b) Biochar affects the dissipation of antibiotics and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in pig manure. Bioresour Technol 315:123782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123782
Ogbonnaya U, Semple K (2013) Impact of biochar on organic contaminants in soil: A tool for mitigating Risk? Agronomy 3(2):349–375. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy3020349
Oleszczuk P, Jośko I, Futa B, Pasieczna-Patkowska S, Pałys E, Kraska P (2014) Effect of pesticides on microorganisms, enzymatic activity and plant in biochar-amended soil. Geoderma 214–215:10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.10.010
Olsen SR (1954) Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. United States Department Of Agriculture, Washington
Pan M, Chu LM (2016) Adsorption and degradation of five selected antibiotics in agricultural soil. Sci Total Environ 545–546:48–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.040
Pan M, Chu LM (2017) Fate of antibiotics in soil and their uptake by edible crops. Sci Total Environ 599–600:500–512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.214
Pan LB, Ma J, Wang XL, Hou H (2016) Heavy metals in soils from a typical county in Shanxi Province, China: levels, sources and spatial distribution. Chemosphere 148:248–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.12.049
Rabølle M, Spliid NH (2000) Sorption and mobility of metronidazole, olaquindox, oxytetracycline and tylosin in soil. Chemosphere 40(7):715–722. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(99)00442-7
Richards L (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and Alkali soils (USDA). Printing Office, Washington
Sassman SA, Lee LS (2005) Sorption of three tetracyclines by several soils: assessing the role of pH and cation exchange. Environ Sci Technol 39(19):7452–7459. https://doi.org/10.1021/es0480217
Shuman L (1985) Fractionation method for soil microelements. Soil Sci 140(1):11–22
Tabatabai M, Bremner J (1972) Assay of urease activity in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 4(4):479–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(72)90064-8
Thalmann A (1968) The methodology of determining the dehydrogenase activity in soil using triphenyltetrazoliumchlorid (TTC). Landwirtsch Forsch 21:249–258
Thiele-Bruhn S, Beck IC (2005) Effects of sulfonamide and tetracycline antibiotics on soil microbial activity and microbial biomass. Chemospher 59(4):457–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.01.023
Uchimiya M, Wartelle LH, Klasson KT, Fortier CA, Lima IM (2011) Influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar property and function as a heavy metal sorbent in soil. J Agric Food Chem 59(6):2501–2510. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf104206c
Verheijen FGA, Zhuravel A, Silva FC, Amaro A, Ben-Hur KJJ (2019) The influence of biochar particle size and concentration on bulk density and maximum water holding capacity of sandy vs sandy loam soil in a column experiment. Geoderma 347:194–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.03.044
Walkley A, Black IA (1934) An examination of the Degtjareffmethod for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification ofthe chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37:29–38
Wang YJ, Jia DA, Sun RJ, Zhu HW, Zhou DM (2008) Adsorption and cosorption of tetracycline and copper (II) on montmorillonite as affected by solution pH. Environ Sci Technol 42(9):3254–3259. https://doi.org/10.1021/es702641a
Wang J, Foxman B, Mody L, Snitkin ES (2017) Network of microbial and antibiotic interactions drive colonization and infection with multidrug-resistant organisms. PNAS 114(39):10467–10472. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1710235114
Wang RZ, Huang DL, Liu YG, Zhang C, Lai C, Wang X, Zeng GM, Zhang Q, Gong XM, Xu P (2020) Synergistic removal of copper and tetracycline from aqueous solution by steam-activated bamboo-derived biochar. J Hazard Mater 384:121470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121470
Wei X, Wu SC, Nie XP, Yediler A, Wong MH (2009) The effects of residual tetracycline on soil enzymatic activities and plant growth. J Environ Sci Heal B 44(5):461–471. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601230902935139
Yue Y, Shen C, Ge Y (2019) Biochar accelerates the removal of tetracyclines and their intermediates by altering soil properties. J Hazard Mater 380:120821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.120821
Zhang Z, Sun K, Gao B, Zhang G, Liu X, Zhao Y (2011) Adsorption of tetracycline on soil and sediment: effects of pH and the presence of Cu(II). J Hazard Mater 190(1):856–862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.04.017
Zhang H, Voroney RP, Price GW (2014) Effects of biochar amendments on soil microbial biomass and activity. J Environ Qual 43(6):2104–2114. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2014.03.0132
Zhao Y, Tan Y, Guo Y, Gu X, Wang X, Zhang Y (2013) Interactions of tetracycline with Cd (II), Cu (II) and Pb (II) and their cosorption behavior in soils. Environ Pollut 180:206–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.043
Acknowledgements
This research has been fully supported by Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Grant number: 3/48281
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Informed consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Additional information
Editorial responsibility: Maryam Shabani.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Keshiknevisrazavi, S., Fotovat, A., Khorassani, R. et al. Effects of methanol-activated biochar on tetracycline concentration and soil microbial activities in the presence of copper. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 11103–11116 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-022-04320-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-022-04320-7