Abstract
Livestock and poultry manure containing high levels of copper and zinc have led to contamination of farmland and products which could have an impact on human health. Biochar is an inexpensive and efficient heavy metal absorbent. In the present study, we have used biochar to mitigate the effects of heavy metals on the growth of wheat seedlings. The study showed that the effects of heavy metals on wheat seedlings growth were mitigated by increasing exposure to biochar. Compared to the control group, the germination potential, germination rate, germination index and vigor index of wheat seedlings with supplemented biochar increased significantly. Moreover, the specific activity of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase decreased and chlorophyll contents increased, which promote wheat growth and suggests that the addition of biochar could reduce the effects of heavy metals on wheat seedlings.
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Acknowledgements
The present study was supported by grants from the National Science and Technology Major Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2017YFD0800703); the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (Nos. JQ201711 and ZR2016JL029). Thanks to professor Michael L. Thompson (Iowa State University) for modifying the syntax of this article and giving useful suggestions.
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Rui Wang and Weizhang Fu contributed equally to this work.
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Wang, R., Fu, W., Wang, J. et al. Application of Rice Grain Husk Derived Biochar in Ameliorating Toxicity Impacts of Cu and Zn on Growth, Physiology and Enzymatic Functioning of Wheat Seedlings. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 103, 636–641 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-019-02705-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-019-02705-y