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Biochar Application Rate: Improving Soil Fertility and Linum usitatissimum Growth on an Arsenic and Lead Contaminated Technosol

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Abstract

The remediation of metal(loid) contaminated sites often requires the application of an amendment, such as biochar. Biochar is the product of biomass pyrolysis and has been shown to reduce soil acidity, immobilize metal(loid)s and thus ameliorate plant growth. The beneficial effects of biochar are usually higher at a higher dose. However, an excessive dose can have negative outcomes due to nutrient loss. The application of an amendment to the soil comes at a financial cost, especially if the contaminated area is large, and therefore the optimum dose must be determined. In addition, to overcome the cost of biochar application, the use of a plant with economic benefits, such as flax, can be a suitable option. In this context, a mesocosm study, on a former mining soil polluted by As and Pb was performed, using flax and biochar applied at increasing concentrations. Results showed an increase in soil pH and the immobilization of Pb with increasing biochar doses. These ameliorations led to better plant growth. A higher biochar dose increased plant growth up to a 3% application rate, from which point dry weight no longer increased.Metal(loid) concentrations decreased between 1 and 3% biochar, and then increased at higher doses. It can thus be concluded that with 3% biochar, soil properties are ameliorated, metal(loid)s are immobilized, and plant growth increases, and a higher biochar application rate does not bring about better outcomes. Therefore, a 3% biochar application dose seems to be the best application dose to improve soil conditions and plant growth at a lower cost.

Article Highlights

  • Application dose of a lightwood biochar was tested on a former mine soil

  • A higher biochar dose led to increased soil condition improvements

  • Flax growth improved up to 3% biochar then decreased

  • The optimum biochar dose was determined to be 3%

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Jean-Christophe Léger for providing the biochar, Dr Christophe Hano for providing the flax seeds and Sarah Lemêle for her technical help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Orleans, INRA USC1328, LBLGC EA, 1207, rue de Chartres, BP 6759, 45067, Orléans Cedex 2, France

    Manhattan Lebrun, Florie Miard, Romain Nandillon, Domenico Morabito & Sylvain Bourgerie

  2. IDDEA, Environmental Consulting Engineering, 45160, Olivet, France

    Romain Nandillon

  3. BRGM, ISTO, UMR 7327, BP 36009, 45060, Orléans, France

    Romain Nandillon

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  1. Manhattan Lebrun
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  2. Florie Miard
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  4. Domenico Morabito
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  5. Sylvain Bourgerie
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Correspondence to Sylvain Bourgerie.

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Lebrun, M., Miard, F., Nandillon, R. et al. Biochar Application Rate: Improving Soil Fertility and Linum usitatissimum Growth on an Arsenic and Lead Contaminated Technosol. Int J Environ Res 15, 125–134 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-020-00302-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-020-00302-0

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