Biochar applications for treating potentially toxic elements (PTEs) contaminated soils and water: a review.

Environmental pollution with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) has become one of the critical and pressing issues worldwide. Although these pollutants occur naturally in the environment, their concentrations are continuously increasing, probably as a consequence of anthropic activities. They are very toxic even at very low concentrations and hence cause undesirable ecological impacts.

Co-application of ACC deaminase-producing rhizobial bacteria and melatonin improves salt tolerance in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) through ion homeostasis.

A comprehensive body of scientific evidence indicates that rhizobial bacteria and melatonin enhance salt tolerance of crop plants. The overall goal of this research was to evaluate the ability of Rhizobium leguminoserum bv phaseoli to suppress salinity stress impacts in common bean treated with melatonin. Treatments included bacterial inoculations (inoculated (RI) and non-inoculated (NI)), different salinity levels (non-saline (NS), 4 (S1) and 8 (S2) dS m of NaCl) and priming (dry (PD), melatonin (PM100) and hydro (PH) priming) with six replications in growing media containing sterile sand and perlite (1:1).

Reclamation of wastewater in wetlands using reed plants and biochar.

To cope with water crisis, wastewater reuse has been introduced as a potential source for irrigation. On the other hand, irrigation with wastewater may negatively affect the surroundings. In this study, reed plant (Phragmits australis) and its biochar were tested as low-cost treatments to enhance the efficiency of wastewater reclamation in wetlands within only 72 h.

Integral effects of brassinosteroids and timber waste biochar enhances the drought tolerance capacity of wheat plant.

Drought stress is among the major threats that affect negatively crop productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Probably, application of some additives such as biochar and/or brassinosteroids could mitigate this stress; however, the mechanism beyond the interaction of these two applications is not well inspected. Accordingly, a greenhouse experiment was conducted on wheat (a strategic crop) grown under deficit irrigation levels (factor A) i.

A Combined Use of Rhizobacteria and Moringa Leaf Extract Mitigates the Adverse Effects of Drought Stress in Wheat ( L.).

Less nutrient availability and drought stress are some serious concerns of agriculture. Both biotic and abiotic stress factors have the potential to limit crop productivity. However, several organic extracts obtained from moringa leaves may induce immunity in plants under nutritional and drought stress for increasing their survival.

Chemical role of α-tocopherol in salt stress mitigation by improvement in morpho-physiological attributes of sunflower ( L.).

Elevated concentrations of salts in soil and water represent abiotic stresses. It considerably restricts plant productivity. However, the use of alpha-tocopherol (α-toc) as foliar can overcome this problem.

Application of soil biofertilizers to a clayey soil contaminated with Sclerotium rolfsii can promote production, protection and nutritive status of Phaseolus vulgaris.

Sclerotium rolfsii is a soil-borne fungus that causes big losses in productivity of various plant species including Phaseolus vulgaris L. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the impacts of Sclerotium rolfsii on growth and production of common bean plants, (2) determine the effects of Sclerotium rolfsii on nutritive contents of beans, and (3) test the efficacy of bio-inoculants on suppressing plant infection with Sclerotium rolfsii. To fulfill these objectives, we used a coupled pot and field experimental approaches during two growing seasons.

Dynamics of soil organic carbon in Typic Torripsamment soils irrigated with raw effluent sewage water.

The current research aimed at collecting detailed information about the consequences of cropping history on the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) within different soil depths, i.e., 0-10, 10-20, 20-30 and 30-60 cm.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza and environmentally biochemicals enhance the nutritional status of Helianthus tuberosus and induce its resistance against Sclerotium rolfsii.

Chemical fungicides are effective tools in controlling plant pathogens; however, these chemicals can, on the other hand, distress the ecosystem. Accordingly, the current research investigates the potentiality of substituting traditional chemical fungicides by inducing plant resistance against infection with soil-born pathogens i.e.

Depthprofile distribution of Cs and its toxicity for canola plants grown on arid rainfed soils as affected by increasing K-inputs.

Radioactive cesium (Cs) is more likely to be trans-located via rainfall into surrounding environments. Upon Cs-contaminated water reaching soil, Cs is retained on soil components, mainly organic matter and clay fraction. This study aims are i) comparing the relative ability of five arid soils, differing in their textural and chemical properties, to accumulate Cs when subjected to Cs-artificially contaminated rain droplets and ii) testing whether K fertilizer can decrease the uptake of Cs and its translocation within plants or not.

Feasibility of using natural mineral ores for removing Cs and Sr from contaminated water.

Proper and economical treatments of wastewater are among the important and potential solutions to increase the water budget. Although mineral ores are barriers of potentially toxic metal contaminants; however to what extent, can these ores stand successfully for decontaminating waters polluted with Cs or Sr is the question of the current study. Therefore a trial was carried out on some of these ores i.

Occurrence, polarity and bioavailability of dissolved organic matter in the Huangpu River, China.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in biogeochemical cycles in aquatic ecosystem. To investigate the characteristics of DOM in Huangpu River (the last tributary of the Yangtze River), surface water samples were collected along the river from December 2011 to June, 2013. The concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the absorbance and fluorescence spectrum of DOM in water samples were measured.

Feasibility of biochar manufactured from organic wastes on the stabilization of heavy metals in a metal smelter contaminated soil.

The main objectives of the current study were to evaluate the potential effects of biochar derived from sugar cane bagasse (SC-BC) and orange peel (OP-BC) on improving the physicochemical properties of a metal smelter contaminated soil, and determining its potentiality for stabilizing Pb and As in soil. To achieve these goals, biochar was produced in a small-scale biochar producing plant, and an incubation experiment was conducted using a silt loam metal-contaminated soil treated with different application rates of biochar (0-10% w/w). The obtained results showed that, the addition of SC-BC and OP-BC increased significantly the soil aggregate stability, water-holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, organic matter and N-status in soil.

Role of EDTA in arsenic mobilization and its uptake by maize grown on an As-polluted soil.

EDTA amendments are widely used for micronutrient fertilization in arid soils, besides their effectiveness in the remediation process of heavy metal from contaminated soils. However, the persistence of EDTA in arsenic contaminated soil may have further negative effects on the grown plants. To investigate the influences of EDTA on soil As, a pot experiment was conducted using a sandy clay loam As-polluted soil treated with gradual rates of EDTA (0, 1.

Laser dispersion and ignition of metal fuel particles.

The development of a laser-shock technique for dispersing Al metal fuel particles at velocities approaching those expected in a detonating explosive is discussed. The technique is described in detail by quantifying how air drag affects the temporal variation of the velocity of the dispersed particle plume. The effect of particle size is incorporated by examining various poly-dispersed commercial Al powders at different dispersion velocities (390-630 m/s).