Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) contamination in soils is a global environmental concern. Amending soil with low cost carbonaceous materials, such as humic substances and biochars, may provide cost effective and environmentally sound alternatives to traditional remediation technologies. Two lignite derived humic substance products, nano humus and humic powder, and a cattle manure biochar, were used as amendments in loamy sand and silt loam soils to ascertain their impact on Cd, with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as the response organism in a greenhouse experiment. Soil Cd had the greatest influence on barley shoot biomass, decreasing by 28% in silt loam and 37% in loamy sand relative to the control. With or without Cd addition, the beneficial effect of nano humus and humic powder were pronounced. Nano humus and humic powder (high rate), increased root biomass by 248 and 100% in uncontaminated soils, respectively; and increased by 186 and 55% in Cd contaminated soils. Biochar increased shoot biomass in soils by 32% without Cd, and 127% with Cd. Barley responded differently to amendments in two textured soils. Results of this research will help develop cost effective remediation techniques using humic materials and cattle manure biochar as soil amendments in Cd contaminated soils.
Published Version
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