Physicochemical features, metal availability and enzyme activity in heavy metal-polluted soil remediated by biochar and compost

Abstract

Biochar and compost have been widely used for pollution remediation of heavy metals in soil. However, little research was conducted to explore the efficiency of biochar, compost and their combination to reduce heavy metals availability, and the effects of their additive on soil biological properties are often neglected. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of biochar, compost and their combination on availability of heavy metals, physicochemical features and enzyme activities in soil. Results showed that adding amendments to polluted soil significantly altered soil properties. Compared to the separate addition of biochar or compost, their combined application was more effective to improve soil pH, organic matter (OM), organic carbon (TOC) and available potassium (AK). All amendments significantly decreased the availability of Cd and Zn, but slightly activated As and Cu. In addition, soil enzyme activities were activated by compost and inhibited by biochar, but exhibited highly variable responses to their combinations. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that electrical conductivity (EC) and AK were the most important environmental factors affecting metal availability and soil enzyme activities including dehydrogenase, catalase, β-glucosidase, urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase except for protease and invertase. Availability of As, Cu, Cd and Zn affected dehydrogenase, catalase and urease activities. These results indicated that biochar, compost and their combination have significant effects on physicochemical features, metals availability and enzyme activities in heavy metal-polluted soil.