Comparison of the Effects of Different Organic Amendments on the Immobilization and Phytoavailability of Lead

Abstract

Organic materials, such as straw, animal manure, and their processed product biochar, are known to exhibit agronomic effects and the ability to remediate heavy metal contamination. However, knowledge regarding the relative effects of different organic amendments in soils on heavy metal immobilization and phytoavailability remain limited. Consequently, the effects of maize straw (MS), chicken manure (CM), mushroom cultivation waste (MW), and sawdust biochar (SB) on the immobilization and phytoavailability of lead (Pb) in wheat plants were investigated in this study using pot experiments. The results showed that the artificial application of Pb reduced soil pH, while increasing the total organic carbon (TOC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) to various extents. Furthermore, the Pb treatment increased the adsorption of Pb by wheat grains (0.83 mg∙kg−1), resulting in decreased above-ground dry biomass (43.16 g∙pot−1) during the maturity growth period when compared with the control check (CK) treatment. The MS + Pb and CM + Pb treatments increased the exchangeable Pb fractions in the soil, but had a limited effect on Pb accumulation in wheat grains compared with the Pb treatment. In contrast, the SB + Pb treatment effectively increased soil pH and TOC, while decreasing the fraction of exchangeable Pb forms and increasing the oxidizable and residual Pb fractions, compared with the Pb treatment. Moreover, the MW + Pb treatment also increased the soil pH and CEC, displaying the potential to increase soil TOC, in addition to substantially modifying the portioning of Pb from exchangeable forms to less bioavailable fractions. Both the MW and SB amendments significantly reduced Pb concentrations in wheat grains (0.49 and 0.70 mg∙kg−1,∙respectively), resulting in increased above-ground dry biomass (51.59 and 54.12 g∙pot−1, respectively). In summary, the application of organic amendments, especially MW, could be an effective measure for enhancing Pb immobilization in polluted soils, thereby reducing its uptake and translocation to crops.