Influence of Biochar Particle Size and Concentration on Pb and As Availability in Contaminated Mining Soil and Phytoremediation Potential of Poplar Assessed in a Mesocosm Experiment

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2021, Vol.232 (1), Article 3
• Main Authors: Lebrun, M., Miard, F., Nandillon, R., Hattab-Hambli, N., Léger, J. C., Scippa, G. S., Morabito, D., Bourgerie, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioremediation; Body organs; Charcoal; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Contamination; Continental interfaces, environment; Cultivars; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecosystems; Environment; Environmental impact; Environmental monitoring; Greenhouses; Hardwoods; Heavy metals; Human influences; Hydrogeology; Lead; Life Sciences; Mesocosms; Metal concentrations; Mining; Organs; Particle size; Phytoremediation; Plant organs; Pollutants; Poplar; Pore water; Public health; Sciences of the Universe; Size effects; Soil; Soil contamination; Soil pollution; Soil remediation; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil stabilization; Soil water; Soils; Translocation; Water Quality/Water Pollution
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-020-04942-y

Metal(loid)s found at many sites as a result of human activities induce contamination of ecosystems, which threatens the environment and public health. Several approaches can be used in order to reduce such negative impacts of pollutants, and among them, phytoremediation has gained attractive attention. The objective of the present study was to assess the capacity of Populus euramericana , Dorskamp cultivar, for the phytoremediation of metal(loid)s on a technosol (former mining site) highly contaminated mainly with Pb and As, and amended with biochars having different particle sizes. In a 46-day mesocosm glasshouse pot experiment, technosol was mixed at three ratios (0, 2, or 5% w / w ) with four different hardwood-derived biochars (with various particle sizes) in order to study the biochar application rate and particle size effects on soil pore water (SPW) characteristics, on poplar growth, and on metal(loid) distribution and concentrations in the plant organs. The results showed that all biochars tested had a significant impact on several SPW physico-chemical parameters. Especially, biochar additions reduced available Pb concentrations but with no effect on As. In such conditions, Populus growth in amended technosol increased whatever rate and particle size of biochar used. Metal(loid) concentrations and repartition in plant organs showed the following: (1) for Pb, a higher root concentration with low aerial part translocation, which depended on biochar used, and (2) for As, mainly a root sequestration. We identified biochar with the finest particle size and combined with P. euramericana , Dorskamp, was the most suitable as remediation tools for Pb stabilization in post-mining contaminated soils.