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Biochar mitigates polyethylene and oxytetracycline stress in Amaranthus tricolor by improving soil properties, reducing oxidative damage, and moderating CO2 emissions
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When plastic pollution (microplastics) and antibiotic residues build up in farm soil together, they stunted vegetable growth and stressed the plants—which matters because these contaminants can end up in the food we eat. This study found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like soil additive made from corn waste) helped restore soil health and reduced plant stress, offering a promising, low-cost way to grow safer produce in contaminated soils, though more research is needed before it's used widely on farms.
Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics (ATs) frequently co-occur in agricultural soils, but their combined impacts on soil–plant systems and potential remediation options remain unclear. This 60-day pot experiment tested whether maize biochar (20 t ha -1 ) can alleviate the effects of polyethylene (PE, 10 g kg -1 ) and oxytetracycline (OTC, 50 mg kg -1 ) on soil properties, antioxidant enzyme activities, and A. tricolor growth. Co-exposure to PE and OTC significantly reduced soil nutrient availability, suppressed root development by 23%, and decreased aboveground biomass by 45% relative to the control, while pollutant treatments enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, indicating induced oxidative stress rather than improved defense alone. Biochar application increased soil pH, cation exchange capacity, and nitrogen availability (NO 3 - -N and NH 4 + -N by 22% and 19%, respectively), and partially mitigated contaminant-induced declines in photosynthesis, root traits, and biomass. Consistent with the CO 2 measurements, biochar alone elevated short-term soil CO 2 emissions by 49% and 27% at 30 and 60 days, respectively, whereas PE+OTC reduced CO 2 fluxes by 55% and 29%, with biochar partly offsetting this suppression rather than uniformly lowering CO 2 . These findings suggest that corn straw biochar can alleviate phytotoxic effects of PE-OTC co-contamination and support crop production by improving soil nutrient status and moderating oxidative stress responses, while simultaneously altering soil carbon dynamics. From an applied perspective, biochar shows promise for managing co-contaminated vegetable soils, but future work should resolve underlying mechanisms especially pollutant bioavailability, microbial processes, and antibiotic resistance genes to guide safe, field-scale implementation.
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Biochar and Organic Matter as Tools for Mitigating Microplastic Effects in Agricultural Soils.
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Plastic pollution in farm soil is a growing problem, but this study found that adding biochar (charcoal made from plant waste) or organic materials like compost and manure can help soils recover. These additions restored nutrients, improved soil structure, and boosted helpful microbes, offering a practical way to protect the soil that grows our food.
Biochar mitigates the interactive effects of microplastics and cadmium pollution on soil characteristics and Pak choi (Brassica rapa chinensis L) growth
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When plastic pollution and cadmium (a toxic heavy metal) mix together in soil, they make crops more stressed and likely to absorb more contamination than either pollutant alone—bad news since Pak choi is a common leafy vegetable. Researchers found that adding a specific type of charcoal-like soil additive, made from a weed called Solidago canadensis, helped plants grow bigger and cut cadmium buildup in the edible parts by nearly 20%. This suggests a low-cost way to grow safer vegetables in contaminated soil, though real-world farm testing is still needed before this becomes a practical solution.
Biochar relieves the toxic effects of microplastics on the root-rhizosphere soil system by altering root expression profiles and microbial diversity and functions
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Researchers found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like soil amendment) to soil contaminated with polystyrene microplastics helped peanut plants recover by boosting their antioxidant defenses and restoring beneficial soil bacteria. This suggests biochar could be a practical tool for protecting crops in microplastic-contaminated farmland, which matters for food safety and reducing the amount of microplastics that enter the human food chain.
Micron-engineered biochar mitigates antimony and microplastics toxicity by reshaping soil microbiome and plant transcriptomic responses
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Antimony and microplastic pollution in soil can harm crops and let toxic metals build up in the food we eat. This study found that adding a special engineered charcoal (biochar) to contaminated soil helped rice plants grow better, boosted helpful soil bacteria, and cut the amount of antimony taken up by the plants by nearly a third—meaning less toxic buildup in our food. This suggests biochar could be a simple, affordable tool for making crops safer and more resilient in polluted soils.
The dual role of biochar in modulating microplastic effects on soil nitrogen
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Tiny plastic particles from everyday waste are building up in farm soils, potentially messing with the nitrogen cycle that helps crops grow. This study found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like soil additive made from burned plant material) helped boost nitrogen levels in plastic-contaminated soil, though it also shifted the balance of soil bacteria in ways scientists don't fully understand yet. While this doesn't directly test food safety or human health, it's an early step toward finding ways to protect soil health, and the food grown in it, from the growing problem of plastic pollution.
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