https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 Pristine and iron-engineered animal- and plant-derived biochars enhanced bacterial abundance and immobilized arsenic and lead in a contaminated soil https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:39503 −1) and lead (Pb = 736.2 mg kg−1). Soil properties, microbial activities, and the geochemical fractions and potential availabilities of As and Pb were determined in the non-treated (control) and biochar-treated soil. Modification of PB (pH = 10.6) and GWB (pH = 9.3) with Fe caused a decrease in their pH to 4.4 and 3.4, respectively. The application of PB and GWB significantly increased soil pH, while Fe-PB and Fe-GWB decreased soil pH, as compared to the control. Application of Fe-GWB and Fe-PB decreased the NH4H2PO4-extractable As by 32.8 and 35.9%, which was more effective than addition of GWB and PB. However, PB and GWB were more effective than Fe-PB and Fe-GWB in Pb immobilization. Compared to the control, the DTPA-extractable Pb decreased by 20.6 and 21.7%, respectively, following PB and GWB application. Both biochars, particularly PB significantly increased the 16S rRNA bacterial gene copy numbers, indicating that biochar amendments enhanced the bacterial abundance, implying an alleviation of As and Pb bio-toxicity to soil bacteria. The results demonstrated that pristine pig carcass and green waste biochars were more effective in immobilizing Pb, while their Fe-engineered biochars were more effective in As immobilization in co-contaminated soils.]]> Wed 07 Feb 2024 16:39:44 AEDT ]]> Particulate plastics-plant interaction in soil and its implications: A review https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:53312 Tue 21 Nov 2023 12:36:31 AEDT ]]>