Biometric and physiological responses of Virola Surinamensis to cadmium and biochar in amazonian soil
Abstract The intensification of human activity, industrialization and urbanization has increased the risk of pollution due to large quantities of waste rich in heavy metals. Objective of this study was to assess the mitigating effects of biochar derived from açaí seeds on the biometric and physiolog...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05656-z |
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| Summary: | Abstract The intensification of human activity, industrialization and urbanization has increased the risk of pollution due to large quantities of waste rich in heavy metals. Objective of this study was to assess the mitigating effects of biochar derived from açaí seeds on the biometric and physiological responses of Virola surinamensis plants grown in soil contaminated with cadmium. Seedlings of V. surinamensis grown in soils contaminated with varying doses of Cd (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg L-1) and different biochar proportions (0%, 5%, and 10%). Statistical analysis was performed using the multivariate exploratory principal components and the F-test, and when significant, the Tukey test was applied, and. At a dose of 10 mg L-1 of Cd, the number of leaves was higher in the absence of biochar; however, this did not differ significantly from the treatment with 5% biochar, which was more effective in maintaining chlorophyll a content in the presence of Cd. Furthermore, for plants exposed to 10 and 20 mg L-1 of Cd, the inclusion of 5% biochar mitigated the toxic effects of the metal, leading to increased rates of photosynthesis. Plants treated with 20 mg L-1 of Cd also presented higher transpiration rates with 5% biochar application. For intercellular CO2 concentrations, soils contaminated with 10 mg L-1 of Cd demonstrated an increase in carbon concentration when treated with biochar. Thus, the addition of 5% biochar was effective in attenuating cadmium toxicity, suggesting its potential as a mitigation strategy for contaminated soils. |
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| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |