Phytoaccumulation of chromium by hemp and ryegrass in rice husk biochars, nano-zero valent zinc and vermicompost amended tannery wastewater soil

Chromium (Cr) contamination of soil threatens environmental and human health, necessitating effective and sustainable remediation solutions. Here we explored the impact of rice husk biochar (RH-BC), nano-RH-BC, vermicompost, nano-zero valent zinc (nZVZn), and manganese-modified RH-BC (MnO/RH-BC) on...

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Main Authors: Amna Zulfqar, Nabeel Khan Niazi, Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib, Muhammad Shahid, Khalid Hussain, Zhenli He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1558255/full
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author Amna Zulfqar
Nabeel Khan Niazi
Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib
Muhammad Shahid
Khalid Hussain
Khalid Hussain
Zhenli He
author_facet Amna Zulfqar
Nabeel Khan Niazi
Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib
Muhammad Shahid
Khalid Hussain
Khalid Hussain
Zhenli He
author_sort Amna Zulfqar
collection DOAJ
description Chromium (Cr) contamination of soil threatens environmental and human health, necessitating effective and sustainable remediation solutions. Here we explored the impact of rice husk biochar (RH-BC), nano-RH-BC, vermicompost, nano-zero valent zinc (nZVZn), and manganese-modified RH-BC (MnO/RH-BC) on phytoaccumulation of Cr by industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) grown in tannery wastewater-impacted Cr-contaminated soil in a pot trial. Results revealed that maximum shoot Cr concentration was observed in ryegrass with nZVZn mainly in first cutting (45 mg kg-1 DW) followed by vermicompost (42 mg kg-1 DW) > RH-BC (40 mg kg-1 DW) > nano-RH-BC (35 mg kg-1 DW) ∼ MnO/H-BC (34 mg kg-1 DW). In the case of hemp, nZVZn led to maximum shoot Cr concentration (42 mg kg-1 DW) and minimum with RH-BC (4 mg kg-1 DW); notably, hemp survived only for the first harvest. The SPAD value (chlorophyll content) was the highest with MnO/RH-BC for ryegrass and RH-BC for hemp (40 and 51, respectively) and minimum with nZVZn. Results showed that the RH-BC enhanced shoot dry weight of hemp by 664% compared to control, and MnO/RH-BC increased for ryegrass by 400%, 93%, 55%, and 21% at first, second, third, and fourth harvests, respectively. Overall, RH-BC and MnO/RH-BC-amended soils improved plant tolerance against Cr, highlighting their potential for phytoremediation of Cr-contaminated soil. Based on the findings, it is evident that Cr phytoaccumulation is a complex process and varies with plant species and amendment type, which are key factors to consider in future field trials on tannery wastewater-impacted Cr-contaminated soils.
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spelling doaj-art-516103df882b4688b07933ab4018aa872025-08-20T03:31:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-06-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15582551558255Phytoaccumulation of chromium by hemp and ryegrass in rice husk biochars, nano-zero valent zinc and vermicompost amended tannery wastewater soilAmna Zulfqar0Nabeel Khan Niazi1Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib2Muhammad Shahid3Khalid Hussain4Khalid Hussain5Zhenli He6Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, PakistanInstitute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, PakistanInstitute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, PakistanDepartment of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari-Campus, Vehari, PakistanDepartment of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, PakistanDepartment of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Selçuk University, Konya, TürkiyeDepartment of Soil and Water Science, Indian River Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesChromium (Cr) contamination of soil threatens environmental and human health, necessitating effective and sustainable remediation solutions. Here we explored the impact of rice husk biochar (RH-BC), nano-RH-BC, vermicompost, nano-zero valent zinc (nZVZn), and manganese-modified RH-BC (MnO/RH-BC) on phytoaccumulation of Cr by industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) grown in tannery wastewater-impacted Cr-contaminated soil in a pot trial. Results revealed that maximum shoot Cr concentration was observed in ryegrass with nZVZn mainly in first cutting (45 mg kg-1 DW) followed by vermicompost (42 mg kg-1 DW) > RH-BC (40 mg kg-1 DW) > nano-RH-BC (35 mg kg-1 DW) ∼ MnO/H-BC (34 mg kg-1 DW). In the case of hemp, nZVZn led to maximum shoot Cr concentration (42 mg kg-1 DW) and minimum with RH-BC (4 mg kg-1 DW); notably, hemp survived only for the first harvest. The SPAD value (chlorophyll content) was the highest with MnO/RH-BC for ryegrass and RH-BC for hemp (40 and 51, respectively) and minimum with nZVZn. Results showed that the RH-BC enhanced shoot dry weight of hemp by 664% compared to control, and MnO/RH-BC increased for ryegrass by 400%, 93%, 55%, and 21% at first, second, third, and fourth harvests, respectively. Overall, RH-BC and MnO/RH-BC-amended soils improved plant tolerance against Cr, highlighting their potential for phytoremediation of Cr-contaminated soil. Based on the findings, it is evident that Cr phytoaccumulation is a complex process and varies with plant species and amendment type, which are key factors to consider in future field trials on tannery wastewater-impacted Cr-contaminated soils.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1558255/fullcontaminationphytostabilizationcarbon-based amendmentsnanoparticleschromium
spellingShingle Amna Zulfqar
Nabeel Khan Niazi
Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib
Muhammad Shahid
Khalid Hussain
Khalid Hussain
Zhenli He
Phytoaccumulation of chromium by hemp and ryegrass in rice husk biochars, nano-zero valent zinc and vermicompost amended tannery wastewater soil
Frontiers in Environmental Science
contamination
phytostabilization
carbon-based amendments
nanoparticles
chromium
title Phytoaccumulation of chromium by hemp and ryegrass in rice husk biochars, nano-zero valent zinc and vermicompost amended tannery wastewater soil
title_full Phytoaccumulation of chromium by hemp and ryegrass in rice husk biochars, nano-zero valent zinc and vermicompost amended tannery wastewater soil
title_fullStr Phytoaccumulation of chromium by hemp and ryegrass in rice husk biochars, nano-zero valent zinc and vermicompost amended tannery wastewater soil
title_full_unstemmed Phytoaccumulation of chromium by hemp and ryegrass in rice husk biochars, nano-zero valent zinc and vermicompost amended tannery wastewater soil
title_short Phytoaccumulation of chromium by hemp and ryegrass in rice husk biochars, nano-zero valent zinc and vermicompost amended tannery wastewater soil
title_sort phytoaccumulation of chromium by hemp and ryegrass in rice husk biochars nano zero valent zinc and vermicompost amended tannery wastewater soil
topic contamination
phytostabilization
carbon-based amendments
nanoparticles
chromium
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1558255/full
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