Randomized trial explores how biochar and dissolved organic matter affect phenanthrene biodegradation in soil, suggesting implications for bioremediation.
Key Points
To determine how various dissolved organic matter types influence biochar's effect on phenanthrene biodegradation in agricultural soil.
Amended phenanthrene-spiked agricultural soil with wheat-straw biochar and three DOM types (citric acid, oxalic acid, humic acid).
Measured microbial removal of phenanthrene and assessed bioavailable pools and microbial responses.
Analyzed the interactions between biochar and DOM on biodegradation outcomes.
Citric and oxalic acids increased microbial removal from 43.98% (control) to 55.84% and 54.74%, respectively.
Humic acid reduced removal to 39.65% and decreased effective bioavailability.
Biochar alone improved removal to 48.20%, while the combination with citric and oxalic acids achieved the highest removal rates (64.20% and 60.52%).