Copper uptake, physiological response, and phytoremediation potential of Brassica juncea under biochar application.

Biochar can enhance the phytoremediation of copper-contaminated soils by improving soil quality and increasing plant growth. However, the impact of biochar varies with the biomass feedstock and soil condition. Our study investigated the effect of biochar from orange bagasse-OBB and coconut husk-CHB and two copper concentrations (0.17 mg kg-1-CLS soil; 100 mg kg-1- CTS soil) on plant growth, copper uptake, and physiological response of Brassica juncea. The low- and high-Cu soils were also tested without biochar. We evaluated plant biomass, plant Cu, N and P, chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll's transient fluorescence. Plant growth was meager without biochar, indicating that the high Cu concentration was not the only limiting factor. Biochar (OBB and CHB) increased shoot mass by 300-574% and root mass by 50-2900%, and improved chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity by 6-16%. Both biochars were efficient in the low-Cu soil as they increased plant biomass, shoot copper concentration, and translocation factor. In the high-Cu soil, both biochars increased plant biomass and copper uptake and reduced shoot copper concentration and translocation factor. The CHB and OBB removed 342% and 783% more Cu from the contaminated soil than the Control; therefore, the OBB was proven to be the best choice for phytoremediation.Novelty statement Our study showed that the orange bagasse biochar can be successfully applied for the phytoremediation of copper-contaminated soils using Brassica juncea. The orange bagasse biochar was effective regardless of the copper level in the soil, removing twice as much copper as the coconut biochar; therefore, it can speed up the process and reduce the time needed to clean up the site. HighlightsBiochar significantly improved the plant's physiological responseBiochar increased plant growth and copper uptake in the contaminated soilTranslocation factor was increased in the clean soil and reduced in the contaminated soilBiochar from orange bagasse is more effective than coconut husk for phytoremediation.

Structure of piatã palisadegrass deferred for two periods and fertilised with nitrogen / Estrutura do capim-piatã diferido por dois períodos e adubado com nitrogênio

The deferred pasture structure determines the consumption and performance of grazing animals and, in addition, can be influenced by the duration of the deferment period and nitrogen (N) fertilisation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the structural characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha syn. Urochloa brizantha cv. Piatã (piatã palisadegrass) deferred for two periods (79 and 127 days) and with four N doses (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The experimental design involved complete randomised blocks and a subdivided plot scheme, with three replications. The 127-day period of deferment resulted in a higher forage mass, falling index, stem percentage and density, but a lower number of tillers, percentage and volumetric density of live leaf blade. The N dose increment, in general, worsened the structural characteristics of the piatã palisadegrass deferred for 127 days. However, with the 79-day period, the N fertilisation increased the volumetric density of live leaf blades and reduced the stem percentage in the forage mass. As a preliminary recommendation, piatã palisadegrass can be deferred for 79 days and fertilised with up to 90 kg ha-1 of N in the region of Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, Brazil.

A estrutura do pasto diferido determina o consumo e o desempenho dos animais em pastejo e, ademais, pode ser influenciada pela duração do período de diferimento e pela adubação nitrogenada. O objetivo com este trabalho foi avaliar as características estruturais da Brachiaria brizantha syn. Urochloa brizantha cv. Piatã (capim-piatã) diferida por dois períodos (79 e 127 dias) e com quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 40, 80 e 120 kg ha-1) na Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, Brasil. O experimento foi em blocos completos casualizados e em esquema de parcela subdividida, com três repetições. O período de 127 dias de diferimento resultou em maiores massa de forragem, índice de tombamento, porcentagem e densidade volumétrica de colmo, porém em menores número de perfilho, porcentagem e densidade volumétrica de lâmina foliar viva. O incremento da dose de N reduziu a porcentagem de lâmina foliar viva na massa de forragem do capim-piatã diferido por 127 dias. Porém, com o período de 79 dias, a adubação aumentou a densidade volumétrica de lâmina foliar viva e reduziu a porcentagem de colmo na massa de forragem. Como recomendação preliminar, o capim-piatã pode ser diferido por 79 dias e com adubação de até 90 kg ha-1 de N na região da Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, Brasil.

Structure of piatã palisadegrass deferred for two periods and fertilised with nitrogen / Estrutura do capim-piatã diferido por dois períodos e adubado com nitrogênio

The deferred pasture structure determines the consumption and performance of grazing animals and, in addition, can be influenced by the duration of the deferment period and nitrogen (N) fertilisation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the structural characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha syn. Urochloa brizantha cv. Piatã (piatã palisadegrass) deferred for two periods (79 and 127 days) and with four N doses (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The experimental design involved complete randomised blocks and a subdivided plot scheme, with three replications. The 127-day period of deferment resulted in a higher forage mass, falling index, stem percentage and density, but a lower number of tillers, percentage and volumetric density of live leaf blade. The N dose increment, in general, worsened the structural characteristics of the piatã palisadegrass deferred for 127 days. However, with the 79-day period, the N fertilisation increased the volumetric density of live leaf blades and reduced the stem percentage in the forage mass. As a preliminary recommendation, piatã palisadegrass can be deferred for 79 days and fertilised with up to 90 kg ha-1 of N in the region of Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, Brazil.(AU)

A estrutura do pasto diferido determina o consumo e o desempenho dos animais em pastejo e, ademais, pode ser influenciada pela duração do período de diferimento e pela adubação nitrogenada. O objetivo com este trabalho foi avaliar as características estruturais da Brachiaria brizantha syn. Urochloa brizantha cv. Piatã (capim-piatã) diferida por dois períodos (79 e 127 dias) e com quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 40, 80 e 120 kg ha-1) na Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, Brasil. O experimento foi em blocos completos casualizados e em esquema de parcela subdividida, com três repetições. O período de 127 dias de diferimento resultou em maiores massa de forragem, índice de tombamento, porcentagem e densidade volumétrica de colmo, porém em menores número de perfilho, porcentagem e densidade volumétrica de lâmina foliar viva. O incremento da dose de N reduziu a porcentagem de lâmina foliar viva na massa de forragem do capim-piatã diferido por 127 dias. Porém, com o período de 79 dias, a adubação aumentou a densidade volumétrica de lâmina foliar viva e reduziu a porcentagem de colmo na massa de forragem. Como recomendação preliminar, o capim-piatã pode ser diferido por 79 dias e com adubação de até 90 kg ha-1 de N na região da Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, Brasil.(AU)