A novel agrosinters support growth, photosynthetic efficiency and reduce trace metal elements accumulation in oilseed rape growing on metalliferous soil

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 363; no. Pt 1; p. 125095
• Main Authors: Krzyżak, J., Rusinowski, S., Szada-Borzyszkowska, A., Pogrzeba, M., Stec, R., Janota, P., Lipowska, B., Stec, K., Długosz, J., Sitko, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.12.2024
• Subjects: Agriglass; Brassica napus; Cadmium; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Thermal imaging; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Brassica napus; Cadmium; Thermal imaging; Agriglass; cadmium; chlorophyll fluorescence; thermal imaging; agriglass
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125095

Soil conditioners to fertilize, improve soil structure and support the phytostabilization of trace metal elements (TMEs) are being used more and more frequently. One of the options are agrosinters – slow-release ceramic fertilizers consisting mainly of SiO2, CaO, P2O5 and K2O, with an alkaline pH and high impact strength. The effect of two different agrosinters, A1 and A2, on the growth and physiological condition of Brassica napus grown in uncontaminated and Pb-, Cd- and Zn-contaminated soil was investigated in a pot experiment. In vivo data were collected using an infrared gas analyzer, a fluorimeter, a pigment content meter and a thermal camera. Elemental composition of the biomass was also investigated. The tested agrosinters promote biomass yield and have an effect on improving leaf chlorophyll content, phenomenological energy fluxes and plant gas exchange. The effect of the agrosinters on the plants was dose- and amendment-specific. An immobilization effect was observed not only in the soil but also in the plants. A reduction in the Cd (22%) and Zn (40%) content in the biomass was measured. All this was related to the effect of increasing the available form of P (50%), K (300%) and Ca (50%) in the soil, which improves soil fertility and reduces the bioavailable forms of the studied TMEs, due to the increase in soil pH and/or the complexation of these with phosphate compounds. The multidimensional analysis of A2 agrosinter shows the most positive effects on plant conditions, indicating that fly ash as a mixed substrate benefits the plants. [Display omitted] •TMEs bioavailability in soil was reduced about 60–75% after agrosinters application.•TMEs immobilization was related to increased soil pH and complexation with P compounds.•P and K release and TMEs uptake reduction improve plants physiological parameters.•Agrosinters improve biomass yield on contaminated and uncontamined soil treatments.