Work

Effects of Bioavailability and Microbial Community on the Degradation of Atrazine in Sewage Sludge Biochar-Amended Soils

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Biochar, as an emerging biotechnology, has been widely used in the remediation of soil organic pollution, mainly by promoting the abundance of related degrading bacteria in soil. In this study, we explored the influence of sewage sludge biochars pyrolyzed at different temperatures of 300–700 °C (SSB300-SSB700) and addition rates (1% and 5%) on the atrazine biodegradation in soils. After a 21-day incubation, the application of 5% SSB300 significantly increased soil catalase (CAT), urease activity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and electrical conductivity (EC). However, biochar amendment exhibited inhibitory effects on atrazine degradation in soils. The atrazine degradation ratio decreased with decreasing pyrolysis temperature and increasing addition rates. Further analysis found that there were two possible reasons for the significant decline of atrazine biodegradation in SSB300 groups: (1) SSB300 demonstrated higher adsorption capacity for atrazine compared to SSB500 and SSB700 and reduced atrazine bioavailability due to its stronger hydrophobic nature and more abundant surface functional groups; and (2) the SSB300 significantly decreased the abundances of dominant atrazine-degraders (Arthrobacter and Pseudomonas) and atrazine-degrading genes (atzA, atzB, and trzN).

Source: Energies

DOI: 10.3390/en18123158

Authors: Siying Li, Xin Li, Yunyang Li, Yue Zhao

Institution: Harbin Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137