Mitigating Heavy Metal Uptake in Wastewater-Irrigated Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) through Biochar and L-Methionine Application
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: White radish (Raphanus sativus L.), a popular and nutritious root crop, is often grown using wastewater irrigation in water-scarce regions, leading to heavy metal accumulation and human health risks.This study evaluated a pragmatic solution using soil-applied biochar and foliar-applied L-methionine to mitigate these hazards.The research was conducted at the Agronomy Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement.Factors included water sources (canal water, canal water + biochar, wastewater, wastewater + biochar) and foliar L-methionine concentrations (0, 30, 60, and 90 mg L⁻¹).The results demonstrated that the combined application of biochar and 90 mg L⁻¹ L-methionine significantly enhanced growth and safety profiles.Specifically, the application of biochar and methionine led to a substantial reduction in heavy metal uptake, with Cadmium (Cd) reduced by 33%, Lead (Pb) by 28%, and Zinc (Zn) by 22% in radish roots compared to wastewater irrigation alone.Furthermore, plant productivity improved significantly, with root fresh biomass increasing by 42% and root dry weight by 38% under the wastewater + biochar treatment supplemented with 90 mg L⁻¹ methionine.These interventions also improved physiological resilience, as evidenced by higher chlorophyll content and increased stress-tolerance markers like proline.Ultimately, this study implies that integrating biochar with L-methionine serves as a highly effective, low-cost strategy to secure food safety and enhance crop yields in regions forced to rely on contaminated wastewater for agriculture.
Language: English
Topic: Heavy metals in environment
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7161153394