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Wang J, Yang Y, Wu J, Zhao K, Zhang X. The interaction between biochar and earthworms: Revealing the potential ecological risks of biochar application and the feasibility of their co-application. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 950:175240. [PMID: 39111445 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Biochar's interaction with soil-dwelling organisms, particularly earthworms, is crucial in ensuring the effective and secure utilization of biochar in the soil. This review introduces the application of biochar in soil, summarizes how earthworms respond to biochar-amended soil and the underlying factors that can influence their response, discusses the synergistic and antagonistic impacts of earthworm activity on the efficacy of biochar, and considers the feasibility of applying them together. A review of existing research has identified uncertainty in the effect of biochar exposure on earthworms, with biochar derived from animal wastes, produced at higher pyrolysis temperatures, and used at higher doses of biochar having more negative effects on earthworms. Habitat modification, toxicity release, particle effects, and contaminant immobilization are underlying factors in how biochar affects earthworm indicators. While biochar in contaminated soils may alleviate the stress of pollutants on earthworms by decreasing their bioaccumulation, this remedial effect is not always effective. Additionally, earthworm bioturbation can enhance the migration, fragmentation, and oxidation of biochar, while also stimulating extracellular enzymes that convert biochar into 'vermichar'. Earthworms and biochar can synergize well to improve soil fertility and remediate soil organic pollution, yet exhibit contrasting roles in soil C sequestration and immobilizing heavy metals in soil. These findings highlight both the advantages and risks of their co-application. Therefore, when considering the use of biochar alone or with earthworms, it is crucial to thoroughly assess its potential ecotoxicity on earthworms and other soil organisms, as well as the influence of bioturbation, such as that caused by earthworms, on the effectiveness of biochar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China; College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Yuxiang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China; College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Jizi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China; College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Keli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China; College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China.
| | - Xiaokai Zhang
- School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
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Deng B, Luo J, Xu C, Zhang X, Li J, Yuan Q, Cao H. Biotransformation of Pb and As from sewage sludge and food waste by black soldier fly larvae: Migration mechanism of bacterial community and metalloregulatory protein scales. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 254:121405. [PMID: 38447376 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The accumulation and transformation of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) during the digestion of sewage sludge (SS) by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) remain unclear. In this study, we used 16 s rRNA and metagenomic sequencing techniques to investigate the correlation between the microbial community, metalloregulatory proteins (MRPs), and Pb and As migration and transformation. During the 15-day test period, BSFL were able to absorb 34-48 % of Pb and 32-45 % of As into their body. Changes in bacterial community abundance, upregulation of MRPs, and redundancy analysis (RDA) results confirmed that ZntA, EfeO, CadC, ArsR, ArsB, ArsD, and ArsA play major roles in the adsorption and stabilization of Pb and As, which is mainly due to the high contribution rates of Lactobacillus (48-59 %) and Enterococcus (21-23 %). Owing to the redox reaction, the regulation of the MRPs, and the change in pH, the Pb and As in the BSFL residue were mainly the residual fraction (F4). The RDA results showed that Lactobacillus and L.koreensis could significantly (P < 0.01) reduce the reducible fraction (F2) and F4 of Pb, whereas Firmicutes and L.fermentum can significantly (P < 0.05) promote the transformation of As to F4, thus realizing the passivation Pb and As. This study contributes to the understanding of Pb and As in SS adsorbed by BSFL and provides important insights into the factors that arise during the BSFL-mediated migration of Pb and As.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Deng
- Key Laboratory of Smart Farming for Agricultural Animals, College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Facilities Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430070, China; Technology & Equipment Center for carbon Neutrality in Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Junlong Luo
- Key Laboratory of Smart Farming for Agricultural Animals, College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Facilities Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430070, China; Technology & Equipment Center for carbon Neutrality in Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Chao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Smart Farming for Agricultural Animals, College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Facilities Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430070, China; Technology & Equipment Center for carbon Neutrality in Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Smart Farming for Agricultural Animals, College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Facilities Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430070, China; Technology & Equipment Center for carbon Neutrality in Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Smart Farming for Agricultural Animals, College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Facilities Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430070, China; Technology & Equipment Center for carbon Neutrality in Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Qiaoxia Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Smart Farming for Agricultural Animals, College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Facilities Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430070, China; Technology & Equipment Center for carbon Neutrality in Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
| | - Hongliang Cao
- Key Laboratory of Smart Farming for Agricultural Animals, College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Facilities Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430070, China; Technology & Equipment Center for carbon Neutrality in Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
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Ge Y, Huang C, Zhou W, Shen Z, Qiao Y. Eisenia fetida impact on cadmium availability and distribution in specific components of the earthworm drilosphere. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:112222-112235. [PMID: 37831264 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30335-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Although the potential of vermiremediation for restoring metal-contaminated soils is promising, the effects of earthworms on the availability of soil metals are still debatable. Most previous studies considered the soil as a "whole black box." Mobilization or immobilization of metals are affected by earthworm activities within drilosphere hotspots under different soil conditions, which has not been specifically studied. Therefore, an improved 2D terrarium was designed to study the impact of earthworm activities on cadmium (Cd) fate in the drilosphere hotspots (burrow wall soils, burrow casts, and surface casts) of different artificially spiked Cd treatments (CK: 0 mg kg-1; LM: 1 mg kg-1; and HM: 5 mg kg-1) with different organic amendments (2% and 10%). The results revealed that Cd increased earthworm activities with the highest cast production in HM and the highest burrow length in LM. Earthworms exhibited a stronger tendency to reduce total Cd concentration by 4.48-13.58% in casts of LM soils, while 3.37-5.22% in burrow walls under HM treatments. Overall, earthworms could increase the availability of Cd in casts under all conditions (55.46-121.01%). The organic amendments decreased the total Cd concentration and increased the availability of Cd in the disturbed soil. A higher amount of organic amendment significantly decreased total Cd concentration of the drilosphere by 1.16-5.83% in LM and HM treatments, while increasing DTPA-Cd concentrations in all components by 23.13-55.20 %, 14.63-35.11%, and 3.30-11.41% in CK, LM, and HM treatments, respectively, except for earthworm non-disturbed soil and no-earthworm soil in HM treatments. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the moisture, pH, and total carbon contents in soil are the main factors affecting Cd bioavailability. In this study, we decoded the "black box" of soil by making it relatively simple to better understand the effects and mechanisms of earthworm activities on soil metal availability and consequently provided comprehensive insights for using earthworms in soil vermiremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ge
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Caide Huang
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Wenhao Zhou
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhiqiang Shen
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yuhui Qiao
- College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Gudeta K, Kumar V, Bhagat A, Julka JM, Bhat SA, Ameen F, Qadri H, Singh S, Amarowicz R. Ecological adaptation of earthworms for coping with plant polyphenols, heavy metals, and microplastics in the soil: A review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14572. [PMID: 36994405 PMCID: PMC10040515 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, soil pollution by massive accumulation of heavy metals (HMs), microplastics, and refractory hydrocarbon chemicals has become an emerging and global concern, drawing worldwide attention. These pollutants influence soil diversity by hindering the reproduction, abundance, thereby affecting aboveground productivity. The scientific community has recently emphasized the contribution of earthworms to heavy metal accumulation, microplastic degradation, and the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, which helps maintain the soil structure. This review paper aimed to compile scientific facts on how earthworms cope with the effect of HMs, microplastics, and plant polyphenols so that vermiremediation could be widely applied for well-being of the soil ecosystem by environmentalists. Earthworms have special surface-active metabolites in their guts called drilodefensins that help them defend themselves against the oxidative action of plant polyphenols. They also combat the effects of toxic microplastics, and other oxidative compounds by elevating the antioxidant activities of their enzymes and converting them into harmless compounds or useful nutrients. Moreover, earthworms also act as biofilters, bioindicators, bioaccumulators, and transformers of oxidative polyphenols, microplastics, toxic HMs, and other pollutant hydrocarbons. Microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) in earthworms' gut of also assist in the fixation, accumulation, and transformation of these toxicants to prevent their effects. As a potential organism for application in ecotoxicology, it is recommended to propagate earthworms in agricultural fields; isolate, and culture enormously in industry, and inoculate earthworms in the polluted soil, thereby abate toxicity and minimizing the health effect caused by these pollutants as well enhance the productivity of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasahun Gudeta
- Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Solan, 173229, Himachal Pradesh, India
- Adama Science and Technology University, Department of Applied Biology, P.O. Box 1888, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Vineet Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Kishangarh, Ajmer, 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Ankeet Bhagat
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Jatinder Mohan Julka
- Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Solan, 173229, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Sartaj Ahmad Bhat
- River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
- Corresponding author.
| | - Fuad Ameen
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Humaira Qadri
- Department of Environmental Sciences, J&K Higher Education Department, Govt. Degree College, Baramulla, 193101, Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Sumit Singh
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Ryszard Amarowicz
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, 10-748, Poland
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Compositional changes and ecological characteristics of earthworm mucus under different electrical stimuli. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2332. [PMID: 36759532 PMCID: PMC9911739 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29125-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Earthworm mucus is rich in nutrients that can initiate the mineralization and humification of organic matter and is of great importance for contaminated soil remediation and sludge reutilization. In this study, six voltage and current combinations were utilized to promote earthworm mucus production (5 V and 6 V at 10, 20 and 30 mA, respectively), to explore the compositional changes of the mucus produced under different electrical stimuli, and to propose the best electrical stimulation group and mucus fraction applicable to soil heavy metal pollution remediation and sludge reutilization. The results showed that the mucus produced by the six electrical stimuli was mainly composed of proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and polysaccharides, with small amounts of alcohol, phenol, and ester organic substances. Under different electrical stimuli, each component changed significantly (P < 0.05). pH and conductivity were higher at 6 V 20 mA, total nitrogen and phosphorus contents reached their maximum at 5 V 30 mA, and total potassium at 6 V 10 mA. Protein, amino acids, and carbohydrates were most abundant in the mucus produced at 5 V 10 mA, while trace metal elements reached their lowest values at 5 V 10 mA. Finally, based on principal component analysis and combined with previous studies, it was concluded that the mucus produced at 5 V 10 mA was weakly alkaline, high in amino acids and nutrients and low in trace metal elements, and most suitable for sludge and straw composting experiments, soil remediation and amendment experiments.
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Yang R, Luo L, Zhao N, Guo F, Zhu M, Zan S, Yu T, Han FX, Huang J. Indigenous earthworms and gut bacteria are superior to chemical amendments in the remediation of cadmium-contaminated seleniferous soils. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 245:114122. [PMID: 36183425 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The natural selenium (Se)-rich areas in China are generally characterized by high geological background of cadmium (Cd) which poses potential risks to human health. Therefore, immobilization of Cd is the prerequisite to ensure the safe utilization of natural seleniferous soil resources. A pot experiment was conducted to compare the effects of indigenous earthworm (Amynthas hupeiensis) and its gut bacteria (Citrobacter freundii DS strain) on the remediation of Cd-contaminated seleniferous soil with two traditional chemical amendments. The results indicated that earthworms and DS strain decreased DGT-extractable Cd by 25.52 - 41.53% and reduced Cd accumulation in lettuce leaves by 20.83 - 37.50% compared with control through converting the exchangeable Cd (EX-Cd) into residual Cd (RE-Cd) fractions. Overall, earthworms and DS strain were more effective in Cd immobilization, growth and quality promotion, oxidative stress alleviation, Cd accumulation and bioaccessibility reduction in the soil-lettuce-human continuum than biochar and lime. Moreover, all amendments induced the antagonism between Se and Cd through increasing bioavailable Se/Cd molar ratios in soil. However, all the Cd concentrations in lettuce exceeded the maximum permissible limit of Cd for leaf vegetables, indicating that soil amendment alone could not ensure food safety. This study confirmed that biological amendments were superior to chemical amendments in the remediation of Cd-contaminated seleniferous soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruyi Yang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China.
| | - Linfeng Luo
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Nan Zhao
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Fuyu Guo
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Meng Zhu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Shuting Zan
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Water and Soil Pollution Control and Remediation, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Tianao Yu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Fengxiang X Han
- Jackson State University, Department of Chemistry, Physics and Atmospheric Sciences, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
| | - Jingxuan Huang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
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