Cavitated charcoal -- an innovative method for improving the biochemical
properties of soil
Abstract
The study was carried out with cavitated charcoal that were introduced
into loamy sand and clay at rates of 1.76%, 3.5%, 7.0%, and 14.0%.
The highest introduction rate of the material (14.0%) increased the
content of total carbon (CTot) by 197% in the loamy sand and by 19% in
the clay compared to that in the control treatments. The application of
cavitated charcoal did not significantly change the total content of
heavy metals. Regardless of the element and the soil used, the
application of cavitated charcoal reduced the content of the
CaCl2-extracted forms of heavy metals. Following the application of
cavitated charcoal, the loamy sand soil presented an even lower content
of the most mobile forms of the studied elements. It should also be
noted that regardless of the soil texture, mobile forms of the elements
decreased with the increased cavitated charcoal rate. The respiratory
activity values of the soils into which cavitated charcoal was
introduced were low, which indicates a large number of dormant
microorganisms. Additionally, the results of dehydrogenase and urease
activity indicated the low metabolic activity of the microbial
population in the soils, especially with the relatively high rates
(7.0% and 14.0%) of cavitated charcoal. However, the cavitated
charcoal used in the study showed a significant, positive effect on the
amount of biomass Sorghum saccharatum (L.), and its application
significantly reduced the heavy metal content in the biomass of Sorghum
saccharatum (