Chromium (Cr) contamination in agricultural soils poses a significant threat to crop production and human health, especially when wastewater from tanneries is used for irrigation. To address this, a study published in Science of the Total Environment explored the combined use of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) and biochar enriched with silicon (SiBc) to reduce Cr toxicity in wheat grown in polluted soil.

The research applied two levels of chromium-polluted soil (CPS) and tested the effects of foliar-applied SiNPs (SiF) and soil-applied SiBc on wheat growth. The study found that both treatments improved wheat biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More by reducing chromium accumulation, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, and increasing protein and phenolic content. Notably, the combination of SiNPs and SiBc yielded the best results for both root and shoot growth under chromium stress, demonstrating tissue-specific effects.

In addition, the study used adsorption isotherm analysis to evaluate Cr absorption by the soil. The combined SiNPs and SiBc treatment showed the highest capacity for reducing soil Cr levels. Furthermore, a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) revealed that this combination also had favorable environmental outcomes, reducing Cr’s negative impact on soil and human health.

Overall, this study highlights the potential of SiNPs and SiBc to mitigate chromium toxicity in wheat, offering a sustainable solution for improving crop resilience in contaminated soils.