Murtaza, et al (2024) Improving wheat physio-biochemical attributes in ciprofloxacin-polluted saline soil using nZVI-modified biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117202

Agricultural soils are increasingly threatened by pollutants like ciprofloxacin (CIP) and salinity, which impact crop productivity and food safety. This study explores the use of biochar enhanced with nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) to mitigate these issues and support healthier wheat growth.

The experiment compared untreated biochar with nZVI-loaded biochar in saline, CIP-contaminated soil, assessing impacts on soil health, 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, and physiological responses. Results showed that nZVI-loaded biochar was particularly effective. Wheat plants treated with nZVI-modified biochar exhibited significant increases in shoot, root, grain, and spike biomass—by up to 152%, 54%, 60%, and 151%, respectively, compared to controls.

Enhanced photosynthesis, water use efficiency, and chlorophyll content were observed in the nZVI-treated plants, which also showed lower oxidative stress markers, like malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. The biochar reduced CIP levels in plant tissues and enhanced enzymatic antioxidant activity, such as catalase and superoxide dismutase. Non-enzymatic antioxidants, including total soluble sugars and phenolics, also increased, suggesting a boost to the plant’s stress resilience.

Overall, nZVI-loaded biochar offers a promising strategy to enhance crop performance in degraded soils. Its application could reduce CIP bioaccumulation and improve crop resistance to combined salt and CIP stress, potentially serving as an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional soil amendments. Further research in field conditions will help confirm its efficacy on a larger scale.