Li, J., Zhao, Y., Xu, G. et al. Novel recycling strategy for distillers’ grains waste: prolonged 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 aging promotes cadmium immobilization and lettuce growth by regulating soil nutrient availability and bacterial composition. Plant Soil (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-06827-z

This study explored how different rates and aging times of distillers’ grains-derived biochar (DG-BC) impact lettuce growth and cadmium (Cd) uptake in contaminated soil. The research aimed to determine how DG-BC influences soil nutrients, Cd bioavailability, lettuce metabolic activity, and rhizospheric bacterial composition. Pot experiments with varying DG-BC rates (1%, 2%, 4%) and aging times (0, 3, 6 months) revealed that increasing both factors improved lettuce growth and antioxidant activity while reducing Cd bioavailability and uptake. The abundance of beneficial bacteria like Sphingomonas, RB41, and Nitrospira in the rhizosphere was also enhanced. The study concluded that applying 4% DG-BC aged for 6 months maximizes lettuce growth and minimizes Cd uptake by reducing Cd bioavailability, increasing soil nutrient availability, and regulating beneficial bacterial populations. This method offers a sustainable strategy for promoting lettuce production and mitigating Cd-related health risks.