Influence of biochar amendment and foliar application of iron oxide nanoparticles on growth, photosynthesis, and cadmium accumulation in rice biomass

Purpose The majority studies used the biochar or nanoparticles alone in metal-contaminated soils while less is known about the combined use of these amendments in metal-contaminated soils. We aimed to explore the efficiency of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe NPs) and biochar on cadmium (Cd) uptake in rice in pot trial. Materials and methods An experiment was performed under ambient environmental conditions in a Cd-contaminated soil with and without biochar addition (1.0% w/w), and different Fe NP concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30 mg/L) were foliar sprayed at different time intervals (at 3rd, 4th, and 5th weeks of nursery transplantation in the pots) during the plant growth. After harvesting, rice growth, photosynthesis, Cd and Fe contents in rice tissues, and soil bioavailable Cd and soil pH were measured. Results and discussion Iron NPs enhanced the dry weights of rice tissues, chlorophyll concentrations, and gas exchange characteristics and the impact of NPs was further increased when the biochar was applied along with NPs. Iron NPs significantly decreased the intake of Cd in rice shoots by 31 and 42% and in rice roots by 26 and 39% with the foliar spray of Fe NPs (30 mg/L) without and with biochar, respectively. Foliar spray of Fe NPs reduced the total Cd accumulation by shoots, whereas the total Cd accumulation in the roots increased. The co-presence of Fe NPs and Cd enhanced the Fe concentrations in shoots of rice by 52 and 33% and in roots of rice by 32 and 21% when 30 mg/L Fe NPs were supplied with and without biochar, respectively. The effects of Fe NPs were higher with biochar application than without biochar except Fe concentrations in rice seedlings where the opposite trend was observed. Conclusions The increase in biomass, Fe concentrations in tissues, and decrease in Cd levels in plants clearly demonstrate that Fe NPs + biochar could be a promising technique for the utilization of Cd-contaminated soils in the future.