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 (