Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the potential influences of biochar in mitigating the phytotoxic effects of hexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) on the germination of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Biochar (JBC) was produced from Jujube (Ziziphus jujube L.) wood waste at three different pyrolysis temperatures (300 degrees C, 500 degrees C and 700 degrees C), which was later polymerized (JPBC) via the solution-polymerization method. Phytotoxicity of Cr-VI was induced to wheat seeds at variable Cr-VI application rates (5, 10, 20, 40 mg L-1). Applied Cr-VI concentrations confined the seed germination and seedling growth in order of: 5 < 10 < 20 < 40 mg L-1. The application of JBCs (0.2 g per petri plate) resulted in a 150% increase in shoot length, while dry biomass was increased by 250% with JPBCs application. Uptake of Cr-VI was significantly lower in JBC-300 (7.74 mu g/seedling) and JPBC-300 (1.13 mu g/seedling) treatments, as compared to control (13.24 mu g/seedling), at the highest stress level (40 mg L-1). Therefore, the findings of the current study showed that JBCs and JPBCs performed excellently in improving seedling growth while JPBCs performed more efficiently than pristine JBCs in mitigating Cr-VI phytotoxicity and availability.