Assessing biochar application to immobilize Cd and Pb in a contaminated soil: a field experiment under a cucumber–sweet potato–rape rotation

Cd and Pb are common toxic contaminants prevailing in agricultural soils contaminated by mining activities. In this study, biochar was used to stabilize Cd and Pb contaminated soil for safe with three crops rotation condition within one year. Field experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of Litchi branch biochar (BC), pyrolyzed at 600 °C and applied at 4 rates [(0 t ha−1 (T0), 10 t ha−1 (T1), 20 t ha−1 (T2) and 30 t ha−1 (T3)]) on remediation of Cd and Pb in agricultural soil near Dabaoshan Mine in South China under a cucumber–sweet potato–rape rotation. The results showed that the application of BC can significantly increase the pH, cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter. After cultivation of crops, the pH values decrease gradually, with the biggest drop of 0.45 pH units in T3 treatment after rape cultivation. BC application increased the yield of three crops up to onefold to twofold in T3 treatment as compared to the control. The uptake of Cd and Pb in all three crops decreases with the increase in BC doses, which is mainly related to the decrease in bioavailable metals in their respective soil treatments. Under 1-year crops rotation, the remediation ability of BC still remains, while Cd and Pb can exhibit different risk to different crops. The data of this study can provide scientific suggestions for the selection of suitable crops and proper BC amount in remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil.