EFFECT OF COMPOSTED AND UNCOMPOSTED ORGANIC AMENDMENTS AND BIOCHAR ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND LEAD UPTAKE IN TWO MAIZE VARIETIES PLANTED IN Pb CONTAMINATED SOIL

Abstract

Laboratory and screen-house studies were carried out to investigate the influence of composted manure, chicken manure, biochar, and control on the chemical characteristics and nutrient uptake of maize grown in lead-contaminated soil. The uncontaminated soil with lead was utilized as a control. All treatments were administered at three levels (20, 30, and 40t/ha). The treatments were implemented in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The maize cultivars employed were DTMA-Y-STR and DTMA-W-STR. The Pb content of DTMA Y STR planted in Pb-contaminated soil supplemented with 40t/ha of compost manure was dramatically reduced to 37300mg/kg, while DTMA W STR was reduced to 15027mg/kg when compared to the previously documented 66377mg/kg. In addition, Pb uptake in DTMA W STR shoots was reduced with Pb-contaminated soil supplemented with composted cow dung at a rate of 20t/ha. The experiment demonstrated that composted organic manure might assist in alleviating metal stress in maize crops growing in lead-contaminated soil, as well as immobilizing lead in the soil.