Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) in soils can deleteriously impact soil biodiversity and function. Soil additives can boost the quality of MP-contaminated soil and its functions and processes. However, nothing has been discovered about how soil additives enhance MP-contaminated soil quality. Thus, the current work is conducted to investigate the impacts of two types of biochar; activated carbon biochar (ACB) and corn cob biochar (CCB) at 2.5% and 5% concentrations each on growth, physiological, biochemical, antioxidant, and ionic contents of wheat. Surface-sterilized wheat seeds were sown in pots in two groups: non-contaminated and MP-contaminated. Data were collected for further analysis from healthy harvested plants. The results demonstrate that biochar changed plant vegetative, photosynthetic, osmolytes, oxidative stress indicators and ionic contents to varying degrees depending on the biochar type. The application of ACB and CCB ameliorated the toxic effects of MPs in wheat at both concentrations. Still, better vegetative growth physiological and biochemical responses were noticed with their higher concentrations, i.e., at 5%. A considerable reduction in MP effects on wheat was noticed in MP-contaminated soil due to ACB and CCB amendments. Moreover, by increasing their concentrations from 2.5% to 5% had considerable positive effects on all studied parameters, both in non-contaminated and MP-contaminated soils. It can be concluded that using ACB and CCB provides an effective innovative technique to reduce MP vegetative, physiological, biochemical, ionic and oxidative disturbances in wheat