Synergetic contribution of sugarcane bagasse and derived biochar: Insights into cadmium stress tolerance of maize (Zea mays L.) with physiochemical exploration

Cadmium (Cd) and other heavy metals are significant micropollutants originating from excessive industrial activities, inappropriate fertilizer use, and atmospheric deposition. The availability and movement of Cd can be minimized through adsorption using potential adsorbents like sugarcane bagasse (SB) and sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar (SB-BC). It has been reported that organic amendments such as SB and SB-BC affect the bioavailability of heavy metals. A field study assessed the impact of SB and SB-BC on the physiological and biochemical properties of maize plants grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Compared with High Stress Cadmium (HS-Cd), in No Stress Cadmium (NS-Cd), the combined application of 1% SB and 1% SB-BC displayed maximum response in plant physiological and biochemical properties; improved the performance of IRGA traits, chlorophyll content (CHL), relative water content (RWC) get increased as leaf chlorophyll (52%), RWC (29%), A (11%), E (57%), Gs (41%) and Ci (24%)a marked decrease in shoot (15%) and root (27%) Cd concentration, enhanced antioxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic response: Up-regulated the superoxidase (SOD) by 34%, peroxidase (POD) by 44%, catalase (CAT) by 29%, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) by 22%, and total phenolics (TP) by 55%, ascorbic acid (ASA) by 33%, glutathione (GSH) by 34%, glutathione reductase (GR) by 19%; the decreased lipid peroxidation and membrane damage: rebated the level of H2O2 (55%), O2 (43%), content which alleviated the malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 46% and electrolyte leakage (EL) by 53% in maize plant; aggravated the profiling of compatible solutes: 18% proline content (PC), 43% soluble sugars (SS), 31% soluble proteins (SP), and 26% glycine betaine (GB) accumulation amplified, relative to their respective treatments of control and LS-Cd and HS-Cd groups. The combined application of SB and SB-BC (each at 1%) can be an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach to stabilize the Cd within the contaminated soils.