Physicochemical Characteristics of Biochar and Their Influence on Sorption Mechanisms of Clothianidin Neonicotinoids in Agricultural Soils

This paper aims to two types of biochar were prepared from different sources: the pruning residues of Pinus roxburghii and Cupressus sempervirens trees at 700C.Electron dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis of both types of biochar revealed an abundance of carbon and oxygen with traces of other elements.The vessels of C. sempervirens biochar, as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are wider than those of P. roxburghii biochar, which may reflect the efficiency of C. sempervirens biochar compared to P. roxburghii biochar.Additionally, the fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra show that both types differ in their functional group content, which may reflect differences in their effects.These types of biochar were added at a rate of 5% to the soil to study their effect on the absorption capacity of clothianidin neonicotinoids by sandy clay loam soil, sandy loam soil and sandy soil.Adding biochar to tested soils enhanced the adsorption of clothianidin, especially when C. sempervirens biochar was added.All soil parameters agree with the Freundlich equation through high value of R 2 , and low value of SE.