Sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar reduces the cadmium and chromium bioavailability to mash bean and enhances the microbial activity in contaminated soil

Purpose Remediation of heavy metals by reducing their mobility and bioavailability without removing them from soils is considered to be a cost-effective and an efficient method to address their toxicity for living organisms and soil health. The main objectives of the current study, therefore, were to investigate the potential of sugarcane bagasse biochar in reducing the bioavailability of soil cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) and assessing the impact of biochar application on soil microbial activities and plant growth in metal-contaminated soil.