Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40394081›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Utilizing spent mushroom substrate biochar to improve Zea mays L. growth and biochemical resilience against cadmium and chromium toxicity.

Khadim Dawar, Ahmad Ullah Khan, Motirh Al-Mutairi, Modhi O Alotaibi, Ishaq Ahmad Mian, Asim Muhammad, Syed Sartaj Alam, Saniha Shoaib, Adel M Ghoneim

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Khadim DawarDepartment of Soil and Environmental Science, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Ahmad Ullah KhanDepartment of Soil and Environmental Science, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Motirh Al-MutairiDepartment of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, 11671, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Modhi O AlotaibiDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, 11671, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ishaq Ahmad MianDepartment of Soil and Environmental Science, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Asim MuhammadDepartment of Agronomy, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Syed Sartaj AlamFaculty of Applied Biosciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, 156-8502, Japan. sa208699@nodai.ac.jp.
Saniha ShoaibInstitute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, 60000, Pakistan. sanihashoaib08@gmail.com.
Adel M GhoneimField Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, 12112, Egypt. adelrrtc.ghoneim@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils is a growing environmental concern, particularly due to the increasing accumulation of cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) from industrial discharge, wastewater irrigation, and excessive fertilizer use. These toxic metals severely impact crop productivity by disrupting nutrient uptake, damaging root structures, and inducing oxidative stress, which collectively inhibit plant growth and development. Maize (Zea mays L.), a globally important cereal crop, is highly susceptible to heavy metal toxicity, making it essential to develop cost-effective and sustainable mitigation strategies. Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) biochar has emerged as an effective and sustainable method due to its ability to absorb heavy metals. Spent mushroom substrate biochar improves compost quality, soil fertility, and health. Its high porosity and surface area immobilize toxic metals, reducing nutrient losses and oxidative stress in plants. Pyrolysis temperature affects its surface area, nutrient composition, and adsorption abilities. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of SMS biochar at varying application rates in mitigating Cd and Cr toxicity in maize. By assessing key physiological and agronomic parameters, this research provides novel insights into the potential of SMS biochar as a sustainable soil amendment for heavy metal-contaminated soils. Five treatments, i.e., 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200B were applied under Cd and Cr toxicity in 3 replications following the completely randomized design (CRD). Results exhibited that 200B caused an increase in maize plant height (26.1%), root dry weight (99.7%), grain yield (98.2%), and chlorophyll contents (50%) over control under Cd and Cr stress. In conclusion, 200B can mitigate Cd and Cr stress in maize plants. More investigations are suggested to declare 200B as a promising amendment for mitigation of Cd and Cr stress in other crops.

Indexed as

AgaricalesCadmiumCharcoalChromiumSoil PollutantsZea maysPlant RootsSoilbiocharCadmiumCharcoalChromiumSoilSoil PollutantsAntioxidantBiocharCadmium chromiumChlorophyll contentMushroom substrate

Identifiers

PMID40394081
PMCPMC12092701

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.