Waste disposal, metal plating, refineries, and mining operations frequently contaminate soils with nickel (Ni). We explored the effects of artificial Ni contamination (0, 56, and 180 mg Ni kg⁻¹) on the soil biochemical indices. The lab experiment also investigated the possible use of kunai grass (Imperata cylindrica) biochar at a 0.75% dry weight basis to alleviate contamination effects. The biochemical indices such as dehydrogenase enzyme activity, acid phosphatase enzyme activity, and soil respiration rates were monitored in three replications. High level of Ni (180 mg kg⁻¹) suppressed soil respiration rate by 37% and dehydrogenase activity by 62% up to 15 days. The acid phosphatase activity was not affected by Ni levels and was insensitive to Ni contamination. Biochar application to the Ni contaminated soil did not improve the soil’s key biological properties. The beneficial effects of biochar could be limited to improvements in soil chemical properties and not on index biological properties.

废物处置，金属电镀，精炼厂和采矿作业经常被镍（Ni）污染土壤。我们探索了人工镍污染（0、56和180 mg Ni kg ^-1）对土壤生化指标的影响。实验室实验还研究了使用干重为0.75％的库奈草（Imperata cylindrica）生物炭来减轻污染的可能性。在三个重复中监测生化指标，例如脱氢酶活性，酸性磷酸酶活性和土壤呼吸速率。高含量的镍（180 mg kg ^-1），直到15天，土壤呼吸速率降低了37％，脱氢酶活性降低了62％。酸性磷酸酶活性不受镍水平的影响，并且对镍污染不敏感。将生物炭施用到被Ni污染的土壤上并不能改善土壤的关键生物学特性。生物炭的有益作用可能仅限于土壤化学性质的改善，而不是指数生物学性质。