Background: Soil-borne pathogens such as Sclerotium rolfsii ( Agroathelia rolfsii Sacc.) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri pose serious threats to chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) production. Trichoderma spp. are widely recognized in modern agriculture as effective biocontrol agents due to their ability to produce several lytic enzymes, including chitinases, glucanases and proteases, which contribute to the inhibition of plant pathogens. Objectives: This study aimed to screen Trichoderma isolates for protease and chitinase activity, evaluate their antagonistic potential against two chickpea pathogens, and assess the synergistic effects of Trichoderma and biochar in disease suppression and plant growth promotion. This study investigated the protease and chitinase activities of different Trichoderma isolates and evaluated their synergistic potential with biochar in promoting defense-related enzymes in chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.). Methods: A total of 21 Trichoderma isolates were screened for protease and chitinase activity. Four potent strains— T. harzianum (PBT13), T. virens (PBT3), T. lixii (PBT14), and T. asperellum (PBT4)—were selected for further evaluation. Antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri and S. rolfsii was assessed using dual culture assays and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extracellular chitinase activity of the most active strain was quantified, and its inhibitory effect on pathogenic growth was determined. The combined application of T. harzianum and rice husk biochar significantly influenced disease incidence, defense enzyme activity, germination, chlorophyll content, sclerotia formation, and Trichoderma survivability under greenhouse and field conditions. Results: Among the tested isolates, T. harzianum (PBT13) showed the highest enzymatic activity and strong antagonism against both pathogens. Extracellular chitinase activity peaked at 60 U/mL, suppressing in vitro growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri by 95.95% and S. rolfsii by 97.10%. Greenhouse/field trials revealed that combining T. harzianum with rice husk biochar significantly reduced disease incidence, enhanced plant defense, enzyme activity, improved germination and chlorophyll content, reduced sclerotia formation, and promoted Trichoderma survival in soil. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that enzyme-active Trichoderma strains, particularly T. harzianum (PBT13), in combination with rice husk biochar, provides a sustainable and synergistic approach for managing soil-borne diseases in chickpea. This integrated strategy not only suppresses pathogens but also improves plant health and resilience, offering a viable alternative to chemical fungicides.

The rapid increase in cement demand across the globe has led to greater environmental problems. The high temperature required for cement production is attained by burning fossil fuels and other materials. Burning these materials led to high CO2 emissions, causing pollution and global warming. To overcome this, cement produced through biological means as a green alternative has emerged in recent years. Chemically, bio-cement is calcium carbonate produced through hydrolysis of urea and calcium chloride through microbes by utilizing a well-known mechanism, microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). The application includes grout formation to minimize contaminant movement, preventing dust formation on walls, self-repair ability to repair wall cracks and immobilization of sand. This application of bio-cement has a great potential to replace conventional cement in the construction sector.

Aquatic contamination with heavy metals has a significant impact on the ecology and human health. Native biochar from waste biomass produced using thermochemical conversion provides a low-cost, carbon-negative adsorption platform; however, in complex effluents, the inherent material properties can have restricted capacity and selectivity. This study examines recent developments in engineered biochar, combining an extensive bibliometric analysis of 5,845 publications from the Scopus database (2000–2026) with a critical narrative review of the latest advances in surface modification methods and techniques (physical, chemical, nanocomposite, and bioinspired). Maximum adsorption capacity is quantitatively compared among the significant modification families, and the synergistic molecular mechanisms, primarily surface complexation, ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, and precipitation, are explained for these exponential performance increases. Importantly, this review examines the critical change from scaled-up laboratory batch testing to actual continuous operation, highlighting operational considerations such as the impact of competition with dissolved organic matter, mesopore fouling, and the lifetime of the fixed beds. In addition, we discuss the concept of crop-based modification to tailor the biochar properties for the circular economy and address the current potential of AI/ML to facilitate relationships between properties and performance. In conclusion, the study offers a strategic blueprint to address current challenges in wastewater treatment and presents the engineered biochar as a pivotal technology for sustainable wastewater treatment on a larger scale. Graphical abstract