Soil organic and inorganic carbon sequestration by consecutive biochar application: Results from a decade field experiment

Biochar addition can expand soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and has potential ability in mitigating climate change. Also, some incubation experiments have shown that biochar can increase soil inorganic carbon (SIC) contents. However, there is no direct evidence for this from the field experiment. In order to make up the sparseness of available data resulting from the long‐term effect of biochar amendment on soil carbon fractions, here we detected the contents and stocks of the bulk SIC and SOC fractions based on a 10‐year field experiment of consecutive biochar application in Shandong Province, China. There are three biochar treatments as no‐biochar (control), and biochar application at 4.5 Mg ha^?1 year^?1 (B4.5) and 9.0 Mg ha^?1 year^?1 (B9.0), respectively. The results showed that biochar application significantly enhanced SIC content (3.2%–24.3%), >53 μm particulate organic carbon content (POC, 38.2%–166.2%) and total soil organic carbon content (15.8%–82.2%), compared with the no‐biochar control. However, <53 μm silt–clay‐associated organic carbon (SCOC) content was significantly decreased (14%–27%) under the B9.0 treatment. Our study provides the direct field evidence that SIC contributed to carbon sequestration after the biochar application, and indicates that the applied biochar was allocated mainly in POC fraction. Further, the decreased SCOC and increased microbial biomass carbon contents observed in field suggest that the biochar application might exert a positive priming effect on native soil organic carbon.     

Dissolved Organic Carbon in Association with Water Soluble Nutrients and Metals in Soils from Lake Okeechobee Watershed, South Florida

Water quality of Lake Okeechobee has been a major environmental concern for many years. Transport of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in runoff water from watershed is critical to the increased inputs of nutrients (N and P) and metals (Cu and Zn). In this study, 124 soil samples were collected with varying soil types, land uses, and soil depths in Lake Okeechobee watershed and analyzed for water-extractable C, N, P, and metals to examine the relationship between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and water soluble nutrients (N and P) and metals in the soils. DOC in the soils was in 27.64?C400 mg kg^?1 (69.30 mg kg^?1 in average) and varied with soil types, land uses, and soil depth. The highest water-extractable DOC was found in soils collected in sugar cane and field crops (277 and 244 mg kg^?1 in average, respectively). Water soluble concentrations of N and P were in the range of 6.46?C129 and 0.02?C60.79 mg kg^?1, respectively. The ratios of water-extractable C/N and C/P in soils were in 0.68?C12.52 (3.23 in average) and 3.19?C2,329 (216 in average), and varied with land uses. The lowest water-extractable C/N was observed in the soils from dairy (1.66), resident (1.79), and coniferous forest (4.49), whereas the lowest water-extractable C/P was with the land uses of dairy (13.1) and citrus (33.7). Therefore, N and P in the soils under these land uses may have high availability and leaching potential. The concentrations of water soluble Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn were in the ranges of?<?method detection limit (MDL)?C0.33, <MDL?C0.53, 0.04?C2.42, <MDL?C0.71, and 0.09?C1.13 mg kg^?1, with corresponding mean values of 0.02, 0.01, 0.50, 0.07, and 0.37 mg kg^?1, respectively. The highest water soluble Co (0.10 mg kg^?1), Cr (0.26 mg kg^?1), Ni (0.31 mg kg^?1), and Zn (0.80 mg kg^?1) were observed in soils under the land use of sugar cane, whereas the highest Cu (1.50 mg kg^?1) was with field crop. The concentration of DOC was positively correlated with total organic carbon (TOC) (P <0.01), water soluble N (P <0.01), electrical conductivity (EC, P <0.01), and water soluble Co, Cr, Ni, and Zn (P <0.01), and Cu (P <0.05), whereas water soluble N was positively correlated with water soluble P, Cu, and Zn (P <0.01) in soils. These results indicate that the transport of DOC from land to water bodies may correlate with the loss of macro-nutrients (N, P), micro-nutrients (Cu, Zn, and Ni), and contaminants (Cr and Co) as well.     

Biochar application as a win-win strategy to mitigate soil nitrate pollution without compromising crop yields: a case study in a Mediterranean calcareous soil

Purpose

The environmental benefits of biochar application, ranging from improvements in crop yield to global change mitigation, have been extensively studied in the last decade. However, such benefits have not been profusely demonstrated under a Mediterranean climate and still less in combination with high pH soils. In our study, the short to medium effects of biochar application on a soil-plant system under Mediterranean conditions in an alkaline soil were assessed.

Material and methods

Barley plants were grown in field mesocosms during three agronomical years at three biochar addition rates (0, 5, and 30 t ha^?1). Related to soil, different physicochemical parameters were analyzed as well as microbial respiration, biomass, and functional diversity. In the plant domain, in vivo ecophysiology variables such as leaf transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis rate were determined while photosynthetic pigment content and soluble protein concentrations were measured in the laboratory. Additionally, crop yield and nutrient composition were also analyzed. The soil-plant connection was investigated by the N content ratio in both fractions establishing the nitrogen efficiency in the system.

Results and discussion

The highest rate of biochar amendment enhanced soil moisture and electrical conductivity combined with an increase of SO₄^2?, Cl^?, Mg²⁺, and K⁺, and decrease of NO₃^? and HPO₄^?. Notable variations regarding nutrition and moisture were induced in this Mediterranean alkaline soil after biochar addition although pH remained stable. Contrastingly, there were no major effects on microbial activity, but a lower abundance of the nosZ functional gene was found. Similarly, plant parameters were unaffected regarding chemical composition and ecophysiology although biochar induced a higher efficiency in the plant nitrogen uptake without increasing crop yield.

Conclusions

Biochar addition at the highest rate (30 t ha^?1) reduced soil-soluble nitrate although N uptake by the plant remained invariable, in turn coupled to no effects on crop productivity. Our study showed that, in a Mediterranean agroecosystem, a wood biochar produced by gasification was unable to increase crop yield, but enhanced soil water retention, decreased the need for N fertilization, and decreased soil-soluble nitrate concentrations, something that could help to mitigate the excessive nitrate levels associated with over-fertilization.

     

生物炭连续施用对油菜产量及旱地红壤溶解性有机碳光谱特征的影响

【目的】揭示生物炭连续添加对旱地红壤溶解性有机碳的影响。【方法】通过定位试验,探讨了低剂量(0.75～1.5 t hm^-2)生物炭连续施用7年后油菜产量、土壤理化性质和溶解性有机碳荧光光谱组分及参数变化特征。【结果】与对照(CK)相比,生物炭施用降低了土壤交换性Al3+含量(0.69～0.87 cmol kg^-1),提高了土壤pH(0.13～0.21个单位)、有机质含量(11.7%～18.1%)和可溶性碳含量(127.5%～127.8%);油菜单株角果数提高了39.8%～45.2%,油菜产量增加了3.5%～20.3%,其产量随着生物炭添加量呈递增趋势。连续施用生物炭有利于增加溶解性有机碳中类酪氨酸和类富里酸的比例,且显著降低了微生物代谢产物的比例。与CK相比,连续施用生物炭后土壤溶解性有机碳荧光指数降低了4.4%～10.6%,新鲜度指数降低了17.4%～18.4%,自生源指数降低了0.26(22.6%),而腐殖化指数增加了1.2%～5.1%。相关分析表明溶解性有机碳与pH呈显著正相关,而与交换性Al3+呈显著负相关;微生物代谢产物与pH呈显著...     

Biochar-mediated changes in soil quality and plant growth in a three year field trial

While many laboratory studies have focused on the short term effects of biochar addition to soil), there have been comparatively few tracing its longer term effects in the field. This study investigated the multiyear impact of biochar on crop performance and soil quality with specific emphasis on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling over a 3 y period. Biochar was added to an agricultural field at 0, 25 and 50 t ha^?1 and planted with maize (year 1) and grass (years 2 and 3). Biochar addition affected plant performance in the grass crop with significant increases in foliar N (year 2) and above-ground biomass (year 3). Below-ground, biochar increased soil respiration, fungal and bacterial growth rate and turnover in year 2. This change coincided with a shift toward a bacterial dominated decomposer community, suggesting a decrease in the potential for microbially mediated C sequestration. Biochar did not affect dissolved organic C (DOC) and N (DON), NO₃^? or NH₄⁺ pool sizes. Similarly, biochar addition had limited effects on the turnover of ¹⁴C-labelled SOC (plant litter), DOC (sugars and organic acids) and DON (amino acids) and no long term effect on N mineralization, NH₃ volatilization, denitrification and NH₄⁺ sorption. After 3 years in the field, the alkalinity associated with the biochar had been fully neutralized and biochar lost most of its cations (K, Na, Ca) but had built up an associated microbial community. We conclude that biochar addition to soil causes small and potentially transient changes in a temperate agroecosystem functioning. Importantly, many of the short-term effects of biochar on plant growth and soil behavior reported from laboratory studies were not observed in the field emphasizing the need for long term field trials to help inform agronomic management decisions involving biochar.     

生物质炭对旱地红壤理化性状和水力学特性的影响

[目的]研究生物质炭对旱地红壤基本理化性质及水分特征曲线的影响,为红壤地区土壤改良提供依据。[方法]分层测定不同生物质炭施用量水平下的土样容重、孔隙度和有机碳含量,采用原状土压力膜法分层测定土壤的水分特征曲线。[结果]施用生物质炭能显著降低土壤的容重,提高土壤的孔隙度及有机碳含量,且随着施用量的增加,土壤容重逐渐降低,孔隙度及有机碳含量逐渐提高;随着生物质炭施用量的增加,土壤饱和含水量、田间持水量和有效水含量逐渐增加,凋萎系数逐渐减小,施用生物质炭30t/hm2的土壤处理饱和含水量、田间持水量和有效水含量最高;生物质炭施用量与土壤饱和含水量、田间持水量和有效水含量呈极显著正相关关系,与凋萎系数呈极显著负相关关系。[结论]施用生物质炭能显著提高红壤田间持水量和有效水含量。     

Biochar combined with nitrogen fertilizer affects soil properties and wheat yield in medium-low-yield farmland

Biochar combined with fertilizer as a soil amendment benefits to improving soil fertility, especially soil organic carbon and crop yield. However, the effect of biochar on the improvement of soil properties and crop yield was varied from soil properties and limited for medium–low-yield farmland in the North China. During the completely randomized field experiment, SIX treatments (biochar applied as 0, 15 and 30 t·ha^-1, under 240 and 300 kg N ha^-1 nitrogen fertilizer) were applied in wheat season and examined to reveal changes in the SOC and other properties of 0- to 10-cm and 10- to 20-cm soil layers. The results showed that two years after the application of biochar, a significant increase in the SOC was observed, ranging from 19.52% to 97.50% (p < 0.05) in the 0- to 20-cm soil layer. Wheat yield and SOC content increased with increasing amount of biochar applied under the same amount of nitrogen fertilizer. The content of soil available potassium increased significantly under 30 t·ha^-1 biochar application (p < 0.05). Both biochar and nitrogen fertilizer application could increase wheat yield, and the effect of biochar application for increasing wheat yield was better than that of nitrogen fertilizer. Wheat yield and SOC content increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer at the same amount of biochar application. The principal component analysis results showed that biochar input, SOC, available potassium and total nitrogen were the key factors affecting wheat yield. Biochar application is a fast and effective measure to improve SOC and wheat yield in medium- and low-yield farmlands.     

Dissolved Organic Nitrogen Concentrations and Ratios of Dissolved Organic Carbon to Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in Throughfall and Soil Waters in Norway Spruce and Scots Pine Forest Stands Throughout Norway

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) plays an important ecological role in forest ecosystems, and its concentration is related to that of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). We investigated DON concentrations and ratios of DOC to DON in throughfall and soil waters in 16 Norway spruce and two Scots pine forest stands sampled at weekly intervals between 1996 and 2006. The stands are all included in the ICP Forests Level II monitoring program and are located throughout Norway. DON concentrations were significantly and positively related to DOC concentrations in throughfall (r ²?=?0.72, p?<?0.0001) and soil water at 5, 15, and 40 cm (r ²?=?0.86, 0.32, and 0.84 and p?<?0.0001, 0.04, and <0.0001, respectively). At most sites, the annual median DOC/DON ratio in throughfall ranged from 20.3 to 55.5, which is lower than values in soil water, which ranged from 24.5 to 81.3, gradually decreasing with soil depth. DON concentrations varied seasonally in throughfall at many plots and in soil water at 5-cm depth at one plot only, with higher values in the growing season, but there was no noticeable seasonality at greater depth. The ratios of DOC/DON in soil water were significantly positively related to the C/N ratio in soil at the same depth. Above-ground litter input was the main factor having a significant, negative relationship to DOC/DON in soil water at all depths studied. This might reflect the effect of site conditions on both DOC/DON ratios and litter quantity.     

Lumbricus terrestris L. does not impact on the remediation efficiency of compost and biochar amendments

The aim of this study was to test the impact of compost and biochar, with or without earthworms, on the mobility and availability of metals, and on the growth of grass to re-vegetate contaminated soil from the Parys Mountain mining site, Anglesey. We also determined if the addition of earthworms compromises remediation efforts.In a laboratory experiment, contaminated soil (1343 mg Cu kg^?1, 2511 mg Pb kg^?1 and 262 mg Zn kg^?1) was remediated with compost and/or biochar. After 77 days Lumbricus terrestris L. earthworms were added to the treatment remediated with both compost and biochar, and left for 28 days. L. terrestris was not able to survive in the biochar, compost or unamended treatments. A germination and growth bioassay, using Agrostis capillaris (Common Bent) was then run on all treatments for 28 days.The combination of biochar and compost decreased water soluble Cu (from 5.6 to 0.2 mg kg^?1), Pb (from 0.17 to less than 0.007 mg kg^?1) and Zn (from 3.3 to 0.05 mg kg^?1) in the contaminated soil and increased the pH from 2.7 to 6.6. The addition of L. terrestris to this treatment had no effect on the concentration of the water soluble metals in the remediated soil.The compost was the only treatment that resulted in germination and growth of A. capillaris suitable for re-vegetation purposes. However, the combination of compost and biochar (with or without L. terrestris) produced the lowest concentrations of Cu (8 mg kg^?1) and Zn (36 mg kg^?1) in the aboveground biomass, lower than the compost treatment (15 mg Cu kg^?1 and 126 mg Zn kg^?1).The addition of biochar and compost both separately and as co-amendments was effective in reducing the mobility and availability of metals. The addition of L. terrestris did not re-mobilise previously sequestered metals.     

Enhancing phosphorus availability,soil organic carbon,maize productivity and farm profitability through biochar and organic–inorganic fertilizers in an irrigated maize agroecosystem under semi‐arid climate

Biochar amendments offer promising potential to improve soil fertility, soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yields; however, a limited research has explored these benefits of biochar in the arid and semi‐arid regions. This two‐year field study investigated the effects of Acacia tree biomass‐derived biochar, applied at 0 and 10 t ha^?1 rates with farmyard manure (FYM) or poultry manure (PM) and mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizer combinations (100 kg P ha^‐1), on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity, P use efficiency (PUE) and farm profitability. The application of biochar with organic–inorganic P fertilizers significantly increased soil P and SOC contents than the sole organic or inorganic P fertilizers. Addition of biochar and PM as 100% P source resulted in the highest soil P (104% increase over control) and SOC contents (203% higher than control). However, maize productivity and PUE were significantly higher under balanced P fertilizer (50% organic + 50% mineral fertilizer) with biochar and the increase was 110%, 94% and 170% than 100%‐FYM, 100%‐PM and 100% mineral fertilizer, respectively. Maize productivity and yield correlated significantly positively with soil P and SOC contents These positive effects were possibly due to the ability of biochar to improve soil properties, P availability from organic–inorganic fertilizers and SOC which resulted in higher PUE and maize productivity. Despite the significant positive relationship of PUE with net economic returns, biochar incorporation with PM and mineral fertilizer combination was economically profitable, whereas FYM along biochar was not profitable due to short duration of the field experiments.     

碳氮添加对雨养农田土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分的影响

为探明碳氮添加4年后,土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分(可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组和重组有机碳)的变化特征,依托布设于甘肃省定西市安定区李家堡镇的不同碳源配施氮素田间定位试验,涉及秸秆、生物质炭、氮素3个因素,秸秆设置为不施、施用秸秆2水平;生物质炭为不施和施用生物质炭2个水平;氮素设置为不施氮、施纯氮50 kg/hm^2、施纯氮100 kg/hm^2 3个水平,共9个处理。结果表明:不同处理下土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分的含量均随土层的加深而降低。添加生物质炭对土壤全氮、有机碳及其组分均具有不同程度的提升效应。添加秸秆对土壤全氮、有机碳和可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组有机碳均具有显著提升效应,仅在0-5 cm土层对重组有机碳有显著提高。添加氮素可显著提升土壤全氮、有机碳和可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组有机碳含量。较其他处理,添加生物质炭对土壤全氮、有机碳和重组有机碳的提升效应最高,添加秸秆对可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、轻组有机碳的提升效果最优。从提升土壤质量的角度出发,推荐秸秆配施氮素模式,该模式下土壤碳素有效性高、易于被微生物利用,有利于作物生长。从提高土壤固碳角度考虑,推荐生物质炭配施氮素模式,该模式有利于碳的封存。     

The effect of biochar with biogas digestate or mineral fertilizer on fertility,aggregation and organic carbon content of a sandy soil: Results of a temperate field experiment

Substitution of mineral fertilizers with organic soil amendments is postulated to improve productivity‐relevant soil properties such as aggregation and organic matter (OM) content. However, there is a lack of studies analyzing the effects of biochar and biogas digestate versus mineral fertilizer on soil aggregation and OM dynamics under temperate field conditions. To address this research gap, a field experiment was sampled four years after establishment on a sandy Cambisol in Germany where mineral fertilizer or liquid biogas digestate was applied with or without 3 or 40 Mg biochar ha^?1 (produced at 650°C). Soil samples were analyzed for soil organic carbon (SOC) content, pH, cation exchange capacity, bulk density, water‐holding capacity, microbial biomass, aggregate size class distribution, and the SOC content associated with these size classes. 40 Mg biochar ha^?1 significantly increased SOC content in all fractions, especially free particulate OM and the 2–0.25 mm fraction. The yield of small macroaggregates (2–0.25 mm) was increased by biochar, but cation exchange capacity, water‐holding capacity, and pH were not consistently improved. Thus, high‐temperature biochar applied to a sandy soil under temperate conditions is primarily recommended to increase SOC content, which could contribute to climate change mitigation if this C remains sequestered over the long‐term. Fertilizer type did not significantly affect SOC content or other measured properties of the sandy Cambisol, suggesting that replacement of mineral fertilizer with digestate has a neutral effect on soil fertility. Co‐application of biochar with digestate provided no advantages for soil properties compared to co‐application with mineral fertilizer. Thus, independent utilization of these organic amendments is equally suitable.     

Effect of biochar on nutrient retention and nectarine tree performance: A three‐year field trial

We performed a series of experiments in controlled conditions to assess the potential of hardwood‐derived biochar either as a source or as a removing additive of macronutrients [nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃‐N), ammonium‐N (NH₄‐N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg)] in solution. In addition, a 3‐year field trial was carried out in a commercial nectarine orchard to evaluate the effect of increasing soil‐applied biochar rates on tree nutritional status, yield, fruit quality, soil pH, soil NO₃‐N, and NH₄‐N concentration and soil water content. In controlled conditions, the concentrations of K, P, Mg, and NH₄‐N in solution were significantly increased and positively correlated with biochar rates. Biochar was ineffective in removing NO₃‐N, K, P, and Mg from enriched solutions, while at the rate of 40 g L^?1 biochar removed almost 52% of the initial NH₄‐N concentration. In a mature, irrigated, fertilized, commercial nectarine orchard (Big Top/GF677) on a sandy‐loam soil in the Italian Po Valley, soil‐applied biochar at the rates of 5, 15, and 30 t ha^?1 were effective in reducing the leached amount of NH₄‐N in the top 0.25 m soil layer over 13 months, as estimated by ion exchange resin lysimeters. Nevertheless, independent of the rate, biochar did not affect soil pH, soil N mineral availability, soil moisture, tree nutritional status, yield, and fruit quality. We conclude that, unless an evident constraint is identified, in non‐limiting conditions (e.g., water availability and soil fertility), potential benefits from biochar application in commercial orchards are hidden or negligible.     

Why short‐term biochar application has no yield benefits: evidence from three field‐grown crops

This study determines the impact of biochar, as a supplement, on soil nutrient availability and yields for three crops within commercial management systems in a temperate environment. Central to the suggestion of biochar benefits is an increase in soil nutrient availability, and here, we test this idea by examining crop nutrient uptake, growth and yields of field‐grown spring barley, strawberry and potato. Biochar produced from Castanea sativa wood was incorporated into a sandy loam soil at 0, 20 and 50 t/ha as a supplement to standard crop management practice. Fertilizer was applied normally for each of the three crops. The biochar contained substantial concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, P, but only K occurred at high concentration in water‐soluble analysis. The large concentration of extractable K resulted in a significant increase of extractable K in soil. The increased availability of K in biochar‐treated soil, with the exception of spring barley grain and the leaves of strawberry during the second year, did not induce greater tissue concentrations. In general, biochar application rate had little influence on the tissue concentration of any nutrient, irrespective of crop or sampling date. There was, however, evidence of a biochar‐induced increase in tissue Mo and a decrease in Mn, in strawberry, which could be linked to soil alkalinization as could the reduction in extractable soil P. These experiments show a single rotational application of biochar to soil had no effect on the growth or harvest yield of any of these field‐grown crops. Heavy metal analysis revealed small concentrations in the biochar (i.e. <10 μg/g biochar), with the largest levels for Ni, V and Cu.     

施用生物炭对红壤性水稻土重金属钝化与土壤肥力的影响

通过田间小区试验,分析了不同用量的生物炭处理下(0,10,20,30,40 t/hm^2)0-17,17-29 cm土层土壤的理化性质、重金属钝化及酶活性的影响。采用IFI(土壤肥力综合质量指数)评价了土壤肥力状况。结果表明:施用生物炭可以改善红壤的理化性状,降低土壤容重,提高土壤的孔隙度、饱和含水量、pH、CEC、有机质、有效磷、铵态氮和全氮及DOC含量;同时提高土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性。土壤有效态Cd和Pb含量均随生物炭施用量的增加而减少;而有效态As含量则随生物炭施用量的增加呈先增后减的趋势,三者均在生物炭施用量为40 t/hm^2时为最小值。利用IFI对土壤肥力综合质量进行评价可知,在不同生物炭用量条件下土壤肥力综合质量指数依次为A30>A40>A20>A10>CK,相应的土壤肥力综合质量指数分别为0.64,0.62,0.57,0.47,0.44。评价结果表明在生物炭施用量为30 t/hm^2时,红壤的肥力改良效果最佳。因此,采用适量的生物炭可修复重金属对红壤性水稻土的污染,并改善土壤肥力状况。     

Biochar and biochar with N fertilizer as a potential tool for improving soil sorption of nutrients

Purpose

Biochar usually has a large specific surface area, and due to this, it increases the sorption capacity of the soil where it was applied. The objectives of this study were to (i) quantify the effects of biochar and biochar in combination with N fertilizer on the soil sorption parameters and (ii) quantify the effects of soil organic matter on the sorption parameters after application of biochar with and without N fertilizer.

Materials and methods

The experiment was established on Haplic Luvisol at the locality of Dolná Malanta (Slovakia) in 2014. The soil samples were collected once a month from the depth 0–0.2 m during 2014 to 2016. The field experiment included three rates of biochar application (B0?=?no biochar, B10?=?biochar at the rate of 10 t ha^?1, B20?=?biochar at the rate of 20 t ha^?1) and three levels of N fertilization (N0?=?no nitrogen, N40?=?nitrogen at the rate of 40 kg ha^?1, N80?=?nitrogen at the rate of 80 kg ha^?1).

Results and discussion

Overall, the decrease of the average values of hydrolytic acidity due to biochar and biochar combined with N fertilization resulted on average in an increase of sum of basic cation (SBC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and sorption capacity of soil organic matter (CEC_SOM) in all treatments. However, this effect was the most intensive in B10N40. Despite the fact that the average values of sorption parameters improved, its dynamics during the investigated period were different. A significant decrease in CEC was observed from 2014 to 2016 in all treatments, except B0N0 and B10N0. A stable trend in CEC_SOM was observed only in B10N40. Humic substances and humic acids had a statistically significant positive effect on the SBC, CEC, and CEC_SOM only in B20N0 treatment. Negative correlations between the above mentioned parameters were observed in B10N80 treatment.

Conclusions

We conclude that the application of biochar and biochar combined with N fertilization had a positive influence on sorption parameters. However, its effects on SBC, CEC, and CEC_SOM decreased over time after its application.

     

Medium-term effects of corn biochar addition on soil biota activities and functions in a temperate soil cropped to corn

Biochar addition to soil has been generally associated with crop yield increases observed in some soils, and increased nutrient availability is one of the mechanisms proposed. Any impact of biochar on soil organisms can potentially translate to changes in nutrient availability and crop productivity, possibly explaining some of the beneficial and detrimental yield effects reported in literature. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the medium-term impact of biochar addition on microbial and faunal activities in a temperate soil cropped to corn and the consequences for their main functions, litter decomposition and mineralization. Biochar was added to a corn field at rates of 0, 3, 12, 30 tons ha⁻¹ three years prior to this study, in comparison to an annual application of 1 t ha⁻¹.Biochar application increased microbial abundance, which nearly doubled at the highest addition rate, while mesofauna activity, and litter decomposition facilitated by mesofauna were not increased significantly but were positively influenced by biochar addition when these responses were modeled, and in the last case directly and positively associated to the higher microbial abundance. In addition, in short-term laboratory experiments after the addition of litter, biochar presence increased NO₂ + NO₃ mineralization, and decreased that of SO₄ and Cl. However, those nutrient effects were not shown to be of concern at the field scale, where only some significant increases in SOC, pH, Cl and PO₄ were observed.Therefore, no negative impacts in the soil biota activities and functions assessed were observed for the tested alkaline biochar after three years of the application, although this trend needs to be verified for other soil and biochar types.     

Impact of biochar addition to soil on greenhouse gas emissions following pig manure application

The application of biochar produced from wood and crop residues, such as sawdust, straw, sugar bagasse and rice hulls, to highly weathered soils under tropical conditions has been shown to influence soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, there is a lack of data concerning GHG emissions from soils amended with biochar derived from manure, and from soils outside tropical and subtropical regions. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect on emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) following the addition, at a rate of 18 t ha⁻¹, of two different types of biochar to an Irish tillage soil. A soil column experiment was designed to compare three treatments (n = 8): (1) non-amended soil (2) soil mixed with biochar derived from the separated solid fraction of anaerobically digested pig manure and (3) soil mixed with biochar derived from Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis). The soil columns were incubated at 10 °C and 75% relative humidity, and leached with 80 mL distilled water, twice per week. Following 10 weeks of incubation, pig manure, equivalent to 170 kg nitrogen ha⁻¹ and 36 kg phosphorus ha⁻¹, was applied to half of the columns in each treatment (n = 4). Gaseous emissions were analysed for 28 days following manure application. Biochar addition to the soil increased N₂O emissions in the pig manure-amended column, most likely as a result of increased denitrification caused by higher water filled pore space and organic carbon (C) contents. Biochar addition to soil also increased CO₂ emissions. This was caused by increased rates of C mineralisation in these columns, either due to mineralisation of the labile C added with the biochar, or through increased mineralisation of the soil organic matter.     

Eucalyptus biochar application enhances Ca uptake of upland rice,soil available P,exchangeable K,yield, and N use efficiency of sugarcane in a crop rotation system

It was hypothesized that the application of eucalyptus biochar enhances nutrient use efficiencies of simultaneously supplied fertilizer, as well as provides additional nutrients (i.e., Ca, P, and K), to support crop performance and residual effects on subsequent crops in a degraded sandy soil. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an on‐farm field experiment in the Khon Kaen province of Northeastern Thailand to assess the effects of different application rates of eucalyptus biochar in combination with mineral fertilizers to upland rice and a succeeding crop of sugarcane on a sandy soil. The field experiment consisted of three treatments: (1) no biochar; (2) 3.1 Mg ha^?1 biochar (10.4 kg N ha^?1, 3.1 kg P ha^?1, 11.0 kg K ha^?1, and 17.7 kg Ca ha^?1); (3) 6.2 Mg ha^?1 biochar (20.8 kg N ha^?1, 6.2 kg P ha^?1, 22.0 kg K ha^?1, and 35.4 kg Ca ha^?1). All treatments received the same recommended fertilizer rate (32 kg N ha^?1, 14 kg P ha^?1, and 16 kg K ha^?1 for upland rice; 119 kg N ha^?1, 21 kg P ha^?1, and 39 kg K ha^?1 for sugarcane). At crop harvests, yield and nutrient contents and nitrogen (N) use efficiency were determined, and soil chemical properties and pH₀ monitored. The eucalyptus biochar material increased soil Ca availability (117 ± 28 and 116 ± 7 mg kg^?1 with 3.1 and 6.2 Mg ha^?1 biochar application, respectively) compared to 71 ± 13 mg kg^?1 without biochar application, thus promoting Ca uptake and total plant biomass in upland rice. Moreover, the higher rate of eucalyptus biochar improved CEC, organic matter, available P, and exchangeable K at succeeding sugarcane harvest. Additionally, 6.2 Mg ha^?1 biochar significantly increased sugarcane yield (41%) and N uptake (70%), thus enhancing N use efficiency (118%) by higher P (96%) and K (128%) uptake, although the sugar content was not increased. Hence, the application rate of 6.2 Mg ha^?1 eucalyptus biochar could become a potential practice to enhance not only the nutrient status of crops and soils, but also crop productivity within an upland rice–sugarcane rotation system established on tropical low fertility sandy soils.     

炉渣与生物炭配施对稻田土壤性质及微生物特征的影响

稻田土壤微生物种类多、数量大,是土壤有机碳矿化的驱动者和有机碳库的固持者。以福州平原稻田为试验样地,分别施加生物炭、炉渣、生物炭+炉渣3种处理,测定分析不同处理对稻田土壤理化性质、微生物数量及有机碳含量的影响,旨在探究稻田土壤微生物在土壤碳库稳定方面的作用。结果表明:(1)炉渣与生物炭施加能够增加稻田土壤微生物数量,提高土壤真菌/细菌比值,有利于土壤碳库稳定性,其中混合施加效果更为显著。(2)3种施加处理均使早稻拔节期真菌数量及真菌/细菌比值显著升高,其中真菌/细菌比值分别提高0.016,0.015,0.018,同时使晚稻乳熟期厌氧细菌数量显著增加。生物炭单一施加及混施处理使晚稻拔节期好氧细菌数量显著升高。混施处理使早稻乳熟期好氧细菌数量显著升高(p<0.05)。(3)炉渣施加处理显著提高了早稻乳熟期土壤DOC的含量,生物炭施加处理显著提高早稻乳熟期土壤SOC含量,混施处理使早稻拔节期土壤SOC含量显著升高,使晚稻拔节期土壤DOC显著升高(p<0.05),并且早、晚稻拔节期有机碳含量显著高于乳熟期。(4)稻田土壤理化性质、微生物数量及有机碳含量三者相互影响,早稻土壤pH与土壤MBC含量呈显著负相关,与真菌数量呈极显著正相关(p<0.01)。晚稻土壤含水量与DOC、好氧细菌、厌氧细菌、真菌呈正相关。MBC与厌氧细菌呈显著负相关(p<0.05)。