沙蒿生物质炭在沙土中的降解特征

为明确不同炭化条件下沙蒿生物质炭的有机组分、炭化过程和降解特性。于不同炭化条件下无氧炭化制备沙蒿生物质炭并进行沙地封存。结果表明:H、O和N元素的质量分数及H/C、O/C和(N+O)/C均随炭化温度的升高和炭化时间的延长呈先降低后稳定的变化趋势,升温速率对其无显著影响。而C则呈相反趋势且均在炭化温度600℃、炭化时间60 min以后基本达定值,上述指标(H、O、N、H/C、O/C、(N+O)/C和C)的稳定值分别约为29.3 g/kg、79.8 g/kg、11.2 g/kg、0.40、0.07、0.08和879.7 g/kg。生物质炭的降解速率随着炭化温度的升高、炭化时间的延长和施用量的增大而降低,其半衰期为2~12年。综上,沙蒿的炭化既是有机组分富碳、去极性官能团的过程,同时也是芳香性增强、亲水性和极性减弱的过程,施用量和炭化温度是影响生物质炭降解的决定性因素。     

不同炭化温度下玉米秸秆和沙蒿生物炭的结构特征及化学特性

掌握不同生物炭材料的结构特征和化学特性是合理利用生物炭的基础。通过无氧炭化法制备了不同炭化温度下的玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭,对比了不同材料和不同炭化温度下生物炭性质的差异。结果表明:炭化温度低于400℃时,两种材料生物炭的孔隙结构保存完整,600℃以上时,两种材料生物炭的蜂窝状结构均遭到破坏,玉米秸秆生物炭被破坏得更严重;同一炭化温度下,玉米秸秆生物炭的比表面积及总孔容和平均孔径均大于沙蒿生物炭,两种生物炭的比表面积随炭化温度的升高均增大,总孔容呈"V"形变化;两种材料的生物炭均呈碱性,炭化温度越高,pH越大,400℃~800℃,每升高10℃,玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭的pH均以0.02的幅度增加,同一温度下,玉米秸秆生物炭的pH大于沙蒿生物炭,在400℃、600℃和800℃下分别比沙蒿生物炭高0.31、0.35和0.29单位;随炭化温度的升高,玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭的C、P、K和灰分含量增加,400℃~800℃,玉米秸秆生物炭的C、P、K含量以炭化温度每升高10℃分别增加2.94、0.11、0.20 g/kg的幅度变化,沙蒿生物炭也以4.35、0.07、0.24 g/kg的幅度增加,与此同时,玉米秸秆生物炭的N、H含量以每升高10℃分别以0.13 g/kg和0.86 g/kg的幅度降低,沙蒿生物炭的N、H含量分别以0.04 g/kg和0.82 g/kg的幅度下降,S含量无明显变化,C/N和C/H增大,且不同材料生物炭的元素含量差异显著;两种材料生物炭的N、P、K有效性随炭化温度的升高均下降,400℃~600℃,玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭的速效N含量分别下降了57.89%和19.05%,800℃时两种生物炭的速效N均接近0 mg/kg,400℃~800℃玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭的速效P含量分别降低了67.41%和52.36%,此时速效K含量也分别降低了45.62%和90.16%。总之,不同材料和炭化温度对生物炭的物理特征和化学特性都有较大影响。     

热解温度对生物质炭碳保留量及稳定性的影响

以核桃壳为生物质炭生产原料,研究热解温度(200~700℃)对生物质炭产率、元素组成、表面官能团分布及其稳定性的影响,以期探明生物质炭基本性质随热解温度变化的规律,为全面了解生物质炭固碳减排效果提供理论参考。结果表明,生物质炭的C含量随温度升高而增加,H和O元素含量却随温度升高而降低。此外,生物质炭的H/C和O/C随着温度增加而减少。生物质炭的产率及碳保留量随着温度的升高而降低。红外光谱分析结果表明,经过热解核桃壳原材料分子中所含的-C-O和O-CH3基团消失,随着热解温度升高,生物质炭中的烷烃基团-CH逐渐减少,芳香化程度逐渐升高。500℃制备生物质炭的K2Cr2O7和KMn O4氧化碳损失量均最低,分别为10.4%和1.66%。相关分析表明,生物质炭的产率、碳保留量及稳定性与热解温度之间均具有显著相关关系。     

热解温度对玉米秸秆炭产率及理化特性的影响

【目的】通过对不同热解温度条件下玉米秸秆炭理化特性的分析,探索玉米秸秆炭具有较高利用价值的炭化温度。【方法】以玉米秸秆为原料,采用低氧升温炭化法,在不同热解温度下 (100℃、200℃、300℃、400℃、500℃、600℃、700℃、800℃) 分别炭化2 h,制备生物炭,收集并测定了固体产物生物炭产率及特性。【结果】生物炭的产率随热解温度的升高逐渐降低。生物炭全碳含量和碳氮比随热解温度升高而升高,全氮含量在400℃以后随热解温度升高而降低。阳离子交换量 (CEC) 在400℃～600℃达到较高水平,为70.87～83.48 cmol/kg。随热解温度升高,玉米秸秆炭表面碱性含氧官能团增加、酸性含氧官能团减少,pH随着热解温度的升高逐渐增加,当温度达到400℃及400℃以上时呈碱性甚至强碱性。红外光谱分析表明,热解温度达到500℃时,纤维素和半纤维素已经完全分解;高温热解使玉米秸秆中–CH₃、–CH₂、–OH、–C=O间发生缔合或消除,促进芳香基团的形成。随着热解温度的升高,玉米秸秆炭的比表面积和比孔容均是先变大后变小,孔径先变小后变大,在400℃～600℃条件下,玉米秸秆炭的孔隙相对较为丰富,不同热解温度下玉米秸秆炭的比表面积和比孔容呈极显著正相关关系(P < 0.01)。【结论】综合各项指标,玉米秸秆的最佳热解温度为400℃～500℃,此温度下制备的生物炭产出率相对较高,氮、碳养分损失少,生物炭的理化性能和养分利用均达到最优。     

玉米秸秆生物质炭基肥的结构与性质表征

为了解玉米秸秆生物质炭基肥的结构与性质,通过实验室自制玉米秸秆生物质炭基化肥,研究生物质炭添加量对炭基肥的形貌特征、pH、表面官能团种类和元素组分的影响。结果表明:玉米秸秆生物质炭具有丰富的孔隙结构,化学肥料添加量越大,结构表面无序化程度越高;总孔容和平均孔径的变异范围分别为2.1～3.3 cm3/kg和2.7～3.2 nm,平均为2.8 cm3/kg和2.9 nm。生物质炭化后,C-O-C、-COOH、-CH3、-CH2消失,化学肥料并不影响生物质炭缓释载体原有的分子结构,只是影响其元素含量。与未加化肥的生物质炭对照相比,炭基肥中C、H元素含量降低,而N、O元素含量升高,变幅分别为47.7%～68.4%、20.2%～28.2%、59.5%～82.6%和164.0%～228.8%,平均为59.4%、24.1%、71.9%和196.5%;而元素组分的H/C、O/C和(N+O)/C都有所增大。总之,化学肥料存在于生物质炭表面和孔隙之中,其添加并未改变生物质炭的骨架结构和官能团种类,而元素组分含量和原子比(H/C、O/C和(N+O)/C)的改变将可能更有利于增强生物质炭基肥的保水与吸附性能。     

制炭温度对玉米和小麦生物质炭理化性质的影响

通过缓慢高温裂解方式生产不同温度的小麦和玉米生物质炭,并对其性质进行分析.结果显示,生物质炭性质受裂解温度和生物质种类的影响而表现出差异.当裂解温度从300℃升高到500℃时,小麦生物质炭产率从44.3％降低到38.4％,其生物质炭碳含量从617.9 g/kg升高到674.0 g/kg;玉米生物质炭产率从42.8％(300℃)降低到29.7％(500℃),其生物质炭碳含量从574.8 g/kg(300℃)升高到651.1 g/kg(500℃).生物质炭pH、灰分含量、全磷含量等也随制炭温度升高而升高,小麦生物质炭pH从7.59(300℃)上升到10.51(500℃),灰分含量从186.1 g/kg(300℃)升高到268.2 g/kg(500℃),全磷含量从0.70 g/kg(300℃)升高到1.10 g/kg(500℃);玉米生物质炭pH从9.35(300℃)升高到10.12(500℃),全磷含量从2.34 g/kg(300℃)升高到4.37 g/kg(500℃).说明制炭温度和生物质种类对生物质炭理化性质具有决定性作用.     

秸秆热解工艺优化与生物炭理化特性分析

以肥料化利用为目标,优化秸秆热解工艺,实现秸秆生物炭的高值化利用。该研究以水稻、小麦、玉米、油菜和棉花秸秆为原料,以炭化温度、保温时间和升温速率为因素进行正交试验,采用综合评分法优化热解工艺,并分析最优工艺条件下生物炭的理化特性。结果表明,影响秸秆生物炭品质因素的主次顺序为炭化温度、保温时间、升温速率。以生物炭的肥料化利用为目标,5种秸秆炭化的最优工艺参数组合是炭化温度500℃、保温时间30 min、升温速率10℃/min。在最优工艺条件下,5种秸秆生物炭的炭产率约为32%~38%,固定碳的质量分数大于45%,C元素的质量分数大于53%,N元素的质量分数为0.7%~2.5%,K元素的质量分数为3.41%~6.81%。生物炭表面有含氧官能团且内部有丰富的介孔结构。该研究为秸秆生物炭的肥料化利用提供数据支撑。     

不同热解温度制备的烟秆生物炭理化特征分析

分别对100 ~ 800 ℃下于马弗炉中低氧炭化制备的烟秆生物炭进行研究,分析其基础理化性质的变化。结果表明,烟草秸秆生物炭微量元素含量在热解温度为100 ~ 400 ℃时呈逐渐上升的趋势,在400 ~ 500 ℃时较为稳定;大量元素含量增加;C含量和N元素含量在100 ~ 300 ℃时逐渐增加,在400 ~ 800 ℃时先增加后下降,C/N在300 ~ 500 ℃时较为稳定。随着热解温度的升高,烟草秸秆生物炭表面水分子、甲基和亚甲基等官能团减少,C＝C含量逐渐增多;烟草秸秆生物炭的BET比表面积、孔径、比孔容均在400 ~ 500 ℃时较大。烟草秸秆生物炭的中孔较多,孔隙内部特征多为墨水瓶状孔。热解温度为400 ~ 500 ℃时,烟杆生物炭大量和微量元素含量相对较高,C/N较为稳定,孔隙结构最为复杂。     

温度对纤维素半纤维素和木质素热解炭理化性能的影响

生物质炭是由生物质在缺氧或无氧的情况下,经高温慢速热解产生的一类难熔的、稳定的、高度芳香化的、富含碳素的固态物质,在能源、农业、环境和材料领域有广阔的应用前景。该文以纤维素、半纤维素和木质素为原料,采用程序控温管式炉,在不同的热解温度条件下(250、350、450、550、650、750和850℃)制备生物质三组分炭材料,并利用元素分析仪、量热仪、傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、核磁共振波谱仪(13C NMR)、热重分析仪(TG)和扫描电镜(SEM)等仪器对其物理化学性能进行表征,研究热解温度对生物质三组分炭材料理化性能的影响。结果表明:随着热解温度增加,生物质三组分炭的质量产率和能量产率都呈下降的趋势,纤维素炭、半纤维素炭和木质素炭的质量产率分别从94.23%、63.06%和87.14%减少至17.01%、20.67%和41.40%,能量产率分别从94.23%、55.7%和77.82%减少至58.69%、12.91%和31.09%。随着热解温度增加,生物质三组分炭中C元素的含量逐渐增加,而H元素、O元素、H/C、O/C的含量逐渐减少,尤其在250～450℃范围内下降最为显著。随着热解温度增加,FTIR分析表明-OH、-CH3、-CH2、C=O、C=C、苯环骨架、C-O、C-H等官能团含量显著下降,并且在高温热解时红外曲线几乎变为直线。随着热解温度增加,XRD分析表明生物质三组分炭中的三斜晶系(Iα)和单斜晶系(Iβ)衍射峰的强度逐渐降低,而石墨化微晶碳的002衍射峰和101衍射峰的强度逐渐增加;13CNMR分析表明生物质三组分炭中的烷基碳、含氧烷基碳和羧基碳含量逐渐减少,而芳基碳的含量则显著增加,证明高温有利于类石墨化结构形成。随着热解温度的增加,纤维素炭和半纤维素炭的热失重率逐渐下降,而木质素炭的热失质量率逐渐增加,三组分炭的热失质量峰值往高温一侧移动。随着热解温度的增加,生物质三组分炭的颜色逐渐加深,其中纤维素炭发生皱缩现象,其直径不断减小,半纤维素炭发生熔融和发泡现象,变为薄片状的炭材料,木质素炭的孔结构变得更加发达,并且出现球状的金属结晶体。该文研究结果可为生物质炭的制备和应用提供基础数据。     

热解温度对回转窑玉米秸秆热解产物理化特性的影响

针对北方农业秸秆废弃物产量巨大且无法全部还田导致丢弃和露天焚烧现象激增等问题,该文通过搭建小型回转窑生物质热解装置考察不同热解温度下秸秆热解特性,分析主要产物的产率、元素组成等理化特性指标。结果表明:回转窑内热解温度的增加提高了热解液相产物产率和热解水产率,焦油产率呈先增加后降低趋势。与此同时,热解气总体积逐渐增加,H2含量和CH4含量也有所提高,生物炭产率和热值有所降低。当热解温度从400℃增加至700℃时,焦油产率从12.21%增加至21.70%;当温度进一步增加至800℃时,焦油产率降低至20.13%;相应的焦油热值从400℃时的19 974.0 kJ/kg逐渐增加到800℃时的21 710.0 kJ/kg。高热解温度加快热解过程中的热传递,加剧生物质大分子所含的羟基、羰基等含氧官能团的分解并促进挥发物的产生,进而提高了热解液体产物、热解水和焦油产率。过高的加热温度会加剧挥发分的二次反应,降低焦油产率;更多的含氧杂环结构会随着热解温度提高逐渐分解,因而焦油热值逐渐增加。生物炭产率随着温度增加逐渐降低,生物炭pH值和C/N比均逐渐增加,在兼顾生物炭产率和应用于炭基肥制备所需理化性质的同时需充分考虑热解温度影响。     

Effect of Three Different Qualities of Biochar on Selected Soil Properties

An incubation study was conducted to determine how biochar interacts with a nitrogen fertilizer and how it reacts in the soil as well as to measure the effect of different biochars on soil chemical properties. Two Iowa soils, Nicollet surface soil (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Hapludoll) and Storden subsoil (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Eutrudept), were mixed with three different qualities of biochar and a nitrogen fertilizer (urea). The biochar was created from corn stover that was pyrolized with three different amounts of atmospheric air: 0% (biochar 1), 10% (biochar 2), and 25% (biochar 3). Soil tests for pH, total nitrogen (N), extractable phosphorus (P), extractable potassium (K), ammonium N, nitrate N, organic matter, and total carbon (C) were performed. The different biochars significantly affected the total N, total organic C, and pH in both soils at all rates of urea applied. The conditions during pyrolysis influenced how the biochar/fertilizer reacted with the soil.     

Effect of temperature on biochar priming effects and its stability in soils

Recent studies have shown both increased (positive priming) and decreased (negative priming) mineralisation of native soil organic carbon (SOC) with biochar addition. However, there is only limited understanding of biochar priming effects and its C mineralisation in contrasting soils at different temperatures, particularly over a longer period. To address this knowledge gap, two wood biochars (450 and 550 °C; δ¹³C −36.4‰) were incubated in four soils (Inceptisol, Entisol, Oxisol and Vertisol; δ¹³C −17.3 to −28.2‰) at 20, 40 and 60 °C in the laboratory. The proportions of biochar- and soil-derived CO₂–C were quantified using a two-pool C-isotopic model.Both biochars caused mainly positive priming of native SOC (up to +47 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SOC) in the Inceptisol and negative priming (up to −22 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SOC) in the other soils, which increased with increasing temperature from 20 to 40 °C. In general, positive or no priming occurred during the first few months, which remained positive in the Inceptisol, but shifted to negative priming with time in the other soils. The 550 °C biochar (cf. 450 °C) caused smaller positive priming in the Inceptisol or greater negative priming in the Entisol, Oxisol and Vertisol at 20 and 40 °C. At 60 °C, biochar caused positive priming of native SOC only in the first 6 months in the Inceptisol. Whereas, in the other soils, the native SOC mineralisation was increased (Entisol and Oxisol) and decreased (Vertisol) only after 6 months, relative to the control. At 20 °C, the mean residence time (MRT) of 450 °C and 550 °C biochars in the four soils ranged from 341 to 454 and 732−1061 years, respectively. At 40 and 60 °C, the MRT of both 450 °C biochar (25−134 years) and 550 °C biochar (93−451 years) decreased substantially across the four soils. Our results show that biochar causes positive priming in the clay-poor soil (Inceptisol) and negative priming in the clay-rich soils, particularly with biochar ageing at a higher incubation temperature (e.g. 40 °C) and for a high-temperature (550 °C) biochar. Furthermore, the 550 °C wood biochar has been shown to persist in soil over a century or more even at elevated temperatures (40 or 60 °C).     

Effect of the Application of Biochar on Selected Soil Chemical Properties,Corn Grain,and Biomass Yields in Iowa

Biochar is a co-product of pyrolysis. To find the effects of biochar on crop production, a field study was conducted in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot design. The main plot treatments were biochar at rates of 0, 4.5, 18 Mg ha^?1. Sub-plot treatments were nitrogen (N) rates of 0, 56, 112, 224 kg N ha^?1 as urea (46–0–0). These treatments were applied to a continuous corn cropping system. Soil samples were planned to be taken during the first eight weeks of the growing season and after harvest to measure ammonium–N (NH₄ ⁺–N) and nitrate–N (NO₃ ^?–N). Nitrogen in the plant and grain was measured along with grain yield and plant biomass. There was no difference in the yield due to the addition of biochar or the interaction of biochar and N fertilizer, but there were differences due to the N fertilizer alone.     

Influence of poultry manure–derived biochars on nutrients bioavailability and chemical properties of a calcareous soil

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of poultry manure (PM) and its derived biochars on chemical properties of a calcareous soil. PM and biochars prepared at 200°C (B200), 300°C (B300) and 400°C (B400) were applied to a calcareous soil at 2% level (w/w) and incubated for 150 days. Selected soil chemical properties and phosphorous, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc and copper availability and recovery were determined at 1, 15, 45 and 150 days of incubation. Soil nutrients availability, organic carbon (OC), electrical conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased by addition of all organic substances. Biochars prepared at higher temperatures were more effective in increasing soil OC with higher durability compared to other treatments. The addition of PM and B200 decreased soil pH, whereas B400 increased it. Although the highest soil EC was observed in B300- and B400-treated samples in the early stages of incubation, the rate of increase in soil EC was higher for PM- and B200-treated soils compared to other treatments. It was concluded that biochar prepared at 300°C had the highest positive effect on nutrients availability and lasts longer in calcareous soil compared to the other produced biochars and PM.     

生物质炭对稻田土壤团聚体稳定性和微生物群落的影响

土壤团聚体决定着土壤功能与质量,受土壤生物与非生物因素的共同作用。本文从非生物和生物学角度解析生物质炭施用对土壤团聚体稳定性的长期影响。以句容和南京两个独立施用生物质炭3年或5年后的稻田麦季土壤为研究对象,选取常规施肥（CK）和常规施肥+生物质炭（AB）处理,利用湿筛法获得不同粒级土壤团聚体,并测定其中有机碳（SOC）、全氮、全磷含量,同时采用定量PCR技术测定土壤微生物（细菌、真菌、丛枝菌根真菌、古细菌和放线菌）丰度。结果表明：句容和南京土壤AB处理生物质炭原位老化后,大团聚体比例（R>0.25）和土壤田间持水量显著增加,平均重量直径和几何平均直径表现出增加趋势（P>0.05）;土壤团聚体养分含量（SOC、全磷）和土壤微生物丰度发生显著变化。与对照处理相比,句容和南京老化生物质炭处理的土壤大团聚体比例分别显著增加93.0%和61.5%,0.002～0.053 mm和<0.002 mm粒级团聚体均呈减少趋势;句容和南京土壤AB处理全土SOC含量分别显著增加26.3%和26.9%,大团聚体中SOC含量分别显著增加72.4%和52.3%,微团聚体中SOC含量分别显著增加20.8%和30.0%,全土真菌丰度显著增加;南京土壤全磷含量显著增加25.4%,丛枝菌根真菌和古细菌丰度也呈增加趋势（P>0.05）。由相关性分析可知,土壤团聚体平均重量直径与大团聚体比例、SOC含量、真菌和丛枝菌根真菌丰度极显著正相关（P<0.01）,与全磷含量和古细菌丰度显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.641和0.646。综上所述：生物质炭可以改善土壤pH值,田间持水量等理化性质,增加稻-麦轮作麦季土壤0.25～2 mm大团聚体比例和碳、磷含量,增加土壤真菌、丛枝菌根真菌和古细菌丰度,提高土壤团聚体稳定性,具有持续性。     

Sorption and desorption of phosphate on biochar and biochar–soil mixtures

The term biochar refers to materials with diverse chemical, physical and physicochemical characteristics that have potential as a soil amendment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the P sorption/desorption properties of various slow biochars and one fast pyrolysis biochar and to determine how a fast pyrolysis biochar influences these properties in a degraded tropical soil. The fast pyrolysis biochar was a mixture of three separate biochars: sawdust, elephant grass and sugar cane leaves. Three other biochars were made by slow pyrolysis from three Amazonian tree species (Lacre, Ingá and Embaúba) at three temperatures of formation (400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C). Inorganic P was added to develop sorption curves and then desorbed to develop desorption curves for all biochar situations. For the slow pyrolysis, the 600 ºC biochar had a reduced capacity to sorb P (4–10 times less) relative to those biochars formed at 400 °C and 500 °C. Conversely, biochar from Ingá desorbed the most P. The fast pyrolysis biochar, when mixed with degraded tropical mineral soil, decreased the soil's P sorption capacity by 55% presumably because of the high soluble, inorganic P prevalent in this biochar (909 mg P/kg of biochar). Phosphorus desorption from the fast pyrolysis biochar/soil mixture not only exhibited a common desorption curve but also buffered the soil solution at a value of ca. 0.2 mg/L. This study shows the diversity in P chemistry that can be expected when biochar is a soil amendment and suggests the potential to develop biochars with properties to meet specific objectives.     

Effects of Soil Application of Different Biochars on Selected Soil Chemical Properties

An incubation study was conducted to determine if biochars created using different feedstocks and under different reactor conditions would differentially influence specific soil chemical properties. A Nicollet surface soil (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Hapludoll) was mixed with 17 different biochars and a nitrogen fertilizer (urea). The biochars were created with different feedstocks and different reactor conditions. Soil tests for total nitrogen (N), total organic carbon (C), ammonium N (NH₄ ⁺-N), and nitrate N (NO₃ ^?-N) were run. Results show that the feedstock used to create the biochar influenced how it affected the specific soil chemical properties measured. Results also suggest that the conditions within the reactor influence how the biochar will affect the soil chemical properties measured.     

The priming potential of biochar products in relation to labile carbon contents and soil organic matter status

Recognition of biochar as a potential tool for long-term carbon sequestration with additional agronomic benefits is growing. However, the functionality of biochar in soil and the response of soils to biochar inputs are poorly understood. It has been suggested, for example, that biochar additions to soils could prime for the loss of native organic carbon, undermining its sequestration potential. This work examines the priming potential of biochar in the context of its own labile fraction and procedures for their assessment. A systematic set of biochar samples produced from C4 plant biomass under a range of pyrolysis process conditions were incubated in a C3 soil at three discrete levels of organic matter status (a result of contrasting long-term land management on a single site). The biochar samples were characterised for labile carbon content ex-situ and then added to each soil. Priming potential was determined by a comparison of CO₂ flux rates and its isotopic analysis for attribution of source. The results conclusively showed that while carbon mineralisation was often higher in biochar amended soil, this was due to rapid utilisation of a small labile component of biochar and that biochar did not prime for the loss of native organic soil organic matter. Furthermore, in some cases negative priming occurred, with lower carbon mineralisation in biochar amended soil, probably as a result of the stabilisation of labile soil carbon.     

Evaluation of pinewood biochar as a carrier of bacterial strain Enterobacter cloacae UW5 for soil inoculation

The large-scale production of biochar for carbon sequestration provides an opportunity for using these materials as inoculum carriers to deliver plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) into agricultural soils. Here, we evaluated the suitability of a biochar produced from pinewood pyrolyzed at 300 °C as a carrier for a well-studied PGPR strain, Enterobacter cloacae UW5. This strain was genetically modified to produce a green fluorescent protein marker that enabled tracking of the inoculum. Results from selective plate count assays and quantitative PCR (qPCR) confirmed that cell survival was slightly improved by addition of bacteria to soil using biochar as a carrier for the inoculant, as compared to soil directly inoculated. Total 16S rRNA genes were quantified using qPCR and DNA templates from the same soil treatments to distinguish the impact of biochar on total bacterial abundance from its influence on inoculum survival. Here total bacterial abundance was not influenced by biochar. All treatments resulted in bacterial colonization of roots at population densities of approximately 10⁵ CFU g⁻¹ root mass. Cucumber plants grown in the biochar amended soils had significantly greater biomass and root development than those planted in un-amended soil, regardless of the presence of inoculum. The ability of bacteria to colonize the plant roots and produce a plant growth hormone was not affected by biochar. However, UW5 inoculum did not promote root development in cucumber in any of the soils tested here. Overall, these experiments suggest that the 300 °C pine biochar is effective for evenly distributing inoculum into soil and promotes cucumber development in sandy loams.