Carbon potentials of different biochars derived from municipal solid waste in a saline soil

There are numerous studies conducted on biochar for its carbon (C) sequestration potential;however,there are limited studies available on the behavior of salt-affected soils related to biochar application.Therefore,more studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms through which biochar affects saline soil properties.In this study,biochars were produced from solid waste at pyrolysis temperatures of 300,500,and 700?C (BC300,BC500,and BC700,respectively)and applied to a saline soil to evaluate their impacts on soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) efflux,C sequestration,and soil quality.A soil incubation experiment lasting for 107 d was conducted.The results showed that soil CO₂ efflux rate,cumulative CO₂ emission,active organic C (AOC),and organic matter (OM)significantly increased with BC300 application to a greater extent than those with BC500 and BC700 as compared to those in the no-biochar control (CK).However,soil C non-lability did not significantly increase in the treatments with biochars,except BC700,as compared to that in CK.Besides improving the soil quality by increasing the soil AOC and OM,BC300 showed positive impacts in terms of increasing CO₂ emission from the saline soil,while BC500 and BC700 showed greater potentials of sequestering C in the saline soil by increasing the soil non-labile C fraction.The recalcitrance index (R50) values of BC500 and BC700 were>0.8,indicating their high stability in the saline soil.It could be concluded that biochars pyrolyzed at high temperatures (?500?C)could be suitable in terms of C sequestration,while biochars pyrolyzed at low temperatures (?300?C) could be suitable for improving saline soil quality.     

秸秆还田方式及施氮量对滴灌棉田土壤有机碳氮的影响

通过连续7年田间定位试验,采用2因素试验设计,设置秸秆不还田(CK)、秸秆直接还田(ST)和秸秆炭化还田(BC)3种秸秆还田方式和0(N0),300(N300),450(N450) kg/hm²3个施氮(N)量,研究秸秆直接还田和炭化还田配施氮肥对土壤碳氮含量和棉花产量的影响。结果表明:ST和BC处理土壤有机碳含量呈现逐年递增趋势,且BC处理增幅大于ST处理。第7年,在各施氮水平下,ST处理较CK处理土壤有机碳提高33.28%~36.43%,BC处理较CK处理土壤有机碳提高58.56%~63.25%。多年秸秆还田(ST和BC)可以提高土壤全氮含量,N0水平下,ST处理全氮含量最高;N300水平下,BC处理7年后土壤全氮含量较ST处理显著提高;N450水平下,5年后BC处理土壤全氮含量高于ST处理。在N0水平,ST和BC处理提高了土壤碳/氮,N300和N450水平,BC处理提高了土壤碳/氮。秸秆炭化还田配施氮肥显著提高了棉花产量,N300和N450条件下,BC处理较CK增产17.43%~17.89%。因此,多年秸秆炭化还田配施氮肥可增加土壤有机碳含量,氮库容量和土壤碳/氮,提高棉花产量。     

有机物料添加对内蒙古河套灌区碱化土壤可溶性有机碳的影响

通过研究不同有机物料添加对内蒙古河套灌区碱化土壤可溶性有机碳含量变化的影响，寻找合理高效的增碳方式，降低碱化土壤有机碳损失。以内蒙古河套灌区轻度、中度盐碱土为对象进行田间试验，设置生物炭（BC）添加、羊粪（GM）添加，对照（CK）3个处理，对比和分析不同有机物料添加后土壤有机碳（SOC）、可溶性有机碳（DOC）、土壤理化性质的变化。结果表明：（1）与CK相比，轻度碱化土壤BC、GM处理土壤DOC含量分别增加3.28%，20.66%，SOC含量增加5.40%，10.30%，中度碱化土壤BC和GM处理下可溶性碳增加41.32%，74.10%，土壤SOC含量增加60.24%，79.16%；（2）轻度碱化土壤BC和GM处理土壤DOC含量与SOC含量呈负相关，中度碱化土壤BC和GM处理下呈正相关；（3）盐碱土壤SOC、DOC含量主要与土壤pH、电导率的变化有关；BC处理较GM处理相比土壤电导率低约1.93%~29.15%，而GM处理土壤pH、碱化度比BC处理低0.31%~1.53%，7.10%~24.63%。总体来看，有机物料添加后均能使土壤中SOC、DOC含量提高，不同程度地降低土壤碱化程度，且羊粪添加较生物炭略好，因此羊粪添加对河套灌区碱化土壤碳含量的提高比生物炭添加更有效，土壤改良效果更好，土壤理化性质改善更明显。     

Responses of Soil Microbial Community Structure and Activity to Incorporation of Straws and Straw Biochars and Their Effects on Soil Respiration and Soil Organic Carbon Turnover

Like straw, biochar incorporation can influence soil microorganisms and enzyme activities and soil carbon(C) responses; however,few studies have compared the various effects of straw and biochar and the underlying mechanisms. An experiment was performed to study the changes in soil respiration(SR) and soil organic C(SOC) fluxes in response to the incorporation of three kinds of straw(reed, smooth cordgrass, and rice) and their pyrolyzed products(biochars) at Chongming Island, China. In addition, the microbial activity and community structure of some amended soils were also analyzed to clarify the mechanisms of these responses. The results showed that all biochar incorporation(BC) induced lower SR than the corresponding unpyrolyzed straw incorporation(ST), and the average SR in the soils following BC and ST during the experimental periods was 21.69 and 65.32 μmol CO_2 m~(-2)s~(-1), respectively.Furthermore, the average SOC content was 16.97 g kg~(-1) following BC, which was higher than that(13.71 g kg~(-1)) following ST,indicating that compared to ST, BC was a low-C strategy, even after accounting for the C loss during biochar production. Among the BC treatments, reed-BC induced the lowest SR(17.04 μmol CO_2 m~(-2)s~(-1)), whereas smooth cordgrass-BC induced the highest SR(27.02 μmol CO_2 m~(-2)s~(-1)). Furthermore, in contrast with ST, BC significantly increased the abundance of some bacteria with poorer mineralization or better humification ability, which led to lower SR. The lower easily oxidizable C(EOC) and higher total C contents of biochars induced lower SR and higher SOC in the soil following BC compared to that following ST. Among the BC treatments,the higher total nitrogen content of rice biochar led to significantly higher soil microbial biomass, and the lower EOC content of reed biochar led to lower soil microbial activity and SR.     

氮沉降背景下生物炭施用对土壤有机碳组分的影响

通过18个月的盆栽试验,以杉木幼苗为研究对象,研究不同水平氮(N)沉降背景下(N0(0)、低N(40 kg/(hm2·a))和高 N(80 kg/(hm2·a))生物炭(BC)施用(B0(0)、B1(12 t/hm2)和 B2(36 t/hm2))对土壤有机碳(SOC)组分的影响.结果表明:与对照相比,单独施用BC以及...     

几种保护措施对紫色丘陵区坡耕地土壤团聚体结构及有机碳的影响

探索生物炭、聚丙烯酰胺以及玉米秸秆对紫色丘陵区坡耕地土壤团聚体结构的影响,以及团聚体有机碳分布特征,为紫色丘陵区坡耕地保护措施提供最优选择。采用土壤理化分析对无保护措施(CK)、单施生物炭(BC)、聚丙烯酰胺表施(PAM)、玉米秸秆覆盖(SM)处理下的土壤团聚体组成及其有机碳含量进行测定。结果表明:(1)研究区土壤团聚体以5mm和5~2mm粒级为主,分别占58.18%~40.12%和30.34%~24.46%。与CK相比,3种保护措施都有效增加了土壤大团聚体含量,其中SM处理效果最好。不同措施下土壤团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)基本表现为SMPAMBCCK,团聚体分形维数规律与MWD相反。(2)不同保护措施下土壤团聚体有机碳随团聚体粒级表现出较大差异,但多在0.5~0.25mm粒级范围达到峰值,在0—30cm土层范围内,土壤各粒级团聚体有机碳平均含量基本表现为SMPAMBCCK,且随土层的增加,同一处理各粒级团聚体有机碳呈减少趋势。(3)土壤团聚体对有机碳的贡献率在5mm和5~2mm粒级范围达到最大,前者贡献率为53.64%~27.92%,平均达40.12%,后者为30.92%~11.80%,平均达25.35%,可将2mm粒级团聚体作为紫色丘陵区土壤有机碳固定的特征团聚体。(4)不同保护措施下土壤有机碳密度基本上表现为SMPAMBCCK,相同处理下土壤有机碳密度随土层增加而减小,且各处理之间的差异也随土层增加而减小。3种保护措施均有效改良了土壤结构,提高了土壤有机碳含量,其中以秸秆覆盖措施效果最好,表明秸秆覆盖为研究区较为理想的一种坡耕地保护措施。     

生物碳对灰漠土有机碳及其组分的影响

土壤有机碳是影响土壤肥力和作物产量高低的决定性因子。以棉花秸秆为原料,在高温厌氧条件下热解制备生物碳,通过盆栽试验探讨了生物碳对新疆灰漠土有机碳及其组分的影响。试验设置3种生物碳:棉花秸秆分别在450℃、600℃和750℃下热解制备(以BC450、BC600和BC750表示);每种生物碳的施用量分别为5 g·kg-1、10 g·kg-1和20 g·kg-1(占土壤重量的比例);同时,以空白土壤为对照(CK)。结果表明:施用生物碳可促进小麦生长,两茬小麦的地上部干物质重均显著高于对照。施用生物碳可显著提高土壤总有机碳,且生物碳热解温度越高,施用量越大,提高作用越明显。各生物碳处理土壤易氧化碳含量均显著高于对照;生物碳低、中施用量处理(5 g·kg-1、10 g·kg-1)土壤水溶性有机碳含量显著高于对照,但高施用量处理(20 g·kg-1)与对照无显著差异;除BC750低施用量处理(5 g·kg1)外,其余各生物碳处理土壤微生物量碳含量也均显著高于对照。生物碳不同热解温度对土壤易氧化碳和微生物量碳含量的影响表现为BC450>BC600>BC750;但对土壤水溶性有机碳含量无显著影响。生物碳不同施用量对土壤易氧化碳的影响表现为10 g·kg-1≈20 g·kg-1>5 g·kg-1,水溶性有机碳含量为5 g·kg1≈10 g·kg-1>20 g·kg-1。生物碳对土壤微生物商的影响总体表现为:生物碳的热解温度越高,施用量越大,土壤微生物商越低。因此,合理的施用棉花秸秆生物碳可显著增加灰漠土有机碳储量,改变土壤有机碳组分,提高土壤生产力。     

秸秆不同还田方式对紫色土微生物量碳、氮、磷及可溶性有机质的影响

以广泛分布于西南丘陵区的紫色土为研究对象,通过田间微区试验,研究了油菜/玉米轮作下秸秆不同还田方式对紫色土微生物量碳、氮、磷和可溶性有机质的影响,以期为秸秆在农业生产上的综合利用提供理论依据。结果表明:秸秆直接还田(CS)、生物质炭还田(BC)、秸秆+促腐剂还田(CSD)和秸秆1∶1配施生物质炭还田(CSB)均有效提高土壤微生物量碳(SMBC)、氮(SMBN)、磷(SMBP)含量,其中以CSD处理的微生物量碳、磷最高,分别比CK(单施化肥)增加了46.32%,94.09%;CSB处理的微生物量氮最高,其次为CSD处理,分别达到了104.47,104.14mg/kg。对土壤可溶性有机质而言,除BC处理外,其他秸秆还田处理下土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)提高了63.26%~189.46%,其中CSD处理最高,达72.74mg/kg;与CK处理相比,秸秆不同还田方式显著降低了土壤可溶性有机氮(DON)含量,但4种处理的土壤可溶性有机磷(DOP)均有提高,特别是CSD处理对土壤可溶性有机磷的提高效果最佳。与CK处理相比,秸秆不同还田方式降低了土壤DON/TN,但有效提高了SMBC/SOC(除BC处理),其中CS和CSD处理的提高效果显著,同时CSD处理的DOC/SOC和SMBN/TN值最高,分别达到了0.49%和7.66%。秸秆不同还田方式能有效提高作物产量,与CK处理相比,各处理的油菜和玉米产量分别提高了3.37%~7.01%和1.49%~3.92%,其中以CSD处理的增产效果最佳。因此,油菜/玉米轮作下西南丘陵山区紫色土最优的秸秆还田方式为秸秆+促腐剂还田,该还田方式下活性有机质含量最高,有利于提高土壤生产力。     

Spatial patterns,storages and sources of black carbon in soils from the catchment of Qinghai Lake,China

Black carbon (BC), composed of char and soot, is an important component of soil organic carbon (SOC), and these materials are potentially important for the global carbon cycle and global climate. A thermal‐optical reflectance method was used to determine the spatial patterns of SOC, BC, char and soot in nine soil types collected from 152 sites in the Qinghai Lake catchment. All of the analytes showed large spatial variability: SOC, BC and char were most abundant in bog soils and least abundant in aeolian soils, while soot concentrations in alpine frost desert and in aeolian soils were about half of those in the other soils. The average BC concentration in the 0–20‐cm soil layers was 1.3 g kg^?1, and BC amounted to 5.6% of the SOC. Char, SOC and BC all decreased with soil depth, but soot showed little variation. The proportions of BC to SOC and char to BC showed contrasting trends in four soil profiles; the former increased and the latter decreased with depth. The quantity of SOC sequestered in topsoils of the catchment area was estimated to be 191 Tg; BC accounted for approximately 4.8% of this, and char made up approximately 85% of the total BC stock. The burning of animal dung for domestic cooking apparently was an important source of soil BC: combustion of other biofuels and fossil fuels was the other main source.     

杉木凋落物及其生物炭对土壤微生物群落结构的影响

以福建建瓯万木林自然保护区内的杉木人工林土壤为研究对象,设置单独添加生物炭、单独添加凋落物以及混合添加凋落物和生物炭处理,进行一年的室内培养实验,研究不同添加物处理对土壤性质及微生物群落结构的影响。结果表明:与对照(S)相比,单独添加凋落物与混合添加凋落物和生物炭均使土壤磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)总量、真菌丰度以及真菌/细菌比值显著增加;单独添加生物炭与混合添加凋落物和生物炭均使革兰氏阳性细菌/革兰氏阴性细菌比值显著增加。混合添加凋落物和生物炭处理的放线菌丰度显著高于单独添加凋落物处理的。主成分分析表明,不同添加物处理的土壤微生物群落结构存在显著差异;典范对应分析表明,不同添加物处理通过改变土壤p H、全碳、全氮、C/N、可溶性有机碳(DOC)和可溶性有机氮(DON)等性质,进而影响土壤微生物群落结构。     

Carbon Sequestration in Restored Soils by Applying Organic Amendments

The study of different natural carbon sinks has become especially important because of climate change effects. The restoration of contaminated areas can be an ideal strategy for carbon sequestration. The studied area was affected by toxic Aznalcóllar mine spill in 1998. Restoration process of the contaminated area was based, mainly, on the use of two organic amendments: leonardite (LE) and biosolid compost (BC). The objective of this study was to verify whether the application of these amendments promotes the long‐term carbon sequestration in this soil. Five treatments were established: untreated control, biosolid compost (doses 4 and 2) and leonardite (doses 4 and 2). The addition of amendments implied an improvement in soil quality that was directly related to the amendment dose: decrease in bulk density, increase in pH, higher respiration rates and an improvement in the stratification ratio. Dose‐dependent changes in the molecular composition of soil organic matter were shown by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Both amendments promoted carbon retention, although because of the low mineralization rates of soil organic matter in LE treatments, the carbon storage was higher. The dosage effect on the carbon balance was more important in LE treatments, whereas in the BC treatments, the balance was similar for both doses. Our findings suggest that LE4 significantly increased the total organic carbon and it was the most suitable treatment for long‐term carbon storage, because of its molecular composition rich in relatively stable aromatic and lignin‐derived compounds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

秸秆生物炭配施氮肥对潮土土壤碳氮含量及作物产量的影响

【目的】探讨玉米秸秆生物炭配施氮肥对华北潮土区土壤理化特性和作物产量的影响,阐明土壤和植株对生物炭和氮肥施用的响应,旨在为该区域秸秆资源高效利用、培肥土壤及作物增产提供科学依据。【方法】以华北冬小麦–夏玉米轮作区为研究对象,研究玉米秸秆生物炭 (缺氧条件下 450℃ 热裂解 1 小时获得) 配施氮肥对土壤养分含量、微生物量以及作物产量的影响。试验采用裂区设计,以秸秆生物炭施用量为主区,施氮量为副区。秸秆生物炭用量设 0、7.5 和 22.5 t/hm2 3 个水平 (以 BC₀、BC_7.5、BC_22.5 表示);氮肥用量设 0、150、225 和 300 kg/hm2 4 个水平 (以 N₀、N₁₅₀、N₂₂₅、N₃₀₀ 表示)。小麦在 2014 年 10 月 9 日播种,次年 6 月 8 日收获;玉米在 2015 年 6 月 10 日播种,当年 9 月 28 日收获。在作物成熟期进行产量测定,并采集 0—20 cm 土壤样品以及采用常规方法进行土壤有机碳 (SOC)、全氮 (TN)、可溶性有机碳 (DOC)、铵态氮 (NH₄+-N)、硝态氮 (NO₃–-N)、土壤微生物量碳 (MBC) 和微生物量氮 (MBN) 的测定。【结果】生物炭对土壤养分含量、微生物量碳氮及作物产量有极显著影响。生物炭用量增加,土壤 SOC、TN、DOC、NO₃–-N 含量以及土壤 SOC/TN 比值均显著增加,较 BC₀ 最大增加幅度分别为 165.0%、74.1%、39.1%、75.1% 和 44.0%。MBC、MBN 含量和作物产量均以 BC_7.5 处理达最大值,较 BC₀ 最大增加幅度分别为 49.2%、57.6% 和 46.1%,BC_22.5 较 BC_7.5 处理平均降低 12.1%、7.3% 和 9.7%;施用生物炭降低 NH₄+-N 含量,BC_7.5 和 BC_22.5 处理较 BC₀ 分别下降 18.4% 和 23.7%。随着氮肥施用量的增加,SOC、DOC、NH₄+-N、MBC、MBN 含量均先增后减,在施氮水平为 150 kg/hm2 时,其含量均达最大值,较 N₀ 最大增加幅度分别为 29.7%、22.9%、44.8%、79.4% 和 115.3%。所有施氮的处理作物产量较 N₀ 均显著增加,而三个施氮处理间其产量差异不显著 (P>0.05)。【结论】在维持作物产量不降低的情况下,短期内 N₁₅₀BC_7.5 处理对提升土壤肥力的效果最佳,是较为理想的施肥方式,但其有效机制及长期效果还需进一步试验研究。     

长期施用有机肥对瘠薄红壤有效碳库及碳库管理指数的影响

主要分析了长期施用有机肥对瘠薄红壤有效碳库(微生物量碳,易氧化碳,矿化碳)及碳库管理指数(CPMI)的影响.结果表明:长期施用有机肥对土壤有效碳库和碳素有效率有很大影响,绿肥,稻草秸秆肥和厩肥处理的土壤有机碳,微生物量碳、易氧化碳、矿化碳的数量、碳素有效率明显高于对照处理的土壤。施肥对全碳、矿化碳的影响为:厩肥>绿肥>秸秆稻草肥>本田还田>对照,对微生物量碳的影响为:绿肥>厩肥>稻草秸秆肥>本田还田>对照,对活性碳(CA)、CPMI,碳素有效率A、B、C的影响为:绿肥>稻草秸秆肥>厩肥>本田还田>对照。在提高CA、CPMI方面,绿肥和稻草秸秆肥优于厩肥。相关分析表明:土壤有效碳库和碳素有效率与土壤化学性质相关或极相关,CPMI与土壤养分因子相关或极相关,反映了农业生产措施对土壤碳库的影响,可以运用CPMI来评估土壤碳库的变化。     

长期施肥与地膜覆盖对土壤微生物量碳氮的影响

通过田间定位试验研究长期施肥与地膜覆盖对土壤微生物量C、N的影响。结果表明，长期施肥与地膜覆盖提高了土壤微生物量C、N含量，长期施有机肥和有机无机肥配施，土壤微生物量C、N显著高于单施化肥和不施肥。相关分析表明，土壤微生物量C、N与土壤有机C、全N均呈极显著的正相关。土壤微生物量C、N可作为指示土壤肥力的重要指标。本试验土壤微生物量C占有机C的比例平均为9．95％，微生物量N占全N的比例平均为10．78％。     

长期连续秸秆还田和生物质炭施用对稻田N2O排放的影响

为了评估麦季多年连续秸秆还田和生物质炭施用对稻麦轮作系统下稻田N₂O排放的影响，于2010年麦季开始开展了为期11 a的麦季秸秆还田和生物质炭施用定位试验。试验共包括5个处理：无玉米秸秆还田和生物质炭施用(CK);6 t/(hm²·a)玉米秸秆还田(CS);2.4 t/(hm²·a)生物质炭施用(BC1);6 t/(hm²·a)生物质炭施用(BC2)和12 t/(hm²·a)生物质炭施用(BC3)。结果表明，BC2和BC3处理较CK均显著提高了土壤碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾、易氧化碳、可溶性有机氮和土壤微生物生物量氮含量。CS、BC1和BC2处理水稻生长季N₂O总排放量与CK没有显著差异，但是BC3处理的N₂O总排放量比CK提高了245.31%，并显著高于其他处理。BC3处理的N₂O总排放量和施氮肥后N₂O排放高峰期的累积排放量分别比CK提高了3.84 kg/hm²和3.3...     

生物炭施用下潮土团聚体微生物量碳氮和酶活性的分布特征

  【目的】  探究生物炭配施化肥对不同粒级团聚体中微生物量碳、氮 (MBC、MBN) 含量和胞外酶活性的影响,分析影响团聚体胞外酶活性变化的主控因素,为提升土壤质量提供科学依据。  【方法】  田间微区试验在河南现代农业研究基地进行,供试土壤为石灰性潮土。设置4个处理:不施肥 (CK)、单施化肥 (NPK)、单施生物炭 (BC) 和生物炭配施化肥 (BC+NPK),生物炭是以花生壳为原料高温裂解制备而成,仅在试验开始前施用一次,化肥每季均施用。试验开始于2017年小麦季,于2019年9月玉米收获后采集耕层土壤样品,测定土壤养分含量,分析各粒径团聚体MBC、MBN含量和酶活性。  【结果】  与CK相比,NPK处理可显著提高耕层土壤有效磷、速效钾和硝态氮含量,BC处理可显著提高有机碳和全氮含量,BC+NPK处理则显著提高了以上各指标含量。与CK相比,BC处理显著降低了粒径2～0.25 mm团聚体MBN含量,并明显增加了该粒径的MBC/MBN值;BC+NPK处理显著增加了粒径 > 2 mm和0.25～0.053 mm团聚体中MBC含量 (增幅分别为59.57%和34.68%),也增加了耕层土壤、粒径 > 2 mm和2～0.25 mm团聚体中MBN含量 (增幅分别为17.33%、42.24%和19.28%)。与CK相比,NPK、BC和BC+NPK处理均显著增加粒径 > 2 mm团聚体微生物熵,而BC和BC+NPK处理则显著降低了耕层土壤、粒径2～0.25 mm和0.25～0.053 mm团聚体微生物熵。与CK相比,NPK和BC+NPK处理均显著提高了粒径2～0.25 mm和0.25～0.053 mm团聚体中β-葡糖苷酶、β-纤维二糖苷酶、α-葡糖苷酶和β-木糖苷酶活性;在粒径 > 2 mm团聚体中,仅BC+NPK处理明显提高了该四种酶的活性。与CK相比,NPK和BC+NPK处理均明显提高了粒径 > 2 mm团聚体中脲酶活性及粒径0.25～0.053 mm团聚体中乙酰氨基葡糖苷酶活性,仅BC+NPK处理可显著提高粒径 > 2 mm和0.25～0.053 mm团聚体中亮氨酸氨基肽酶活性。团聚体酶活性变化与MBC、MBN含量以及MBC/MBN值显著相关。粒径 > 2 mm团聚体中酶活性变化与微生物熵、全氮和MBC含量均显著相关,粒径2～0.25 mm团聚体中酶活性变化与MBC/MBN值显著相关,而粒径0.25～0.053 mm团聚体中酶活性变化与MBC含量显著相关。  【结论】  生物炭与化肥配施有利于土壤碳的固存,改善土壤微环境,提升土壤质量,且生物炭添加到土壤中有较长的后效。     

Effects of Biochar and Biosolid on Adsorption of Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Potassium in Two Soils

Increasing the retention of nutrients by agricultural soils is of great interest to minimize losses of nutrients by leaching and/or surface runoff. Soil amendments play a role in nutrient retention by increasing the surface area and/or other chemical processes. Biochar (BC) is high carbon-containing by-product of pyrolysis of carbon-rich feedstocks to produce bioenergy. Biosolid is a by-product of wastewater treatment plant. Use of these by-products as amendments to agricultural soils is beneficial to improve soil properties, soil quality, and nutrient retention and enhance carbon sequestration. In this study, the adsorption of NH₄-N, P, and K by a sandy soil (Quincy fine sand (QFS)) and a silty clay loam soil (Warden silty loam (WSL)) with BC (0, 22.4, and 44.8 mg ha^?1) and biosolid (0 and 22.4 mg ha^?1) amendments were investigated. Adsorption of NH₄-N by the QFS soil increased with BC application at lower NH₄-N concentrations in equilibrium solution. For the WSL soil, NH₄-N adsorption peaked at 22.4 mg ha^?1 BC rate. Biosolid application increased NH₄-N adsorption by the WSL soil while decreased that in the QFS soil. Adsorption of P was greater by the WSL soil as compared to that by the QFS soil. Biosolid amendment significantly increased P adsorption capacity in both soils, while BC amendment had no significant effects. BC and biosolid amendments decreased K adsorption capacity by the WSL soil but had no effects on that by the QFS soil. Ca release with increasing addition of K was greater by the WSL soil as compared to that by the QFS soil. In both the soils, Ca release was not influenced by BC amendment while it increased with addition of biosolid. The fit of adsorption data for NH₄-N, P, and K across all treatments and in two soils was better with the Freundlich model than that with the Langmuir model. The nutrients retained by BC or biosolid amended soils are easily released, therefore are readily available for the root uptake in cropped soils.     

Benefits of Biochars and NPK Fertilizers for Soil Quality and Growth of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in an Acid Arenosol

Fertilization is required for optimum plant growth, particularly in unfertile soils, while optimizing nutrient use efficiency is an alternative to reduce inorganic fertilizer needs and reduce environmental problems caused by nutrient leaching. This study investigated soil properties and cowpea yield responses to biochars (BCs) made from different feedstocks, baby corn peel biochar (BC1), branches of mango tree biochar (BC2), and rice husk biochar (BC3), applied in combination with nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizers. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, using an acid sandy soil (Arenosol) that was submitted for 70 d to the following eight treatments:i) control; ii) full dose of NPK (a commercial compound fertilizer (12-24-12 of N-P₂O₅-K₂O) + urea (46% N)); iii) BC1 + half dose of NPK; iv) BC1 + full dose of NPK; v) BC2 + half dose of NPK; vi) BC2 + full dose of NPK; vii) BC3 + half dose of NPK; and viii) BC3 + full dose of NPK. All biochars were applied at a rate of 0.9% (weight/weight), and each type of biochar was combined with half and full doses of NPK fertilizers. Soil pH increased significantly (P < 0.05) in treatments with BC1 and BC2, while cation exchange capacity (CEC) and available P were higher in the treatments with BC1; BC1 and BC2 also induced higher activity of enzymes related to the P cycle and higher cowpea yield. Similar soil properties and cowpea yield parameters were obtained with the full and half doses of NPK fertilizers for each type of biochar used. In conclusion, biochars in the combination with NPK fertilizers improved soil chemistry and enzymatic activities, allowing reduced fertilizer application and food production costs in the acid soil studied.     

Effects of biochar and polyacrylamide on decomposition of soil organic matter and <Superscript>14</Superscript>C-labeled alfalfa residues

Purpose

Various soil conditioners, such as biochar (BC) and anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), improve soil fertility and susceptibility to erosion, and may alter microbial accessibility and decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) and plant residues. To date, no attempts have been made to study the effects of BC in combination with PAM on the decomposition of soil SOM and plant residues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BC, PAM, and their combination on the decomposition of SOM and alfalfa residues.

Materials and methods

An 80-day incubation experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of oak wood biochar (BC; 10 Mg ha^?1), PAM (80 kg ha^?1), and their combination (BC?+?PAM) on decomposition of SOM and ¹⁴C-labeled alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) residues by measuring CO₂ efflux, microbial biomass, and specific respiration activity.

Results and discussion

No conditioner exerted a significant effect on SOM decomposition over the 80 days of incubation. PAM increased cumulative CO₂ efflux at 55–80 days of incubation on average of 6.7 % compared to the soil with plant residue. This was confirmed by the increased MBN and MB¹⁴C at 80 days of incubation in PAM-treated soil with plant residue compared to the control. In contrast, BC and BC?+?PAM decreased plant residue decomposition compared to that in PAM-treated soil and the respective control soil during the 80 days. BC and BC?+?PAM decreased MBC in soil at 2 days of incubation indicated that BC suppressed soil microorganisms and, therefore, decreased the decomposition of plant residue.

Conclusions

The addition of oak wood BC alone or in combination with PAM to soil decreased the decomposition of plant residue.

     

黄土区不同类型土壤微生物量碳、氮和可溶性有机碳、氮的含量及其关系

研究了黄土高原南部地区不同土壤类型及不同利用方式下土壤微生物摄碳、氮和可溶性有机碳、氮的含量。结果表明：不同土地利用方式下，土壤微生物量碳、氮和可溶性有机碳、氮含量均为林地〉农田，其中林地枯枝落叶层〉林地O～20cm土层。农田土壤微生物量碳、氮的含量均为红油土〉黑垆土〉淋溶褐土；农田土壤中可溶性有机碳含量为淋溶褐土〉红油土〉黑垆土，而可溶性有机氮含量则为黑垆土〉红油土〉淋溶褐土。方差分析表明，不同土壤类型土壤微生物量氮含量之间的差异达显著水平，而不同土壤类型间土壤微生物量碳、可溶性有机碳、氯含量之间的差异未达显著水平。土壤微生物量碳、氮占土壤有机碳和全氮的比例明显高于可溶性有机碳、氮占土壤有机碳和全氮的比例。相关分析发现，土壤微生物量碳与可溶性有机碳之间以及土壤微生物量氮与可溶性有机氮之间的相关性达显著或极显著水平，说明土壤微生物量碳、氮和土壤可溶性有机碳、氮之间有密切联系。