Changes in phosphorus fractions in three tropical soils amended with corn cob and rice husk biochars

ABSTRACT

The formation of phosphorus (P) compounds including iron-P, aluminum-P and calcium-P in highly weathered tropical soils can be altered upon biochar addition. We investigated the effect of corn cob biochar (CC) and rice husk biochar (RH) pyrolyzed at three temperatures (300°C, 450°C and 650°C) on phosphorus (P) fractions of three contrasting soils. A 90d incubation study was conducted by mixing biochar with soil at a rate of 1% w/w and at 70% field capacity. Sequential P fraction was performed on biochar, soil and soil-biochar mixtures. Increase in most labile P (resin-P_i, NaHCO₃-P_i) and organic P fraction (NaHCO₃-P_o + NaOH-P_o) in CC and RH biochars were inversely related to increasing temperature. HCl-P_i and residual P increased with increasing temperature. Interaction of CC and RH with soils resulted in an increase in most labile P as well as moderately labile P (NaOH-P_i) fractions in the soils. CC increased most labile P in the soils more than RH. The increase in most labile P fraction in soils was more significant at relatively lower temperatures (300°C and 450°C) than 650°C. However, the increase in HCl-P_i and residual P of the soils was more predominant at high temperature (650°C). The study suggested that biochar pyrolyzed at 300–450°C could be used to increase P bioavailability in tropical soils.     

Biochar Functions as Phosphorous Fertilizers in an Alkaline Alluvial Soil

With the depletion of global phosphorous (P) reserves, finding alternatives to P fertilizers has been gaining more and more attention. This study was conducted to identify whether biochar application could improve P availability in a P-deficient alkaline alluvial soil. Unground biochar contained a high level of 692 mg kg^?1 extractable P, over 100 times more than that in the soil. Extractable P content increased significantly with the decrease of biochar particle size. There was a significant positive correlation between soil available P content and biochar application rates. The pot experiment showed that biochar application significantly increased the soil available P content before sowing, and significantly improved the aboveground biomass of soybean and promoted P uptake at harvest. Biochar, as containing abundant extractable P, could go partly on substituting mineral P fertilizers as well as promote plant growth and reduce P fertilizer application in agriculture.     

Soil Organic Carbon,Biochar, and Applicable Research Results for Increasing Farm Productivity under Australian Agricultural Conditions

The conversion of vegetative biomass waste to biochar (biologically derived charcoal) is a source of carbon (C) that can be used to increase the level of soil organic C (SOC) in agricultural soils. This review collates available research into the effects of biologically derived C species with respect to the direct and indirect effects on agricultural productivity and their potential for use in Western Australian agricultural systems. There is a growing requirement to quantify the effect of specific biochar applications for agroecological purposes and to verify biosequestered C for climate-change-mitigation activities. This work provides a review and assessment of safe biochar application rates and examines the present levels of scientific uncertainty surrounding the efficacy and reliability of applying biochar to soils in relation to crop productivity.     

Application of biochar in mitigation of negative effects of salinity stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects crop production throughout the world. Biochar is an activated carbon soil conditioner that can alleviate the negative impacts of salinity. The research was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effect of 1% and 2% of biochar application on wheat seed germination and growth attributes under salinity. Both levels of biochar improved the germination and growth conditions under salinity; however, 2% biochar level was more effective compared to 1% level. Root and shoot length increased up to 23% and11% with 2% biochar, respectively. The maximum increase of 16% and 10% in leaf water potential and osmotic potential was noted with 2% biochar at 150 mM salt. The decrease in proline content and soluble sugar at 2% biochar was 51% and 27%, respectively. Decrease in superoxide dismutase activity was 15.3% at 2% level of biochar under stress biochar mitigates the negative effects of salinity and improved wheat productivity.     

Adsorption and degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in spiked soil with Fe0 nanoparticles supported by biochar

This work studies the adsorption and degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2,4-D) in spiked soil with nanoscale Fe⁰ particles (nFe⁰) and biochar derived from maize straw. When biochar concentration was high, the adsorption capacity of soil was enhanced. Furthermore, 2,4-D degraded completely at loading rates of 0.33 and 0.17 g/L nFe⁰ plus biochar (initial 2,4-D concentration of 10 mg/g) within 40 h, according to equilibrium data. Additionally, the theoretical concentration of chloridion was approximately 84%. Further analysis indicated that the effect of nFe⁰ on 2,4-D degradation was weaker in soil columns than that in soil slurry. By contrast, 2,4-D degradation is positively influenced by biochar application, which prevented the aggregation and corrosion of Fe nanoparticles. Although the enhanced capacity for 2,4-D adsorption on the soil decelerated dechlorination rate, long-term nFe⁰ activity was generated. After 72 h, the efficiency of 2,4-D degradation was approximately 53.2% in the soil columns with biochar support.