Effects of biochar amendment on greenhouse gas emissions,net ecosystem carbon budget and properties of an acidic soil under intensive vegetable production

Biochar addition to soils has been frequently proposed as a means to increase soil fertility and carbon (C) sequestration. However, the effect of biochar addition on greenhouse gas emissions from intensively managed soils under vegetable production at the field scale is poorly understood. The effects of wheat straw biochar amendment with mineral fertilizer or an enhanced‐efficiency fertilizer (mixture of urea and nitrapyrin) on N₂O efflux and the net ecosystem C budget were investigated for an acidic soil in southeast China over a 1‐yr period. Biochar addition did not affect the annual N₂O emissions (26–28 kg N/ha), but reduced seasonal N₂O emissions during the cold period. Biochar increased soil organic C and CO₂ efflux on average by 61 and 19%, respectively. Biochar addition greatly increased C gain in the acidic soil (average 11.1 Mg C/ha) compared with treatments without biochar addition (average ?2.2 Mg C/ha). Biochar amendment did not increase yield‐scaled N₂O emissions after application of mineral fertilizer, but it decreased yield‐scaled N₂O by 15% after nitrapyrin addition. Our results suggest that biochar amendment of acidic soil under intensive vegetable cultivation contributes to soil C sequestration, but has only small effects on both plant growth and greenhouse gas emissions.     

Biochar for crop production: potential benefits and risks

Purpose

Biochar, the by-product of thermal decomposition of organic materials in an oxygen-limited environment, is increasingly being investigated due to its potential benefits for soil health, crop yield, carbon (C) sequestration, and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation.

Materials and methods

In this review, we discuss the potential role of biochar for improving crop yields and decreasing the emission of greenhouse gases, along with the potential risks involved with biochar application and strategies to avoid these risks.

Results and discussion

Biochar soil amendment improves crop productivity mainly by increasing nutrient use efficiency and water holding capacity. However, improvements to crop production are often recorded in highly degraded and nutrient-poor soils, while its application to fertile and healthy soils does not always increase crop yield. Since biochars are produced from a variety of feedstocks, certain contaminants can be present. Heavy metals in biochar may affect plant growth as well as rhizosphere microbial and faunal communities and functions. Biochar manufacturers should get certification that their products meet International Biochar Initiative (IBI) quality standards (basic utility properties, toxicant assessment, advanced analysis, and soil enhancement properties).

Conclusions

The long-term effects of biochar on soil functions and its fate in different soil types require immediate attention. Biochar may change the soil biological community composition and abundance and retain the pesticides applied. As a consequence, weed control in biochar-amended soils may be difficult as preemergence herbicides may become less effective.

     

Impact of biochar on red paddy soil physical and hydraulic properties and rice yield over 3 years

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Biochar is a promising soil amendment to improve soil quality. This study was conducted to understand the effect of biochar on soil physical and hydraulic...     

Bacterial community structure shifts induced by biochar amendment to karst calcareous soil in southwestern areas of China

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Biochar as a promising soil amendment is poorly explored on the coarse and infertile karst soils in the ecological restoration region. The aim of this study is to...     

Nitrogen transformation and microbial community structure varied in apple rhizosphere and rhizoplane soils under biochar amendment

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Biochar amendment is commonly applied to ameliorate soil environment and alleviate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, while our understanding of biochar effects on...     

Treatment of Indigo-Dyed Textile Wastewater Using Solar Photo-Fenton with Iron-Modified Clay and Copper-Modified Carbon

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - Biochar presents great promise as a technology that makes a substantial contribution in various fields of environmental research. However, existing knowledge is...     

施用生物质炭对大棚土壤特性、黄瓜品质和 根结线虫病的影响

选择长期种植黄瓜并发生根结线虫病的大棚,设计生物质炭施用量为0(C0)、24(C1)、48(C2)t/hm~2的田间试验,研究生物质炭对黄瓜生长、品质以及根结线虫病的影响。结果表明:生物质炭显著提高了土壤有机质、全氮、铵态氮、速效钾含量和pH,同时降低土壤体积质量11.0%以上,C2处理黄瓜根系生物量较C0显著增加了56.9%。与C0相比,C2处理显著增加黄瓜可溶性糖和有机酸含量25.0%和17.6%,C1处理显著降低黄瓜硝酸盐含量25.5%。C2处理黄瓜根系单株卵块数比C0增加了3.8倍。施用生物质炭对黄瓜产量没有显著影响。研究结果说明,蔬菜大棚土壤中施用生物质炭可改善土壤理化性状,提高黄瓜品质,但有增加根系卵块数的趋势。由于生物质炭与土壤、作物的相互作用会随时间的变化而改变,因此,生物质炭对大棚黄瓜品质和根结线虫病的影响效应需进一步长期观测。     

旱地土壤施用生物质炭的后效应——水分条件对土壤有机碳矿化的影响

农田施用生物质炭作为农田土壤固碳减排技术的重要措施已受到广泛关注。本研究选择一次性大量施入生物质炭3年后且长期种植玉米的旱地土壤为研究对象,通过室内培养试验,研究了不同水分条件下的有机碳稳定性的变化,结果表明:一级动力学方程较好地描述了土壤有机碳的矿化动态,总体看来旱地土壤有机碳的矿化强度随土壤含水量的增加而增大,在25%WHC(持水量,water holding capacity)、50%WHC和75%WHC水分条件下,与C0(无生物质炭)相比,C20(生物质炭20 t/hm2)、C40(生物质炭40 t/hm2)处理下,有机碳的矿化强度分别降低了28.57%~42.86%(25%WHC)、22.22%~33.33%(50%WHC)、15.00%~30.00%(75%WHC),不同处理下土壤的微生物商和微生物代谢熵对水分的响应存在明显差异,与对照相比,生物质炭施用下微生物量相对稳定,且稳定程度与生物质炭用量有关。因此,旱地土壤施用生物质炭具有保持微生物量稳定且降低土壤有机碳矿化与CO2释放的作用,这对于农田土壤有机碳的固持增汇具有重要意义。     

The Impact of Woody Biochar on Microbial Processes in Conventionally and Organically Managed Arable soils

ABSTRACT

Although environmental impacts of biochar are well characterized, impacts on soil quality, nutrient availability and crop productivity, still remain a challenge due to the diverse response of different soil types to different types of biochar, namely those obtained at low temperature. The impact of an alkaline woody biochar (two doses 5% and 10%) obtained at 280°C, on soil enzyme activity, soil microbial respiration rate, mineral nitrogen (N) availability and ammonia volatilization was studied in one conventionally and one organically managed soils, with and without the addition of urea or composted farmyard manure. Biochar additions had different effects on soil enzyme activity in both soils, suggesting lower decomposing microbial activity processes promoted by biochar. Both soils showed a similar decreasing trend regarding soil respiration rates for all treatments, and significant relationships were observed between the treatments with different rates of applied biochar, but not constant for the entire incubation period. Urea application increased soil mineral N concentrations, especially nitrate concentrations when biochar was applied as well. Biochar decreased ammonia volatilization from conventionally managed soil fertilized with urea, but did not have a significant effect when compost was added to the organically managed soil. Biochar altered microbial behavior in soil, and was affected by previous soil management. So, the impact of biochar produced at low temperatures on soil biological processes is similar to those obtained at high temperature, thus proving that there is no need to increase the energy expenditure to produce biochar, to obtain a good product.     

Impact of integrated application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizers on maize growth and nitrogen recovery in alkaline calcareous soil

Biochar application has been considered as a rich source of carbon which helps to improve the physico-chemical properties and fertility of the soil. In Pakistan, excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer is considered a serious problem, so it is of vital importance to examine the effect of biochar on soil with varying doses of nitrogen fertilizer. We hypothesized that addition of biochar to an alkaline calcareous soil could improve not only soil quality and crop yield but also nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), reducing the loss of nitrogen (N) in the form of denitrification, ammonia volatilization, and nitrate leaching. A pot experiment was conducted under 2-factorial completely randomized design having three replications to evaluate the NUE in biochar amended calcareous soil. Biochar was applied at the rate of 0%, 1% and 2% (w/w) in pots filled with 17 kg of soil using various levels of N (0%, 50% and 100% of recommended dose) on maize (Zea mays L.). Several soil quality indicators, uptake, and yield of maize were monitored. Biochar application significantly decreased soil pH, increased water-holding capacity, total organic carbon, maize yield, stomatal conductance, and nitrogen uptake in plant. The results of the study indicated that addition of biochar could not only decrease the use of inorganic fertilizers by improving its quality and yield as in our case biochar at the rate of 1% and N at the rate of 50% provided optimum output minimizing the economic cost eventually.     

Positive effects of biochar application and Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation on mycorrhizal colonization, rice seedlings and phosphorus cycling in paddy soils

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for plant growth but is often limiting in ecosystems; therefore, improving the P fertilizer use efficiency is important. Biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may enhance P cycling in paddy soils that contain high content of total P but low content of available P (AP). In this study, the effects of biochar addition and Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation on the organic and inorganic P contents and phosphatase activities in paddy soils, rice seedling growth, and AMF colonization were investigated. Compared with no biochar addition, biochar addition enhanced the percentage of spore germination at day 7, hyphal length, most probable number, and mycorrhizal colonization rate of R.irregularis by 32%, 662%, 70%, and 28% on average, respectively. Biochar and R. irregularis altered soil P cycling and availability. Biochar and R. irregularis, either individually or in combination, increased soil AP content by 2%-48%. Rice seedlings treated with biochar and R. irregularis produced greater biomass, improved root morphology, and increased nutrient uptake compared with those of the control without biochar and R. irregularis. The results suggest that combined application of biochar and R. irregularis is beneficial to rice cultivation in paddy soils with high content of total P but low content of AP.     

Biochar reduced soil extractable Cd but increased its accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated on contaminated soils

Purpose

This study focused on the effects and mechanisms of biochar amendment to Cd-contaminated soil on the uptake and translocation of Cd by rice under flooding conditions.

Materials and methods

Pot and batch experiments were conducted using Cd-contaminated soil collected from a field near an ore mining area and a cultivar of Oryza sativa ssp. indica. Biochar derived from rice straw under anaerobic conditions at 500 °C for 2 h was mixed with the soil at the rate of 0, 2.5, and 5%.

Results and discussion

The application of 5% biochar reduced CaCl₂-extractable soil Cd by 34% but increased Cd concentration in brown rice by 451%. Biochar amendment decreased water-soluble Fe²⁺ in soils and formation of Fe plaques on roots and weakened the Fe²⁺-Cd²⁺ competition at adsorption sites on the root surface. Biochar increased water-soluble Cd in the soil and consequently Cd uptake by rice roots by releasing water-soluble Cl^?. Biochar application also reduced the proportion of cell wall-bound Cd in the root, which caused easier Cd translocation from the cortex to the stele in the root and up to the shoot.

Conclusions

Rice straw biochar (with high concentration of water-soluble Cl^?) reduced CaCl₂-extractable soil Cd but increased Cd concentration in rice under flooding condition.

     

Crambe Growth in a Soil Amended with Biochar and under Saline Irrigation

Biochar is the term given to biomass subjected to the process of change in the composition by the action of high temperatures. Advantages of biochar in soil quality have been reported, including amelioration of salinity effects. Crambe has great potential to figure as raw material for biofuel, since it naturally contains up to 60% of erucic acid. This study evaluated crambe growth in a soil amended with biochar and irrigated with saline waters. A greenhouse experiment was conducted following a completely randomized design with five levels of biochar, two irrigation water supplies, and four replications. Parameters related to soil chemical properties, crambe growth, oil, and macronutrient contents were evaluated. Biochar presented significance for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) contents. Crambe growth parameters decreased with the doses of biochar. Oil and macronutrient contents were in accordance to previous studies.     

Effects of biochar and phosphorus fertilizer rates on soil physical properties and wheat yield on clay textured soil in middle Nile Delta of Egypt

ABSTRACT

Biochar has not been adequately used by farmers to improve the clay textured soil productivities in the world. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the co-application of biochar with different rates of phosphorus (P) fertilizer on selected soil physical properties and wheat yield on clay textured soil over two growth seasons. Biochar treatments occupied the main plots at a rate of 0.0 and 10 t ha^?1, while the sub-plots were devoted to phosphorus rates at rates of 0%, 50%, 100%, and 150% of recommended P fertilizers. Biochar (10 t ha^?1) and P at different rates decreased soil bulk density significantly. Meanwhile, it increased aggregate stability, saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil water retention significantly at (p < .05), and it improved the grain yield of wheat. More grain yields in the soil treated with biochar than untreated soil under all P application rates for both years were probably caused partially by more nutrients (N, P, and K) were applied from biochar itself. Grain yield of wheat in the soil-amended biochar and P did not increase significantly between the application at 50%, 100% and 150% P. The results of this study indicate that phosphorus blends with biochar can be used to decrease the bulk density of clay textured soils and to improve crop production in these soils.     

Effects of mixing biochar on soil N2O,CO2, and CH4 emissions after prescribed fire in alpine meadows of Wugong Mountain,China

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Prescribed fires or wildfires are common in natural ecosystems. Biochar input during fires can impact soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including methane (CH4),...     

Characterization of phosphorus engineered biochar and its impact on immobilization of Cd and Pb from smelting contaminated soils

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Biochar has been used as an amendment to immobilize toxic metals (TMs) and increase nutrient content in the contaminated soil. In this study, Ca(H2PO4)2-engineered...     

生物质炭对茶园土壤改良及茶叶品质的影响

近年来,茶树种植过程中化肥的超量施用造成茶园土壤酸化加剧和有机质含量降低等一系列问题,进而影响到茶叶的产量和品质。生物质炭一般呈碱性,具有含碳量高、比表面积大、高度生物化学稳定性和较强的吸附性能等特性,能够增加土壤碳储量,提高土壤pH值和养分有效性,对于茶园土壤固碳、土壤改良和抑制土壤氮磷流失、改善农产品品质等方面有较大作用。针对我国茶园土壤存在的主要问题,以生物质炭的特性及生物质炭改良土壤的作用机理为研究对象,重点阐述了生物质炭在茶园酸化土壤改良、土壤氮素淋失阻控、土壤固碳增汇等方面的效应,以及生物质炭提高茶叶产量和提升茶叶品质方面的作用机理。基于以上研究,展望了生物质炭在茶园管理方面的理论研究方向,为生物质炭在农业生产中的应用和推广提供科学依据。     

Contrasting effects of bamboo leaf and its biochar on soil CO2 efflux and labile organic carbon in an intensively managed Chinese chestnut plantation

The effects and associated mechanisms of the application of organic residues or their derived biochar on the dynamics of soil organic C and soil CO₂ efflux in planted soils are poorly understood. This paper investigated the impact of bamboo leaf and the derived biochar applications on soil CO₂ efflux and labile organic C in an intensively managed Chinese chestnut plantation in a 12-month field study. The treatments studied included Control, application of bamboo leaf (Leaf), and application of biochar (Biochar). The Leaf treatment increased (P?2 efflux and concentrations of water-soluble organic C (WSOC) and microbial biomass C (MBC). The Biochar treatment increased soil CO₂ efflux and WSOC and MBC only in the first month after application, but such effects diminished thereafter. The annual cumulative soil CO₂ emission was increased by 16 % by the Leaf treatment as compared to the Control, but there was no difference between the Biochar and Control treatments. The soil organic C (SOC) storage was increased by biochar addition but not by bamboo leaf addition. An exponential relationship between soil temperature and soil CO₂ efflux was observed regardless of the treatment. Soil CO₂ efflux was correlated to soil WSOC (P?Q ₁₀) of soil CO₂ efflux was ranked as Leaf?>?Biochar?>?Control. In comparison with the application of fresh bamboo leaf, pyrolyzed bamboo leaf (biochar) application decreased CO₂ effluxes and increased C sequestration in the soil.     

生物质炭和氮肥配施对菠菜产量和硝酸盐含量的影响

施用生物质炭是提高作物产量和氮肥利用效率的潜在有效措施。以菠菜为供试作物开展盆栽试验,研究了生物质炭与氮肥配施对菠菜产量、组织中硝酸盐含量及养分（氮磷钾）含量的影响。生物质炭设3个水平：C0（0g·kg-1）、C5（5g·kg-1）和C10（10g·kg-1）,氮素3个水平分别为N0（0mg·kg-1）、N1（90mg·kg-1）和N2（120mg·kg-1）。试验结果表明,在N0和N1水平下,施用生物质炭显著提高了菠菜产量,增幅为16.6%～57.3%,而在N2水平下,生物质炭对菠菜产量无显著影响（P〉0.05）。同时,在N1水平下,与C0处理相比,C5和C10处理菠菜组织中硝酸盐含量分别增加了198.7%和233.4%;而在N2水平下,C5和C10处理的硝酸盐增幅分别为8.8%和46.3%。在不同氮素水平下,生物质炭的施用增加了菠菜对氮和钾的吸收,而对磷素吸收的影响不明显。总之,生物质炭与氮肥配施可以提高菠菜产量,明显增加氮肥当季利用效率。     

Biochar and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer effects on maize (Zea mays L.) nitrogen use and yield in moist semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major nitrogen consuming crop, as nitrogen is considered as an important determinant of its grain yield. Though inorganic fertilizer is widely recommended, the problem of high cost and inaccessibility limit its usage by resource poor farmers. Biochar application provides a new technology for both soil fertility and crop productivity improvement. With limited research on the suitability of biochar for soil improvement practices in Ghana, our objective was to determine the synergistic effect of biochar and inorganic fertilizer on the nitrogen uptake, nitrogen use efficiency, and yield of maize. Field experiment was conducted in Ghana, KNUST, in the major and minor raining seasons. Biochar was applied at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 t ha^?1 and fertilizer N applied at 0, 45, and 90?kg ha^?1. The results showed significantly (p??1 supplemented with 45?kg N ha^?1 increased N uptake by 200%, and grain yield by 213% and 160% relative to the control in the minor and major rainy seasons, respectively. The greater yield of maize recorded on biochar-amended soils was attributed to the improved N uptake and nitrogen use efficiency. In conclusion, our finding suggests that the application of combined biochar and inorganic N fertilizer is not only ecologically prudent, but economically viable and a practicable alternative to current farmers’ practice of cultivating maize in Ghana.