Sugarcane Bagasse Biochar: Preparation,Characterization, and Its Effects on Soil Properties and Zinc Sorption-desorption

ABSTRACT

Application of alkaline biochar has been proposed as an alternative to lime for remediation of acidic soils. However, questions remain as to how the reactions and fate of metals in acidic soils can be affected by biochar amendment. To find out how biochar addition might affect sorption-desorption behavior of zinc (Zn) in acidic soils, a soil with an initial pH value of 4.67 was treated with different levels [0 (control), 1%, 3%, and 6%] of biochar produced from pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse at 600°C and incubated for 30 days under 80% of water holding capacity. At the end of the incubation period, important soil chemical properties were measured and batch isotherm experiments were performed to determine soil Zn sorption-desorption parameters. The results showed that the biochar-amended soils had higher pH values (up to 2.5 pH units), electrical conductivity (up to 2.66 times), and cation exchange capacities (up to 42%) relative to the un-amended acidic soil. Biochar addition also led to significant enhancements in soil exchangeable calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium cations. Both sorption and desorption isotherm experiments revealed the significantly higher capacity of the biochar-amended soils to retain Zn than that of the control. Moreover, the biochar-amended soils exhibited a higher affinity for Zn sorption than did the un-amended acidic one. It can be concluded that biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse could serve as a good amendment material to reclaim acidic soils and to reduce Zn mobility and toxicity in acidic metal-contaminated soils.     

Biomass and Cu and Zn Uptake of Two Turfgrass Species Grown in Sludge Compost–soil Mixtures

Two kinds of common turfgrass, fescue and ryegrass, were grown in soils amended with 20?×?80% sludge compost (SC) in this research. The effects of SC on two kinds of soil and response of fescue and ryegrass to the SC amendment were studied. The results showed that urease activity, extractable content of Cu and Zn and Electrical conductivity of both soils increased while pH decreased with the increase of SC amendment. However, the change of these parameters also depended strongly on soil characteristics. Sludge compost at the ≤40 and ≤60% levels can improve growth of fescue and ryegrass, respectively. The biomass of fescue grown in substrate with 40% SC increased 27% in a red soil and 44% in a yellow loamy soil compared to the control. The biomass of ryegrass grown in substrate with 60% SC increased 120% in the red soil and 86% in the yellow loamy soil. Sludge compost amendment at these levels did not significantly affect soluble salt contents of soil or Cu and Zn in plant tissue. Therefore, rational use of sludge compost can take advantage of its beneficial effect as a nutrient source for plant production while avoiding the potential deleterious effects on soil and plant.     

Changes in cadmium and zinc phytoavailability in agricultural soil after amendment with papermill sludge and biosolids

Abstract

The co‐disposal of papermill sludge with biosolids is seen as an alternative soil amendment to papermill sludge and inorganic fertilizer. The objectives of this study were to assess the suitability of co‐disposal of papermill sludge and biosolids by measuring changes in the soil physicochemical properties and the phytoavailability of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn). Biosolids were applied with papermill sludge as an alternative source of N to inorganic fertilizers at rates calculated on the basis of C:N ratios of the amendments and common papermill sludge disposal practices. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was grown on amended soils for 6 months under glasshouse conditions. The papermill sludge amendment alone increased soil pH and the rate of carbon degradation compared to the control (no amendment) and biosolid co‐disposal amendment. There was no difference in dry matter yield per pot of ryegrass between the treatments. Cadmium concentrations in plant tissue increased through the trial with the application of biosolids and papermill sludge. These findings were correlated well with the sorption properties of the soils for Cd as derived from isotherms. However, Zn uptake was unaffected by the application of the papermill sludge and biosolids.     

Ameliorating Effects of Fungus Chaff and Its Biochar on Soil Acidity

A biochar was generated from fungus chaff at 300 °C, and the ameliorating effects of fungus chaff and its biochar on an acidic Ultisol were compared using incubation experiments. Incorporation of fungus chaff and its biochar significantly increased soil pH and soil exchangeable base cations but decreased soil exchangeable acidity. The ameliorating effect was greater for the biochar than the fungus chaff, and thus the biochar was a better amendment for acidic soil than its feedstock of fungus chaff. The biochar ameliorated soil acidity mainly through the release of its contained alkaline substances, while fungus chaff increased pH of acidic soils through two mechanisms: release of alkaline substances and inhibition of soil nitrification. The incorporation of fungus chaff increased soil-available organic carbon and thus accelerated the microbial assimilation of inorganic nitrogen, while incorporation of fungus chaff biochar enhanced nitrification due to increased soil pH.     

生物炭对我国南方红壤和黄棕壤理化性质的影响

为了探讨生物炭对不同土壤的改良效果,采用盆栽试验,研究了施用生物炭对我国南方两种代表性土壤(红壤和黄棕壤)理化性质的影响及其动态变化差异。结果表明:强酸性红壤施用生物炭能明显提高pH而降低其酸度,同时增加土壤的有机质、速效磷、速效钾和碱解氮含量,且随着生物炭施用量(生物炭量/土壤量:0、0.5%、1.0%、2.0%)的增加,改良效果不断加强;弱酸性黄棕壤施用生物炭也提高了土壤pH、有机质、速效磷、速效钾含量,但对该土壤中的碱解氮含量无明显影响。不同生物炭用量的效应存在较大差异,在2.0%时对两种土壤各理化性质影响均表现为最明显,红壤pH平均增加0.61,有机质、速效磷、速效钾、碱解氮分别平均提高203.4%、369.3%、368.0%、30.4%,而黄棕壤pH、有机质、速效磷、速效钾分别平均增加0.55、124.2%、57.5%、50.3%。因而,相同用量的生物炭对红壤的改良效应好于黄棕壤,且施用生物炭对两种土壤速效钾含量影响最大,其次是有机质、pH、速效磷、碱解氮。     

不同有机物料对苏打碱化土有机碳库和化学性质的影响

以内蒙古河套灌区苏打碱化土为研究对象开展田间试验,设置常规施肥(CK)、生物炭+常规施肥(BC)、牛粪+常规施肥(CD)、玉米秸秆+常规施肥(SW)和羊粪+常规施肥(GM)5个处理,研究不同有机物料添加对碱化土壤有机碳(SOC)库和化学性质的影响。分别于2019年和2020年收获季采集0—30 cm耕层土壤,分析不同有机物料添加下SOC及其活性碳组分和主要盐碱指标的变化特征及其相关关系。结果表明:与CK相比,2019年和2020年各有机物料添加处理下SOC平均增幅分别为22.7%和17.2%,土壤有机碳储量(SOCs)平均增幅分别为22.9%和18.2%;4种有机物料均提高了碱化土壤活性有机碳组分含量,其中,CD和GM处理下各活性碳组分含量增幅较其他处理更高;2019年各有机物料添加处理下碳库管理指数(CPMI)较CK提高53.8%~108.3%,2020年提高71.3%~144.1%(P＜0.05),CD和GM对CPMI的提升作用更明显。土壤化学性质方面,2020年各有机物添加处理下pH均显著下降,BC和CD处理下碱化度(ESP)分别显著下降36.9%和29.3%,CD处理下蔗糖酶活性提高36.7%(P＜0.05)。主成分分析(PCA)表明,影响苏打碱化土SOC含量变化的主要因素为活性有机碳组分和ESP。牛粪和羊粪施用对苏打碱化土有机碳库质量提升作用较好,生物炭施用对盐碱化指标改良效果最明显。     

Alleviation of Soil Acidity and Aluminium Phytotoxicity in Acid Soils by Using Alkaline-Stabilised Biosolids

A pot experiment was carried out to study alleviation of soil acidity and Al toxicity by applying an alkaline-stabilised sewage sludge product (biosolids) to an acid clay sandy loam (pH 5.7) and a strongly acid sandy loam (pH 4.5). Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Forrester) was used as a test crop and was grown in the sewage sludge-amended (33.5 t sludge DM ha-1) and unamended soils. The results showed that the alkaline biosloids increased soil pH from 5.7 to 6.9 for the clay sandy loam and from 4.5 to 6.0 for the sandy loam. The sludge product decreased KCl-extractable Al from 0.1 to 0.0 cmol kg-1 for the former soil and from 4.0 to 0.1 cmol kg-1 for the latter soil. As a result, barley plants grew much better and grain yield increased greatly in the amended treatments compared with the unamended controls. These observations indicate that alkaline-stabilised biosolids can be used as a liming material for remedying Al phytotoxicity in strongly acid soils by increasing soil pH and lowering Al bioavailability.     

不同产地油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭对红壤酸度和土壤pH缓冲容量的影响

  目的  明确不同产地油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭对红壤酸度的改良和土壤pH缓冲容量的提升效果。  方法  将不同添加量的油菜秸秆炭分别与两种酸性红壤混合,然后进行室内培养试验,测定培养实验前后土壤pH、pH缓冲容量、土壤交换性盐基离子和土壤交换性酸。  结果  添加油菜秸秆炭显著提高了土壤的pH、pH缓冲容量、交换性盐基离子含量,显著降低了土壤交换性酸含量。说明添加油菜秸秆炭不仅可以改良红壤酸度,还能提高红壤的抗酸化能力,因而可以减缓土壤的复酸化。生长在碱性土壤上的油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭对红壤酸度的改良效果和对土壤pH缓冲容量的提升效果均优于生长在酸性土壤上的油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭,在5%添加水平下,前者使湖南红壤pH相比对照提高37.4%,后者使该土壤的pH提高22.4%;相应地,2种生物质炭分别使该土壤的pH缓冲容量分别提高41.4%和37.3%。2种油菜秸秆炭对红壤pH和pH缓冲容量的提升效果与其碱含量和表面官能团多少相一致。  结论  碱性土壤上生长的油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭对红壤具有更好的改良效果。     

Role of compost biochar amendment on the (im)mobilization of cadmium and zinc for Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) from contaminated soil

Journal of Soils and Sediments - This study aims to assess the effect of amendment of an alkaline Zn, Cd-contaminated soil with compost of wheat straw biochar (CB) (4, 8, 12, and 18%) and sludge...     

生物炭对酸化茶园土壤性状和细菌群落结构的影响

  【目的】   生物炭作为一种高效、绿色、多功能的土壤调理剂受到了广泛关注,但生物炭对酸化茶园土壤改良的长期效应还缺乏了解。研究施用生物炭5年后对茶园土壤性状和细菌群落结构的影响,为生物炭在酸化土壤改良上的合理应用提供科学依据。   【方法】   茶园生物炭田间试验在福建安溪县进行,茶园种植年限超过7年,茶树品种为铁观音,土壤为黄壤 。试验设生物炭施用量0、2.5、5、10、20和40 t/hm2共6个水平,一次施入土壤,5年后调查了茶园土壤pH、电导率 (EC)、可溶性有机碳含量、细菌群落结构变化及它们间的相关关系。   【结果】   施用生物炭5年后,茶园土壤pH提高了0.16～1.11个单位,可溶性有机碳含量提高了52.6%～92.3%,EC值降低了1.85%～47.77%,其中施用10～40 t/hm2生物炭处理的pH值均显著高于0～5 t/hm2处理。施用生物炭5年对土壤性质的改变,进一步影响了细菌群落结构,细菌群落Chao指数、ACE指数表现为随生物炭施用量增加而增加得趋势,Shannon指数呈现先增加后降低的趋势。施用生物炭促进了适宜酸中性或弱碱性环境的节杆菌属、硝化螺旋菌属、黄色杆菌科细菌相对丰度的增加,降低了嗜酸性细菌如酸杆菌属细菌的相对丰度。细菌群落结构与环境因子的关联分析表明,施用0～10 t/hm2生物炭处理细菌群落结构受pH、EC环境因子的影响较大;施用20～40 t/hm2生物炭处理细菌群落结构受土壤可溶性有机碳等环境因子的影响较大;其中硝化螺旋菌属、α-变形菌门、酸杆菌属、康奈斯氏杆菌属等的相对丰度与土壤pH、EC值间具有显著相关性。   【结论】   在酸化茶园施用生物炭5年后,土壤pH、EC和可溶性有机碳含量发生了显著变化,增加了细菌群落多样性指数,且适宜酸中性或弱碱性环境的细菌丰度增加,嗜酸性细菌丰度降低;其中施用0～10 t/hm2生物炭的处理土壤pH、EC是显著影响细菌群落结构的环境因子,施用20～40 t/hm2生物炭的处理土壤可溶性有机碳含量是显著影响细菌群落结构的环境因子。     

聚合果属生物炭引起的咸水灌溉下土壤养分有效性和番茄生长变化

Thermally modified organic materials commonly known as biochar have gained popularity of being used as a soil amendment.Little information, however, is available on the role of biochar in alleviating the negative impacts of saline water on soil productivity and plant growth. This study, therefore, was conducted to investigate the effects of Conocarpus biochar(BC) and organic farm residues(FR) at different application rates of 0.0%(control), 4.0% and 8.0%(weight/weight) on yield and quality of tomatoes grown on a sandy soil under drip irrigation with saline or non-saline water. The availability of P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu to plants was also investigated. The results demonstrated clearly that addition of BC or FR increased the vegetative growth, yield and quality parameters in all irrigation treatments. It was found that salt stress adversely affected soil productivity, as indicated by the lower vegetative growth and yield components of tomato plants. However, this suppressing effect on the vegetative growth and yield tended to decline with application of FR or BC, especially at the high application rate and in the presence of biochar. Under saline irrigation system, for instance, the total tomato yield increased over the control by 14.0%–43.3% with BC and by 3.9%–35.6% with FR. These could be attributed to enhancement effects of FR or BC on soil properties, as indicated by increases in soil organic matter content and nutrient availability. Therefore, biochar may be effectively used as a soil amendment for enhancing the productivity of salt-affected sandy soils under arid conditions.     

Change in Soil's Metal Carrying Capacity as a Result of Urban Sludge Addition

The present work investigates the behaviour of heavymetals accumulating in soils treated with urban sludge withrespect to untreated soils. Metal sorption during transportin the soils was evaluated by means of breakthrough curvesobtained via the soil column leaching test and the resultsof laboratory experiments were compared with those of fieldexperiments carried out on the same soil treated insitu with urban sludge. Soil column leaching tests showthat the amount of heavy metals retained in the soilincreases when the soil is treated with sludge both in situand in laboratory; the order of selectivity (Pb > Cu > Zn >Ni) remains similar for the two types of matrix.Experiments carried out both with soils treated with sludge in laboratory and in situ show a good agreementbetween the two sets of data as far as retention capacityis concerned; conversely, an increase in the soil resistance to pH change following acid input is observedwhen sludge treatments are carried out in situ.     

Effect of sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse biochar on soil properties and sugar beet production

Recently, biochar has shown to be an alternative to waste disposal and a source of nutrients, acting as a soil amendment. The effects of two types of biochar on soil properties and sugar beet production as well as potential for carbon (C) sequestration were evaluated:biochar produced from sewage sludge (SB) and biochar produced from a 1:1 mixture of sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse (MB). A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using a sandy loam soil from the Brazilian savanna under treatments of MB applications at 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0%, SB application at 5.0%, and a conventional fertilization (CF) using lime and mineral fertilizers, with no fertilization as a control. After incubation for 45 d, seedlings were transplanted into each pot and cultivated for 55 d. Biochar characterization showed that pyrolysis reduced the biomass volume drastically, but concentrated the trace elements per unit of biochar weight. The MB treatments increased soil total C (by 27.8%) and pH (by 0.6), reduced the concentrations of nutrients, except for potassium (K), and chromium (Cr), and did not significantly alter lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations. Results of stable isotopes showed that all biochar treatments increased the total soil C stock and stability, suggesting a potential for application in C sequestration, and improved overall soil fertility. However, the biochar treatments also increased the concentrations of trace elements in the soil and plants. The sugar beet yields at 10.0% MB and 5.0% SB corresponded to 55% and 29% of the yield obtained in the CF treatment, respectively. These results may be due to biochar nutrients not being bioavailable when required by plants or to biochar nutrient adsorption.     

生物质炭对不同pH值土壤矿质氮含量的影响

为了揭示生物质炭作为土壤调理剂添加后对土壤矿质氮形态、含量等土壤性质的影响,该研究利用芒草分别在350和700℃裂解制得生物质炭,发现2个温度尤其是700℃制得的生物质炭,对NH4+有很强的吸附能力,但对NO3-的吸附能力很弱。将生物质炭分别加入到酸性(pH值为3.8)和碱性(pH值为7.6)土壤中,25℃下室内培养180d。结果表明,生物质炭提高了土壤全氮含量,酸性和碱性土壤分别平均提高了22%和17%;但使土壤铵态氮含量大幅降低至接近仪器检测限水平;生物质炭对土壤硝态氮含量的影响因生物质炭和土壤类型而异。生物质炭对土壤矿质氮形态和含量的影响,显然与生物质炭对铵的吸附作用、提高土壤pH值、增强氨挥发损失,以及形成微生物量氮等密切相关。该研究可为开展生物质炭基氮素新型肥料及制剂等方面的科学研究提供参考。     

Soil greenhouse gas emissions,organic carbon and crop yield following pinewood biochar and biochar–manure applications at eroded and depositional landscape positions: A field trial in South Dakota,USA

Soil amendments can help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yield. However, most biochar studies have been conducted on single soil type under controlled conditions. To address this limitation, the aim of this research was to investigate how field biochar and manure applications affect soil quality, plant productivity, and GHG emissions at eroded (sandy loam) and depositional (clay loam) positions in a climate transition zone (udic to ustic and mesic to frigid temperature). A field study was established in 2013 in South Dakota, USA, under a corn–soya bean rotation. Soil treatments included biochar, manure, a manure and biochar mixture, and a control (untreated soil). Soil properties (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), SOC, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium) were measured in 2017. Plant productivity parameters in 2016 and 2017 and GHG fluxes were measured during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. Compared with the control, SOC increased under all treatments at the eroded position (biochar 26%, manure 24%, and manure–biochar mixture 15%) and increased under biochar (25%) and the manure–biochar mixture (25%) at the depositional position. Plant parameters were similar under all treatments at both positions. Area-scaled CO₂ fluxes were lower in soils treated with biochar compared with the control at the eroded landscape position but not at the depositional landscape position. Area-scaled N₂O fluxes were lower in soils treated with biochar at both positions. Furthermore, the biochar–manure mixture treatment emitted lower area-scaled N₂O fluxes compared with manure alone at both positions. This study suggests that for eroded and depositional landscape positions, biochar can improve soil organic carbon and the effects of the biochar and biochar–manure mixture on GHG emissions vary based on the soil texture.     

Remediation of saline-sodic soil using organic and inorganic amendments: physical,chemical, and enzyme activity properties

Purpose

Crops grow poorly in saline-sodic soils, and the productivity of these soils can be dramatically improved with proper amendments. Current research mainly focuses on either organic or inorganic soil amendments, whereas few studies address options of combining organic and inorganic amendments. The objective of this study was to develop new organic and inorganic soil amendments which can lower the soil pH, replace sodium, and improve soil structure.

Materials and methods

Polyhalite (PL), microporous potassium-silicon-calcium mineral fertilizer (MF), furfural residue (FR), and fulvic acid (FA) were mixed with four different ratios to produce organic and inorganic soil amendments: PLFR, PLFA, MFFR, and MFFA. And their optimum mixing ratios were determined by comparing the potassium, calcium concentrations, and pH of filtrate after dissolution. Then, a leaching experiment was conducted by packing mixtures (mass ratio of soil to amendment = 219:1, equivalent to 13 t/hm²) of the saline-sodic soil with each one of these amendments plus two contrasts, gypsum (GP), and no amendment (CK). And the remediation effect was compared by pH, EC, ESP, texture, organic recombination degree of clay, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water-stable aggregates fraction, and enzyme (urease, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase) activities of soil.

Results and discussion

After four times leaching experiment, soil treated with PLFR had lower pH and 25.86% lower exchangeable sodium than untreated soils. The water-stable small macroaggregate fractions and saturated hydraulic conductivity of the MFFR-treated soils were significantly increased by 133% and 31%, respectively. Also, the total soil and heavy fraction organic carbons of the soils treated with MFFR in addition to its alkaline phosphatase activity were all significantly higher than the other treatments.

Conclusions

The results revealed that MFFR has more potential as a soil amendment to improve soil structure and quality and thus help in the development and use of saline-sodic lands for agriculture.

     

Sorption-desorption behaviors of heavy metals by biochar-compost amendment with different ratios in contaminated wetland soil

Purpose

Heavy metal pollution in soils has become a global environmental concern. The combination of biochar and compost has already been proved to be an attractive method in contaminated soil. The objective was to study the sorption-desorption characteristics of Cd, Cu, and Zn onto soil amended with combined biochar-compost.

Materials and methods

In this study, the soil was amended with combinations of biochar and compost with different ratios at 10% (w/w). To determine the sorption-desorption behaviors of heavy metals by biochar-compost amendment with different ratios, we determine the effects of different ratios on soil properties and use batch experiments to investigate sorption-desorption behaviors of Cd, Cu, and Zn.

Results and discussion

The results show that the Langmuir and Freundlich model can well describe the adsorption isotherm of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the soils with or without biochar-compost combinations. The incorporation of amendment combinations into soil significantly promotes the sorption affinity of soil on metals. The sorption capacity of Cd and Zn was improved as the compost percentage rose in biochar-compost more likely due to the increase of organic matter and available phosphorus, while that of Cu was stronger with 10 and 20% biochar addition in biochar-compost combinations likely as the result of the formation of new specific adsorption sites and the mobile Cu adsorption in compost after adding a certain amount of biochar in amendment mixtures. Additionally, a certain proportion of biochar applied into amendment mixtures could suppress desorption of Cd and Cu by pH change, and the Zn desorption rate gradually decreased as the compost ratio increased in amendment mixtures.

Conclusions

The results indicated that the various ratios between biochar and compost have a significant effect on sorption-desorption of metals in soil, which helps us consider the effective combination of biochar and compost in soil.

     

Mudflat soil amendment by sewage sludge: Soil physicochemical properties,perennial ryegrass growth,and metal uptake

Abstract

The fast pace of cropland loss in China is causing alarm over food security and China’s ability to remain self-reliant in crop production. Mudflats after organic amendment can be an important alternative cropland in China. Land application of sewage sludge has become a popular organic amendment to croplands in many countries. Nevertheless, the land application of sludge to mudflats has received little attention. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to investigate the impact of sewage sludge amendment (SSA) at 0, 30, 75, 150 and 300 t ha^?1 rates on soil physicochemical properties, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) growth and heavy metal accumulation in mudflat soil. The results showed that the application of sewage sludge increased organic matter (OM) content by 3.5-fold while reducing salinity by 76.3% at the 300 t ha^?1 rate as compared to unamended soil. The SSA reduced pH, electric conductivity (EC) and bulk density in mudflat soil, increased porosity, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium ions (K⁺), sodium ions (Na⁺), calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) in comparison to unamended soil. There were 98.0, 146.6, 291.4 and 429.2% increases in fresh weight and 92.5, 132.4, 258.6 and 418.9% increases in dry weight of perennial ryegrass at 30, 75, 150, and 300 t ha^?1, respectively, relative to unamended soil. The SSA increased metal concentrations of aboveground and root parts of perennial ryegrass (p < 0.05). The metal concentrations in perennial ryegrass were Zn > Cr > Mn > Cu > Cd > Ni, and the metal concentrations in roots were significantly higher than aboveground parts. The metal accumulation in perennial ryegrass correlated positively with sludge application rates and available metal concentrations in mudflat soil. Land application of sewage sludge was proved to be an effective soil amendment that improved soil fertility and promoted perennial ryegrass growth in mudflat soil. However, heavy metal accumulation in plants may cause food safety concern.     

Phosphomonoesterase production and persistence and composition of bacterial communities during plant material decomposition in soils with different pH values

The aim of this work was to study the synthesis and persistence of acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterases in three soils with different pH values amended with ryegrass residues. The organic input increased soil respiration, as estimated by CO₂-C evolution in all soils. The ATP content of the three soils showed a 3-7-fold increase between 7 and 10 d in the different soils since the amendment. The dsDNA content of the three amended soils also peaked between 7 and 10 d, increasing by 2.5-3.5 times in the different soils. The bacterial species richness increased in the amended as compared to the control soils during the early stages (7-10 d) of organic matter decomposition, as indicated by the decreasing values of the Sørensen similarity index between the treatments in this period. Soil amendment increased the alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity by 6, 8 and 15 times in the Vallombrosa acidic, Romola neutral and Vicarello alkaline soil, respectively, whereas the acid phosphomonoesterase activity showed a 6-, 2- and 10-fold increase in the Vallobrosa acidic, Romola neutral and Vicarello alkaline soil, respectively. Phosphatase activities peaked between 4 and 10 d, depending on the activity and the soil considered, but activity of alkaline phosphomonoesterase was higher in alkaline soils and persisted longer than the acid phosphomonoesterase activities; the opposite occurred in the acid soil. During a 180 d decomposition period, both acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities were related to dsDNA and ATP contents in all soils. Peaks of phosphmonoesterase activity coincided with the changes in the composition of the bacterial microflora, as detected by 16S-rDNA analysis, although no relationship between bacterial community composition and persistence of the phosphomonoesterase activities could be shown. It was concluded that acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterases are produced in greater amounts during plant residue decomposition, and that in acid soils acid phosphomonoesterase activity predominates and in neutral and alkaline soils alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity predominates. However, the persistence of newly produced enzymes is determinated by other factors such as soil texture, organic matter content and formation of soil colloid-enzyme complexes.     

Characterization of biochar and their influence on microbial activities and potassium availability in an acid soil

Application of biochar to soil has increased considerably during recent years because of its effectiveness as a soil amendment causing beneficial effects on soil health. However, the effects have been reported to vary and depend upon types of feedstock and pyrolysis conditions during biochar production. Therefore, characterization of biochar is extremely important for its efficient utilization as a soil amendment. In the present study, biochar was prepared from agro-industrial by-products (rice husk and sugarcane bagasse) and weeds (Parthenium and Lantana) under similar pyrolysis conditions. Lantana biochar (LBC) showed the highest pH (10.4) while the lowest value (8.5) being recorded in rice husk biochar (RHBC). The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis indicated that LBC and Parthenium biochar (PBC) were superior with respect to potassium (K) content than sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBBC) and RHBC. The Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) study exhibited the existence of different functional groups in biochar. All the biochar treated soils showed significantly higher microbial activities with different degrees. Application of LBC and PBC at 4.50 g kg^?1 soil significantly increased K availability in soil. Lantana biochar and PBC amended the soil at 9 g kg^?1 significantly increased the soil pH thus makes these biochar as potential liming materials.