生物炭对黄土区土壤水分入渗、蒸发及硝态氮淋溶的影响

为了揭示生物炭对黄土区不同质地土壤水分入渗、蒸发特性及硝态氮淋溶的影响规律及差异,该研究选取黄土区3种典型土壤(风沙土、黄绵土和黑垆土),设置质量分数0、0.5%、1%、2%、3%和5%共6个比例的生物炭梯度,进行室内土柱模拟试验。结果表明:湿润锋进程与累积入渗量受生物炭添加量及土壤质地的影响。随着生物炭添加量的增大,风沙土和黑垆土的水分入渗速度和累积入渗量逐渐降低(P0.05);黄绵土水分入渗和累积入渗量呈先增大后减缓的趋势(P0.05)。生物炭未显著影响试验条件下黄绵土和黑垆土的累积蒸发量(30 d),但显著改变了风沙土的蒸发特征,抑制前期蒸发。不同生物炭添加量下,3种土壤的湿润锋运移距离与运移时间均符合幂函数关系;Philip入渗模型可描述添加生物炭土壤水分入渗变化过程。生物炭可减少黄土区3种质地土壤的硝态氮淋溶量,表明适量生物炭添加能够增强土壤氮素固持能力,降低硝态氮淋失及环境风险。该研究结果表明,生物炭作为一种土壤改良剂能够提高土壤持水性和降低硝态氮淋失,有利于黄土高原旱地作物的生长;同时该研究可为农田选择合理生物炭施用量提供科学参考。     

不同生物炭添加量下植烟土壤养分的淋失

【目的】我国南方植烟土壤养分淋失严重尤其是氮、钾,不仅造成资源浪费和潜在环境威胁,还严重制约了烟叶的可持续生产。生物炭比表面积大、孔隙多、稳定性强,施入土壤后可增加对养分的吸附,延长肥效和减少养分损失。本文研究了添加不同水平生物炭对植烟土壤硝态氮、磷、钾养分淋失的影响,为充分发挥生物炭提高养分利用率的作用提供依据。【方法】采用土柱淋洗模拟方法,试验共设5个处理,包括不施肥对照(CK)、氮磷钾肥(NPK)、氮磷钾肥+10%生物炭(10%B)、氮磷钾肥+20%生物炭(20%B)、氮磷钾肥+40%生物炭(40%B),每个处理重复4次,随机排列。【结果】不同生物炭添加量下,土壤硝态氮、磷、钾的淋失量在培养期间呈先增加后减少的趋势。与NPK处理相比,添加生物炭处理在培养21天之后减少了硝态氮淋失量,在整个培养期间延缓和减少了磷的淋失量;与NPK处理相比,10%B、20%B和40%B处理硝态氮淋失总量分别显著降低13%、18%和25%,磷素淋失总量分别显著降低46%、61%和73%,10%B和20%B处理的钾素淋洗量略高,但差异未达显著水平,而40%B处理的钾素淋洗量则显著高于前3个处理,比NPK处理高47%。培养结束后,由于生物炭本身偏碱性,随着生物炭添加量的增加,土壤p H显著升高。表明添加生物炭条件下,土壤硝态氮淋失量的减少主要是生物炭的吸附作用所致;磷素淋失量的减少除了与生物炭的吸附作用有关外,也可能与土壤p H的升高有关;钾素淋失量的增加可能与生物炭本身携带的钾素有关。施用生物炭对土壤硝态氮、磷、钾养分淋失影响的机制还需进一步验证。【结论】施用生物炭能够有效减少植烟土壤硝态氮和磷素的淋溶损失,进而节约氮、磷肥料和提高养分利用效率,降低地下水污染风险,促进烟叶可持续优质生产,在一定范围内其施用量越高效果越好。生物炭的适宜添加量还需综合考虑氮磷钾3个元素的淋失而继续试验。     

改性生物炭的吸附作用及其对土壤硝态氮和有效磷淋失的影响

在实验室通过生物炭与FeCl3的不同配比确定了生物炭的最佳改性条件,并利用土柱模拟试验,研究改性生物炭对土壤硝态氮和有效磷淋失的影响。结果表明,Fe3+与生物炭质量比为0.7是最佳改性条件,改性作用大大增强了生物炭吸附硝态氮和有效磷的能力。在含N量为50mg.L-1的KNO3和含P量为50mg.L-1的KH2PO4溶液中,最佳改性炭的吸附量分别比改性前提高了12倍和66倍,氮和磷的理论最大吸附量分别为2.47mg.g-1和16.58mg.g-1。土壤中添加最佳改性炭能够延缓并减少硝态氮和有效磷的淋失,添加量为2.5%、5%和10%与不添加任何物质的对照相比,硝态氮的淋失量分别显著降低20%、43%和59%(P<0.05),有效磷的淋失量分别显著降低45%、59%和75%(P<0.05),表明土壤中添加改性生物炭能够有效降低土壤硝态氮和有效磷的淋失风险。     

添加生物炭对灌淤土土壤养分含量和氮素淋失的影响

灌淤土是宁夏引黄灌区的主要土种,当地大引大排的灌溉方式不仅造成土壤养分淋失,而且会引起水体污染。本文采用室内土柱模拟降雨淋滤方式,设置1500g灌淤土分别添加1%、2%、5%、10%生物炭4个处理,观测淋滤后土柱中的养分状况和淋溶液中氮素含量,以不加生物炭为对照,研究添加生物炭对土壤养分含量和氮素淋失的影响。结果表明:(1)添加生物炭后土壤pH、全盐以及全磷含量未发生变化,土壤中全氮、速效磷和速效钾含量随着生物炭添加量的增大而显著增加;(2)添加生物炭处理与对照相比均极显著降低了土壤淋溶液的硝态氮含量和淋溶损失量(P0.01),以2%生物炭添加处理效果最好,比对照减少了49%的淋溶损失。(3)铵态氮的淋失峰值随生物炭添加量的增大而延后,但仅添加生物炭10%的处理显著减少铵态氮的淋溶损失量(P0.05),比对照减少了18%,其它处理则显著增加了铵态氮的淋溶损失量(P0.05),这一效果是否与生物炭种类有关,还需进一步探讨。     

牛粪生物炭对土壤氮肥淋失的抑制作用

为了探讨以牛粪为原材料制备的生物炭对土壤氮肥淋失的抑制作用,对牛粪生物炭的结构和元素组成进行了表征和分析,并通过人工模拟土柱氮肥淋失实验,研究了生物炭对淋滤液p H值、铵态氮、硝态氮和总氮累积淋失总量及浓度影响。结果显示:该生物炭具有发达的管状孔洞结构,K,Ca含量比牛粪增加200%和10%;淋滤液p H值随着生物炭比例增加而提高,生物炭5%与对照0%相比,淋滤10天,p H值增幅最大,为12.5%;淋滤30天内,按生物炭0%、2%、3%、4%和5%,铵态氮和硝态氮浓度逐渐降低。淋滤大于40天,生物炭的添加延缓了土壤中硝态氮的淋失时间。生物炭4%~5%,对土壤氮肥淋失的抑制效果最佳,与对照0%相比,铵态氮、硝态氮和总氮累积淋失总量分别减少了16%、32%和32%左右。     

施用生物炭对云南烟区典型土壤养分淋失的影响

土壤养分尤其是氮、钾的淋失是制约云南烟叶生产可持续发展的重要因素之一。近些年来的一些研究表明,生物炭在减少土壤养分淋失方面有着很好的应用效果。然而,关于生物炭在云南植烟土壤上的应用效果研究报道较少。本文基于土柱淋洗模拟试验,研究了添加生物炭对南方紫色土、赤红壤和黄棕壤硝态氮、磷、钾养分淋失的影响,以期为生物炭的合理广泛应用提供理论依据。研究结果显示,添加生物炭后,紫色土、赤红壤和黄棕壤的硝态氮淋洗总量分别减少16%、14%和22%;紫色土、赤红壤的磷素淋洗总量分别减少41%和32%,黄棕壤磷素淋洗总量变化不明显;紫色土和黄棕壤的钾素淋洗总量分别增加19%和23%,赤红壤的钾素淋洗总量变化不明显。研究表明,施用生物炭是控制云南植烟土壤氮磷淋失的有效措施。     

片麻岩新成土中氮素淋溶迁移的模拟研究

采用室内土柱模拟的方法,研究片麻岩新成土中不同肥料、不同施氮量对氮素垂直运移的影响。结果表明,随着施氮量增加,硝态氮和铵态氮淋溶浓度增大,氮素淋失量增多。中等施氮量下施用有机无机混合肥可以减少氮素淋失。尿素、有机无机混合肥、氮磷复合肥中硝态氮淋失总量比值为671∶583∶629。尿素硝态氮淋失率平均为29.0%,氮磷复合肥硝态氮淋失率平均为27.8%,有机无机混合肥硝态氮淋失率平均为23.7%。随着土层深度的增加,60cm处和90cm处硝态氮淋失量差异不显著,两处硝态氮淋失量比值为1∶1.03,铵态氮的淋失量增加显著,两处铵态氮淋失量比值为1∶2.4。在片麻岩新成土壤地区,土壤培肥应本着少量多次原则。     

减施氮肥与添加秸秆对设施黄瓜-茄子轮作土壤硝态氮累积与淋失的影响

针对设施蔬菜土壤硝态氮累积与淋失严重的问题,以宁夏引黄灌区设施黄瓜-茄子为供试作物,研究减施氮肥与添加秸秆对设施菜田硝态氮累积与淋失的影响。采用田间试验、取样、室内分析与生物统计的方法,设置农民常规施肥(CON)、氮肥减量28%(RF)和氮肥减量39%+秸秆添加(BMP)3个处理,开展不同氮肥管理措施对设施黄瓜-茄子种植体系土壤硝态氮累积与淋失的影响。结果表明,与CON相比,RF和BMP处理能有效降低0～120 cm土层土壤硝态氮储量,2016年黄瓜、2017年茄子和2018年茄子季土体硝态氮储量分别降低2.2%～9.4%、3.9%～6.1%和5.2%～12.8%,相应的硝态氮淋失量分别降低了55.6%～69.7%、59.4%～74.8%和35.4%～48.9%。BMP与RF处理相比,分别降低了2.3%～8.1%的硝态氮储量和20.9%～38.1%的硝态氮淋失量。土体硝态氮储量与淋失量呈显著正相关(R2=0.6973)。因此,在宁夏引黄灌区设施菜田农民习惯施肥的基础上,采用氮肥减施结合秸秆添加(BMP),即黄瓜氮肥减施39%,氮肥纯养分量为275 kg/hm²,配合添加玉米秸秆30.0 t/hm²,茄子氮肥减施39%,氮肥纯养分量为319 kg/hm²,配合添加玉米秸秆30.0 t/hm²,在获得高产的同时能降低土壤硝态氮累积和淋失,降低农田土壤面源污染风险,并提高经济效益,值得在宁夏引黄灌区设施菜田大面积推广应用。     

硝态氮垂直运移过程中的影响因素研究

用模拟土柱的方法对黄淮海平原主要土壤类型中硝态氮垂直运移的影响因素进行了研究。结果表明:在水分饱和条件下,硝态氮的垂直运移过程主要受土壤粘粒含量的影响,随着粘粒含量的增加硝态氮出流的时间推迟,硝态氮的穿透曲线的峰值变低、峰面分布变宽;在非饱和条件下硝态氮的穿透曲线变得不规则,有明显的拖尾现象,硝态氮运移的时间增长,穿透曲线变得平缓;示踪剂的流速对硝态氮运移有较大的影响,流速大的穿透曲线峰值高于流速小的穿透曲线峰值,且出流的时间和达到平衡的时间提前;不同价态阳离子由于带的电荷量不同,对硝态氮运移略有影响,表现为与硝态氮结合的高价阳离子产生的穿透曲线的峰值略高于低价阳离子;不同浓度的硝态氮示踪剂对硝态氮运移也有影响,在重力势和溶质势的共同作用下,浓度越高出流速度越快,穿透曲线峰值也高,完成出流的时间也迅速。     

不同施磷量对蔬菜地土壤硝态氮淋失的影响

【目的】在两种蔬菜地土壤上研究不同磷肥施用量对土壤硝态氮淋失的影响,为武汉城郊蔬菜合理施用磷肥和安全生产提供理论依据。【方法】利用大型原状土柱渗漏装置,2种实验土壤(粉质粘土和粉质粘壤土)均为武汉城郊典型蔬菜土壤,分别采自华中农业大学校内蔬菜基地和湖北新洲。试验期间共种植了四种蔬菜(小白菜、 辣椒、 苋菜及萝卜)。试验设置了4个P2O5水平处理(0、 125、 250、 375 kg/hm2),氮肥施用量均为N 750 kg/hm2,钾肥施用量均为K2O 500 kg/hm2。试验期间年降雨量为1043.0 mm,各土柱总灌溉量为120.1 L。秋冬季每15天、 春夏季每10天收集一次淋洗液,另外根据天气和降雨情况适当调节,每次收集淋洗液时记录淋洗液体积并测定淋洗液硝态氮浓度。在每季蔬菜生长成熟后将蔬菜收获称重,烘干后测定蔬菜中氮素含量。【结果】1)与不施磷肥相比,施用磷肥显著增加了两种土壤上小白菜、 苋菜、 萝卜产量以及四季蔬菜总产量,其产量随磷肥施用量增加而增加或显著增加,在磷肥施用量最大时产量达到最大值。粉质粘土上的产量显著低于粉质粘壤土上的产量,粉质粘壤土总产量约是粉质粘土总产量的1.63~2.36倍。2)施用磷肥显著增加了小白菜、 苋菜氮素吸收累积量以及四季蔬菜总吸收累积量,且两种土壤上总氮素吸收累积量均在磷肥施用量最大时达到最大值。粉质粘壤土上氮素总吸收累计量显著高于粉质粘土上氮素总吸收累积量。3)磷肥水平对土壤总渗漏液体积并无显著影响(粉质粘壤土P2O5 125 kg/hm2处理除外),粉质粘土渗漏水量显著大于粉质粘壤土。4)施用磷肥降低或显著降低土壤淋失液硝态氮浓度(粉质粘土苋菜季除外),随着磷肥施用量的增加硝态氮淋失浓度不断降低,4季蔬菜平均淋失浓度最大降低了38.6%(粉质粘土)和28.8%(粉质粘壤土)。5)磷肥施用显著降低了两种土壤上硝态氮淋失量(苋菜季除外),且在粉质粘土上随着磷肥施用量的增加硝态氮淋失量不断降低,而在粉质粘壤土上硝态氮淋失量先降低后上升。粉质粘土硝态氮淋失量显著大于粉质粘壤土,磷肥施用降低硝态氮淋失量分别达到达26.4%~33.7%和23.5%~39.9%。【结论】磷肥施用增加了蔬菜产量和作物氮素吸收累积量,从而显著降低了两种土壤上硝态氮的淋失; 土壤质地对硝态氮淋失有较大影响,质地较轻的粉质粘壤土硝态氮淋失显著小于质地较重的粉质粘土; 粉质粘壤土上施用P2O5量为250 kg/hm2时能提高产量同时减少硝态氮淋失,而粉质粘土上施用P2O5量为375 kg/hm2时能获得较大产量和较少硝态氮淋失量。     

碳氮添加对雨养农田土壤物理性状的影响

为探明添加不同碳源及不同量氮肥4年后对土壤物理性质、产量的影响,依托布设于甘肃省定西市安定区李家堡镇的不同碳源田间定位试验,设置2种碳源(生物质炭15t/hm^2,秸秆4.5t/hm^2),3个氮肥施用量(0,50,100kg/hm^2),共计9个处理。研究了生物质炭、秸秆配施氮肥对试区土壤容重、总孔隙度、土壤饱和导水率、土壤团聚体稳定性、产量的影响。结果表明:较之无碳添加处理,添加生物质炭或秸秆均可改善土壤物理性质,但生物质炭效果最好。秸秆输入对0-5cm土层土壤容重的降低和总孔隙度、水稳性团聚体稳定性的提升具有显著效应,对土壤饱和导水率和0-30cm各土层机械稳定性团聚体稳定性的提升具有显著效应,而生物质炭对0-30cm各土层的土壤物理指标的改善均具有显著效应。氮素添加对土壤物理指标影响较小。生物质炭、秸秆、氮素均可促进作物增产,总体而言,生物质炭增产效果优于秸秆,尤其是生物质炭15t/hm^2+施纯氮100kg/hm^2处理。因此,添加生物质炭更有利于该区土壤物理性质的改善和产量的增加。     

Comparative Study on Disturbed and Undisturbed Soil Sample Incubation for Estimating Soil Nitrogen-Supplying Capacity

Application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers without knowing the N-supplying capacity of soils may lead to low N use efficiency, uneconomical crop production, and pollution of the environment. Based on the results from pot experiments treated with soil initial nitrate leaching and native soil, long-term alternate leaching aerobic incubation was conducted to study the disturbed and undisturbed soil N-supplying capacity of surface soil samples in 11 sites with different fertilities on the Loess Plateau. The results indicated that the entire indexes and ryegrass (Lolium perenne) uptake N with soil initial nitrate leaching showed a better correlation than that without soil initial nitrate leaching. Except the correlation coefficients for soil initial nitrate (NO₃ ^?)-N and mineral N extracted by calcium chloride (CaCl₂) before aerobic incubation with ryegrass uptake without soil initial nitrate leaching, the correlation coefficients for soil initial NO₃ ^?-N and mineral N extracted by CaCl₂ before aerobic incubation with ryegrass uptake with soil initial nitrate leaching and those for mineralizable N extracted by aerobic incubation, soil initial mineral N and mineralizable N extracted by aerobic incubation, potentially mineralizable N (N₀) and soil initial mineral N + N₀ with ryegrass uptake N under the two cases in disturbed treatment were all higher than those in undisturbed treatment. We concluded that NO₃ ^?-N in soil extracted by CaCl₂ before aerobic incubation can reflect soil N-supplying capacity but cannot reflect soil potential N-supplying capacity. Without soil initial nitrate leaching, the effect of disturbed and undisturbed soil samples incubated under laboratory conditions for estimating soil N-supplying capacity was not good; however, with soil initial nitrate leaching, this method could give better results for soil N-supplying capacity. Based on the results from pot experiments treated with soil initial nitrate leaching and native soil, the mineralization of disturbed soil samples can give provide better results for predicting soil N-supplying capacity for in situ structure soil conditions on the Loess Plateau than undisturbed soil samples.     

Phosphorus availability in soils amended with wheat residue char

Plant availability and risk for leaching and/or runoff losses of phosphorus (P) from soils depend among others on P concentration in the soil solution. Water-soluble P in soil measures soil solution P concentration. The aim of this study was to understand the effect of wheat residue char (biochar) addition on water-soluble P concentration in a wide range of biochar-amended soils. Eleven agricultural fields representing dominant soil texture classes of Swedish agricultural lands were chosen. Concentrations of water-soluble P in the soils and in biochar were measured prior to biochar incorporation to soils in the laboratory. Experiments with three dominant soil textures—silt loam, clay loam, and an intermediate loam soil with different rates of biochar addition (i.e., 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 %; w/w) showed that the highest concentration of water-soluble P was achieved at an application rate of 1 %. At higher application rates, P concentrations decreased which coincided with a pH increase of 0.3–0.7 units. When the 11 soils were amended with 1 % (w/w) biochar, water-soluble P concentrations increased in most of the soils ranging from 11 to 253 %. However, much of the water-soluble P added through the biochar was retained (33–100 %). We concluded that wheat residue char can act as a source of soluble P, and low and high additions of biochar can have different effects on soil solution P concentration due to possible reactions with Ca and Mg added with biochar.     

四种农业土壤上生物炭-土壤的交互效应

Soils in south-western Australia are highly weathered and deficient in nutrients for agricultural production. Addition of biochar has been suggested as a mean of improving soil C storage, texture and nutrient retention of these soils.~Clay amendment in sandy soils in this region is a management practice used to improve soil conditions, including water repellence.~In this study a woody biochar (Simcoa biochar) was characterised using scanning electron microscopy before, and four weeks after, it was incorporated into each of four soils differing in clay content and organic matter. Scanning electron microscopy of Simcoa biochar after incubation in soil showed different degrees of attachment of soil particles to the biochar surfaces after 28 d. In addition, the effects of three biochars, Simcoa biochar, activated biochar and Wundowie biochar, on soil microbial biomass C and soil respiration were investigated in a short-term incubation experiment. It was hypothesised that all three biochars would have greater potential to increase soil microbial activity in the soil that had higher organic matter and clay. After 28-d incubation in soil, all three biochars had led to a higher microbial biomass C in the clayey soil, but prior to this time, less marked differences were observed in microbial biomass C among the four soils following biochar application.     

生物炭添加对矿区压实土壤水力特性的影响

中国黄土高原大型露天煤矿开采导致土壤质量下降,生物炭作为环境友好型土壤改良剂,在改善农田土壤质量中应用广泛,但在有关矿区压实土壤改良的研究中不够深入。为此,该研究通过室内试验分析不同粒径的生物炭在不同添加量下对矿区排土场压实土壤水力特性的影响。试验采用4种粒径（>1～2、>0.25～1、0.10～0.25、<0.10 mm）与4种添加量（0、4、8、16 g/kg）的生物炭,设计5种压实条件（容重分别为1.3、1.4、1.5、1.6、1.7 g/cm3）,并利用van Genuchten模型（VG模型）拟合土壤水分特征曲线。结果表明,添加生物炭后土壤水分特征曲线的相关系数均在0.960以上,标准差均小于0.015,说明VG模型适用于拟合添加生物炭后的土壤水分特征曲线。随着生物炭添加量的增加,土壤孔隙分布明显改变,形成了大量大孔隙和中孔隙,土壤的持水能力提高。在低容重（1.3、1.4 g/cm3）条件下,生物炭粒径越大（0.25～2 mm）添加量越高（8、16 g/kg）,土壤持水、保水效果越明显;在高容重（1.5、1.6、1.7 g/cm3）条件下,小粒径（<0.25 mm）和较低的生物炭添加量（4、8 g/kg）则表现出较好的持水能力。对于不同压实条件的排土场土壤,有针对性地施用生物炭,将有效提高土壤持水保水能力,提高土壤中植物的有效利用水分。     

水洗生物炭对2种类型土壤钾素淋失的影响

为了探究生物炭对潮土和砂土钾素淋失的调控效应,通过土柱淋溶模拟试验,以水洗生物炭为研究对象,比较生物炭水洗前后不同形态钾含量、表面形貌和含氧官能团变化,进而探究不同用量水洗生物炭对2种类型土壤钾素淋失的阻控效应。结果表明:水洗处理可使生物炭水溶性钾含量由13.9 g/kg降至0.06 g/kg,而对生物炭孔隙结构和表面含氧官能团影响较小。水洗生物炭对潮土和砂土水分淋失的影响受其施用量的影响,表现为低量促进、高量抑制的趋势,添加1%水洗生物炭显著增加了2种类型土壤水分淋失总量。生物炭对2种类型土壤钾素淋失的影响各异,添加2%和4%水洗生物炭对砂土钾素淋失表现出显著的阻控效应(P0.05),钾素淋失量分别较不加生物炭处理降低了21.2%和28.3%,而添加1%水洗生物炭却增加了潮土钾素淋失量(P0.05)。另外,生物炭可提升土壤阳离子交换量和表层土交换性钾含量,且提升幅度随生物炭施用量的增加而增加,并且对砂土的提升效果更明显。因此,从钾素淋失角度考虑,生物炭更适用于阳离子交换量较低、保肥能力差的砂质土壤上。     

黄土高原土壤颗粒组成及质地分区研究

黄土高原土壤颗粒组成主要以细沙粒和粗粉沙为主 ,此二者是土壤的骨架部分 ,其含量占颗粒总量的 5 0 %以上。该区土壤颗粒组成具有高度的均一性 ,分布具有一定的规律性。按照土壤物理性黏粒含量 ,区内土壤质地可分为松沙土带、紧沙土带、沙壤Ⅰ带、沙壤Ⅱ带、轻壤Ⅰ带等 10个条带     

Physical activation of biochar and its meaning for soil fertility and nutrient leaching – a greenhouse experiment

The slow alteration of the surface of charred biomass (biochar) over time may contribute to an improved nutrient retention and thus fertility of tropical soils. Here, we investigated soils from temperate climates and investigated whether a technical steam activation of biochar could accelerate its positive effects on nutrient retention and uptake by plants relative to nonactivated biochar. To this aim, we performed microcosm experiments with sandy or silty soil, mixed with 2.0, 7.5 and 15.0 g/kg soil of fine (<2 mm) or coarse‐sized (2–10 mm) biochar from beech wood (Fagus sp.). After initial fertilizer (NPK), ashes and excess nutrients were leached with water, and the microcosms were planted for 142 days with Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum ssp. italicum). Thereafter, leachate, soil and plant samples were analysed for their nutrient contents. The results showed that biochar additions of ≤15 g/kg soil left elevated contents of available P and N in the surface soil but reduced their uptake into the plants. As a result, total biomass production was unchanged. Different particle size and application amounts influenced these findings only marginally. Nitrate leaching was enhanced in the sandy soil (+41% for nitrate, but reduced in the silty soil ?17%) and P was immobilized. Hence, the fertility of the temperate soils under study was only marginally affected by pure biochar amendments. Steam activation, however, almost doubled the positive effects of biochars in all instances, thus being an interesting option for future biochar applications.     

Comparative sorption and leaching study of the herbicides fluometuron and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) in a soil amended with biochars and other sorbents

Biochar, the solid residual remaining after the thermochemical transformation of biomass for carbon sequestration, has been proposed to be used as a soil amendment, because of its agronomic benefits. The effect of amending soil with six biochars made from different feedstocks on the sorption and leaching of fluometuron and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) was compared to the effect of other sorbents: an activated carbon, a Ca-rich Arizona montmorillonite modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium organic cation (SA-HDTMA), and an agricultural organic residue from olive oil production (OOW). Soil was amended at 2% (w/w), and studies were performed following a batch equilibration procedure. Sorption of both herbicides increased in all amended soils, but decreased in soil amended with a biochar produced from macadamia nut shells made with fast pyrolysis. Lower leaching of the herbicides was observed in the soils amended with the biochars with higher surface areas BC5 and BC6 and the organoclay (OCl). Despite the increase in herbicide sorption in soils amended with two hardwood biochars (BC1 and BC3) and OOW, leaching of fluometuron and MCPA was enhanced with the addition of these amendments as compared to the unamended soil. The increased leaching is due to some amendments' soluble organic compounds, which compete or associate with herbicide molecules, enhancing their soil mobility. Thus, the results indicate that not all biochar amendments will increase sorption and decrease leaching of fluometuron and MCPA. Furthermore, the amount and composition of the organic carbon (OC) content of the amendment, especially the soluble part (DOC), can play an important role in the sorption and leaching of these herbicides.