Abstract
Organic matter is an indispensable element of soil. Its quantity and quality affect its properties, e.g., structure, buffering, sorption capacity, air–water relations, and thermal properties. The purpose of the research was to assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in soybean cultivation, fertilized with biochar from various crops. Two experimental factors were included: the dose of biochar and the type of biochar used as per raw material used in its production. The adopted functional unit was 1 ton of soybeans. To reach the adopted goal, a strict field experiment was carried out. The total amount of GHG emitted by the cultivation was calculated according to the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The system boundaries included: GHG emissions from fertilizers and seeds used, GHG emissions related to biochar production, emissions related to fossil fuel combustion, and emissions related to the decomposition of crop residues and soil organic matter and the decomposition of biochar. The results of the research indicate a significant potential of biochar to reduce GHG emissions in agricultural production. From the environmental and production perspective, the addition of biochar at 60 Mg ha−1 is the most advantageous. A further increase in the addition of biochar was related to a decrease in plant yield and an increase in GHG emissions per functional unit of the product. The use of biochar in soybean cultivation resulted in a 25% reduction in GHG emissions compared to the object without the biochar addition. The amount of GHG emissions for soybeans ranged from 846.9 to 1260.1 kg of CO2/Mg. The use of biochar from forest biomass resulted in a higher yield, 12% on average, compared to sunflower husk biochar. The introduction of biochar to soils can be an effective improvement in the economic and environmental efficiency of plant production, as it increases the use of nutrients by the plant and intensifies carbon sequestration in soils.
Highlights
Organic matter is an indispensable element of soil
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to biochar production were calculated based on the mass and energy balance of the biochar production process and literature data provided by Llorach-Massan [49]
The assumption that the dose of biochar application affects the yield of soybeans and the total emission of CO2 was confirmed by statistical analysis (Table 6)
Summary
Organic matter is an indispensable element of soil. The intensification of plant cultivation and the related increase in the number of agricultural treatments, as well as the use of mineral fertilizers and limited organic fertilization cause a constant decrease in organic matter in agricultural soils. Its further intensification is a consequence of the increased aeration of the soil caused by many tillages combined with the limited use of fertilizers containing organic carbon. Enriching the soil with organic matter is a strategic element of the sustainable development of agriculture and is in line with the principles of all primary production quality management systems: GLOBAL GAP, Integrated Production, or SAI Platform [5,6,7]. Carbon introduced to the soil with organic fertilizers undergoes mineralization and humification. The primary production stage is critical in terms of environmental impact
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