Effects of activated charcoal and tannin added to compost and to soil on carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and ammonia volatilization

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AbstractGiven high mineralization rates of soil organic matter addition of organic fertilizers such as compost and manure is a particularly important component of soil fertility management under irrigated subtropical conditions as in Oman. However, such applications are often accompanied by high leaching and volatilization losses of N. Two experiments were therefore conducted to quantify the effects of additions of activated charcoal and tannin either to compost in the field or directly to the soil. In the compost experiment, activated charcoal and tannins were added to compost made from goat manure and plant material at a rate of either 0.5 t activated charcoal ha−1, 0.8 t tannin extract ha−1, or 0.6 t activated charcoal and tannin ha−1 in a mixed application. Subsequently, emissions of CO2, N2O, and NH3 volatilization were determined for 69 d of composting. The results were verified in a 20‐d soil incubation experiment in which C and N emissions from a soil amended with goat manure (equivalent to 135 kg N ha−1) and additional amendments of either 3 t activated charcoal ha−1, or 2 t tannin extract ha−1, or the sum of both additives were determined. While activated charcoal failed to affect the measured parameters, both experiments showed that peaks of gaseous CO2 and N emission were reduced and/or occurred at different times when tannin was applied to compost and soil. Application of tannins to compost reduced cumulative gaseous C emissions by 40% and of N by 36% compared with the non‐amended compost. Tannins applied directly to the soil reduced emission of N2O by 17% and volatilization of NH3 by 51% compared to the control. However, emissions of all gases increased in compost amended with activated charcoal, and the organic C concentration of the activated charcoal amended soil increased significantly compared to the control. Based on these results, tannins appear to be a promising amendment to reduce gaseous emissions from composts, particularly under subtropical conditions.