Abstract
Biochar application has been suggested as a strategy to decrease nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils while increasing soil C stocks, especially in tropical regions. Climate change, specifically increasing temperatures, will affect soil environmental conditions and thereby directly influence soil N2O fluxes. Here, we show that Miscanthus giganteus biochar applied at high rates suppresses the typical warming-induced stimulation of N2O emissions. Specifically, in experiments with high biochar addition (25 Mg ha−1), N2O emissions under 40°C were equal to or even lower compared to those observed at 20°C. In this sense, the mitigation potential of biochar for N2O emissions might increase under the auspices of climate change.
Highlights
Biochar is the product of biomass pyrolysis and has been applied to the soil with the purpose of improving soil quality and increasing soil carbon (C) stocks, especially in tropical regions
We observed that Miscanthus biochar addition significantly suppressed N2O emissions (Figure 1; Supplementary Table S2; P < 0.001)
In experiments with high biochar addition (25 Mg ha−1), N2O emissions under 40◦C were equal to or even lower compared to those observed at 20◦C (Figure 1)
Summary
Biochar is the product of biomass pyrolysis and has been applied to the soil with the purpose of improving soil quality and increasing soil carbon (C) stocks, especially in tropical regions. Biochar may have the potential to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially nitrous oxide (N2O) (Matuštík et al, 2020; Zhang et al, 2020). Biochar addition may affect N2O emissions by changing soil ammonium and nitrate concentrations (Liang et al, 2006; Cheng et al, 2008), decreasing soil bulk density (Karhu et al, 2011), facilitating N2O consumption in the terminal step of denitrification (Aamer et al, 2020), and adding labile carbon and nitrogen compounds to the soil (Spokas and Reicosky, 2009). The application rate was identified as the most influential variable affecting the mitigation potential of biochar applications to soils (Zhang et al, 2020)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
