Abstract
Biochar, an alkaline carbonaceous substance resulting from the thermal pyrolysis of biomass, reportedly enhances the micronutrient availability in acidic soils with little or no effect on alkaline soils. In this study, biochars were produced from poultry manure (PM) at 350 °C and 550 °C (BC350 and BC550 respectively). The acidified biochars (ABC350 and ABC550, respectively) were incorporated into an alkaline sandy soil, and their effects on the soil micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) availability, and CO2–C efflux were investigated in a 30-day incubation study. The treatments (PM, BC350, BC550, ABC350, and ABC550) were administered in triplicate to 100 g soil at 0%, 1%, and 3% (w/w). Relative to the poultry manure treatment, acidification drastically reduced the pH of BC350 and BC550 by 3.13 and 4.28 units, respectively, and increased the micronutrient availability of the studied soil. Furthermore, the biochars (both non-acidified and acidified) reduced the CO2 emission compared to that of the poultry manure treatment. After 1% treatment with BC550 and ABC550, the CO2 emissions from the soil were 89.6% and 91.4% lower, respectively, than in the 1% poultry manure treatment. In summary, acidified biochar improved the micronutrient availability in alkaline soil, and when produced at higher temperature, can mitigate the CO2 emissions of soil carbon sequestration.
Highlights
The biochars produced at 350 ◦ C and 550 ◦ C were labeled as BC350 and BC550, respectively
The acidified biochars produced at 350 ◦ C and 550 ◦ C were tagged as ABC350 and ABC550, respectively
The pH of acidified biochar was considerably lower than the control pH, but both the acidified and non-acidified biochars reduced the CO2 –C efflux from that of the organic additive (PM)
Summary
Biochar has been widely used as a soil additive, and its applicability to C sequestration by mitigating CO2 –C emissions has been seriously considered [1]. Biochar derived from biomass can potentially sequester carbon without contributing to climate change. It might improve the soil quality for the enhanced growth and development of crops [2]. Besides carbon sequestration [4], biochar-incorporated soil improves soil fertility [4,5] by improving the crop water and efficiency of plant nutrient uptake [6], and by retaining the nutrients required by plants [7]. Biochar stability in the soil is necessary for long-term carbon sequestering [10]. Depending on its interaction with the microorganisms and organic matter in the soil, biochar can either sink or source carbon [11]
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