Abstract
Despite the ability of biochar to enhance soil fertility and to sequester soil carbon, its potential reduction of green house gas emissions and profit analysis with different organic composts and cooperated with biochar for crop cultivation have been a few evaluated. This study was conducted to estimate their greenhouse gas emission reduction and profit analysis by soil carbon sequestration with different organic composts and cooperated with biochar application during corn cultivation periods. For the experiment, the treatments were consisted of aerobic digestate of swine wastes (AD), pig compost as the control (PC), cow compost (CC) and pig compost cooperated with 1% biochar (PC + 1% biochar). The soil texture used in this study was sandy loam, and application rates of chemical fertilizer were 190-39-221 kg·ha-1 (N-P2O5-K2O) as recommended amount after soil test. The soil samples were periodically taken at every 15 day intervals during the experimental periods. It was observed that soil carbon sequestration by AD, CC and PC + 1% biochar application was estimated to be 429 kg·ha-1, 2366 kg·ha-1, and 3978 kg·ha-1, and their CO2-e emission reductions were estimated to be 0.16 tones for AD, 0.87 tones for CC, and 14.58 tones for PC + 1% biochar per hectar for corn cultivation periods. Their profits were estimated at $14.58 for lowest and $451.90 for highest. In Korea Climate Exchange, it was estimated to be $115.20 per hectar of corn cultivation with PC + 1% biochar. So, the price of CO2 per hectar for corn cultivation with PC + 1% biochar was high at 16.8 times relative to cow compost treatment only. For the plant growth response, it was observed that plant height and fresh ear yield were not significantly different among the treatments. Therefore, these experimental results might be fundamental data for assuming a carbon trading mechanism exists for biochar soil application in agricultural practices.
Highlights
Global warming is becoming a critical issue around the world
It was estimated that soil carbon sequestration by aerobic digestate (AD), cow compost (CC) and pig compost (PC) + 1% biochar application was estimated to be 429 kg∙ha−1, 2366 kg∙ha−1, and 3978 kg∙ha−1, respectively, in sandy loam soil
It was estimated that CO2-e emission reductions of AD, CC and PC + 1% biochar were 0.16 MT CO2 ha−1, 0.87 MT CO2 ha−1 and 14.58 MT CO2 ha−1, respectively
Summary
Global warming is becoming a critical issue around the world. Numerous researchers and organizations have been involved in reducing the greenhouse gases from various sources [1]-[3]. Since many countries recognized the importance of greenhouse gases (GHG), including methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O), the estimation of GHG emission was conducted for a comprehensive understanding of the effect of GHG in each country in terms of global warming and the significant mitigation potential [2] [4]-[6]. Unused or discarded biomass residues from agricultural areas are potential energy resource, but at same time can be a source of GHG emissions, causing a significant environmental problem. Potential energy production from crop and animal residues is globally estimated to be about 34 EJ (exajoule = 1018 joules) out of a total 70 EJ [8]. In Korea, it is estimated that over 50 million tones of organic wastes are produced every year in agricultural sector out of over 80 million tones [9]. The interest of biomass in resource-poor country such as Korea is increasing
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