Effects Of Biochar Application Research Articles

Biochar reduced soil N losses and improved N balance in a rainfed winter-wheat cropping agroecosystem

Adding biochar to agricultural soils is an innovative method to improve soil fertility and sequester recalcitrant carbon. However, effects of biochar application on soil nitrogen balance under dryland conditions have not been assessed. In this study, we applied biochar at four rates [no biochar (B0), 5 t ha−1 (B5), 10 t ha−1 (B10), and 20 t ha−1 (B20)] to a rainfed winter-wheat agroecosystem on the Loess Plateau in China in October 2011 and 2016. Biochar application at the low and medium rates (5 and 10 t ha−1) reduced nitrogen losses through NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions by 9.23–15.41 % and 2.77–10.44 %, respectively, in all the three experimental study seasons from 2016 to 2019. In addition, biochar application reduced soil NO3−-N leaching by 14.71–37.96 % within 100 cm soil depth in a dose-dependent manner. The reduced nitrogen losses increased the retention of soil total nitrogen in the 0–60 cm soil layer (particularly in the 0–20 cm layer). Biochar application increased the crop and grain nitrogen uptake by 5.07–17.77 % and 1.73–21.74 %, respectively, and this effect was more pronounced at higher biochar application rates (10 and 20 t ha−1). Estimation of N inputs and outputs indicated that biochar application significantly (P < 0.05) increased the mean soil nitrogen balance by 52.09–116.84 % through decreased nitrogen losses and increased soil nitrogen retention. The results indicate that biochar application at 10 t ha−1 could be recommended as the optimal dose for sustainable nitrogen management in rainfed wheat cropping ecosystems on the Loess Plateau.

Biochar Effects on Vegetative Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Panicum miliaceum Grown in a Pb-Contaminated Rangeland Soil

ABSTRACT Use of biochars can be effective in increasing the uptake of plant nutrients and stabilizing heavy elements in the soil. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar application and lead (Pb) levels on some vegetative characteristics and concentrations of micro and macronutrients of Panicum miliaceum grown in rangeland soil under greenhouse conditions. A factorial pot experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications. The first factor includes biochars (no application of biochar (C), wheat biochar (1.5% w/w) (GB1), wheat biochar (3% w/w) (GB2), corn biochar (1.5% w/w) (ZB1), corn biochar (3% w/w) (ZB2), cotton biochar (1.5% w/w) (PB1) and cotton biochar (3% w/w) (PB2)) and the second factor consisted of Pb levels (0 (Pb0), 150 (Pb150) and 300 (Pb300) mg Pb kg−1 soil). With enhancing the Pb levels from Pb0 to Pb300, the concentration of plant iron (10.46%), manganese (5%), and phosphorus (4.78%) were significantly reduced. While, all the biochars (GB, ZB, and PB) at the level of 3% (w/w) caused a significant increase in the concentration of Fe, Mn, P, and K of plant shoot and decreased the Pb concentration of plant shoot and root. The GB2 treatment was more effective than other biochars in improving the vegetative characteristics, increasing nutrient concentration of the shoot, and reducing the Pb content in the shoot and root. It can be concluded that the use of biochar can be of great help in implementing breeding projects for Pb contaminated pastures.

Combined effect of biochar and soil moisture on soil chemical properties and microbial community composition in microplastic‐contaminated agricultural soil

AbstractAccumulation of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural environments has caused growing concern in recent years because of its detrimental impacts on soil quality, crop productivity and ecosystem function. This study was conducted to assess the impact of biochar on soil chemical and microbial properties in a MP‐contaminated soil under two moisture regimes. Soil was contaminated with 1% (w/w) of low‐density polyethylene MPs. Four types of standard biochar, that is, oil seed rape (OSR) biochar produced at 550°C (OSR 550) and 700°C (OSR 700) and soft wood pellet (SWP) biochar produced at 550°C (SWP 550) and 700°C (SWP 700), were applied at a rate of 5% (w/w). The control was maintained without MP addition. The samples were incubated in soil with two moisture regimes, that is, at 30% and 70% of the water holding capacity, and the soil chemical and microbiological properties were assessed after 100 days of incubation. OSR biochar application significantly increased soil pH (8.53–8.81) and electrical conductivity (0.51–0.58 dS/m) in both moisture regimes. The effect of biochar application on soil enzyme activity and microbial community composition did not show a clear trend. However, SWP 700 biochar improved soil enzyme activity compared with that of the control and improved bacterial diversity and evenness compared with those of other biochars, which was attributed to the high surface area available for microbial colonization. Low soil moisture content significantly reduced enzyme activity and bacterial richness even with biochar amendment, except for SWP 550 biochar. This study implies the suitability of biochar for improvement of soil quality in MP contaminated soil under both moisture regimes. However, further long‐term studies are needed to get a clear understanding on the impact of different types of biochar on MP‐contaminated soil.

Available water capacity of sandy soils as affected by biochar application: A meta-analysis

Sandy soils have inherently low available water capacity (AWC), making their use for agricultural production a challenging task. Biochar amendments have been recommended to enhance the hydrological properties of sandy soils. A meta-analysis of existing literature was conducted to investigate the overall effect of biochar on the AWC of sandy soils. Key factors related to biochar characteristics (specific surface area, particle size, carbon content) and production conditions (pyrolytic temperature, feedstock), soil properties (pH, textural class, organic carbon content), and experimental setting and duration were also included in the analysis. Sandy soils amended with biochar had their AWC significantly increased, on average, by 28.5% compared to un-amended soils. Biochar had no significant effect on AWC when it had a large particle size (PS > 5 mm) or when applied to soils with high carbon content (SOC > 2%). No significant changes in AWC were found among biochar feedstocks, pyrolytic temperatures, and specific surface areas. Available water capacity was higher due to the application of biochar with fine PS compared to coarse PS and with low C (C < 50%) than high C (C > 70%) content. The increase in AWC in biochar-amended sandy soils was most pronounced in those with the highest sand content, acidic pH, and the lowest C content. Our analysis further showed that the effects of biochar application on AWC were greater under controlled laboratory conditions compared to field trials and in short-term rather than in long-term experiments. Overall, the current meta-analysis revealed that biochar technology has the potential to contribute towards the alleviation of the hydrological constraints of sandy soils leading to more drought-resistant soils in the face of an expected dryer climate.

Biochar Alleviates Phytotoxicity by Minimizing Bioavailability and Oxidative Stress in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) Cultivated in Cd- and Zn-Contaminated Soil.

Soil contamination with multiple heavy metals is a global environmental issue that poses a serious threat to public health and ecological safety. Biochar passivation is an efficient and economical technology to prevent heavy metal contamination of Cd; however, its effects on compound-contaminated and weakly alkaline soil remain unclear. Further, the mechanisms mediating the immobilization effects of biochar have not been evaluated. In this study, three biochar treated at different pyrolytic temperatures [300°C (BC300), 400°C (BC400), and 500°C (BC500)] were applied to Cd-/Zn-contaminated soils, and their effects on plant growth, photosynthetic characteristics, Cd/Zn accumulation and distribution in foxtail millet were evaluated. Further, the effect of biochar application on the soil physicochemical characteristics, as well as the diversity and composition of the soil microbiota were investigated. Biochar significantly alleviated the phytotoxicity of Cd and Zn. DTPA (diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid)-Cd and DTPA-Zn content was significantly reduced following biochar treatment via the transformation of exchangeable components to stable forms. BC500 had a lower DTPA-Cd content than BC300 and BC400 by 42.87% and 39.29%, respectively. The BC500 passivation ratio of Cd was significantly higher than that of Zn. Biochar application also promoted the growth of foxtail millet, alleviated oxidative stress, and reduced heavy metal bioaccumulation in shoots, and transport of Cd from the roots to the shoots in the foxtail millet. The plant height, stem diameter, biomass, and photosynthetic rates of the foxtail millet were the highest in BC500, whereas the Cd and Zn content in each organ and malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content in the leaves were the lowest. Moreover, biochar application significantly increased the abundance of soil bacteria and fungi, as well as increasing the fungal species richness compared to no-biochar treatment. Overall, biochar was an effective agent for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. The passivation effect of biochar exerted on heavy metals in soil was affected by the biochar pyrolysis temperature, with BC500 showing the best passivation effect.

Effects of Biochar Application on Vegetation Growth, Cover, and Erosion Potential in Sloped Cultivated Soil Derived from Mudstone

Soil degradation is a crucial problem, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. Prevention or reduction of soil erosion requires strategies based on thorough rapid vegetation cover (VC) and favorable soil quality in subtropical and tropical areas. This study applied wood biochar (WB) and rice husk biochar (RHB) in a mudstone soil, which is widely distributed in Southern Taiwan, to investigate the effects of biochar application on soil erosion and vegetation restoration. The standard erosion unit plots (22.13 m in length and 9% in slope gradient) were set up to determine the relationship among soil losses, VC, and natural rainfall characteristics with and without biochar application. The results indicated that biochar application increased the growth rate (identified by cover ratio) of Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) by 2–2.6 times within 40 days compared with control (without biochar application) and increased VC by 20% after 120 days of treatment. The biochar application could effectively reduce soil losses by 60% at least in the mudstone soil. A well-predicted regression function of soil loss with VC and rainfall kinetic energy was established (amount of soil lost = −0.435 × ln VC + 0.54 × RKE, r = 0.89, p &lt; 0.01).

Influence of biochar on the sorption and leaching of thiamethoxan in soil

This study evaluated the long-term effect of biochar application on the sorption and desorption of thiamethoxam in a Haplic Plinthosol. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with combination of doses of mineral fertilizer NPK (0 and 300 kg·ha−1 formula 05-25-15) and biochar (0, 16 and 32 Mg ha−1). Deformed soil samples were collected in the field from the 0-0.10 m layer of all plots to determine the sorption and desorption of the thiamethoxam insecticide in the soil; fulvic acid (FA), humic acid (AH) and humin (HUM) carbon contents; and total organic carbon. The Batch slurry method was used to evaluate sorption and desorption. The Freundlich isotherm adequately described thiamethoxam sorption in all treatments. The application of biochar increased the sorption (Kfs) and decreased the desorption (Kfd) of thiamethoxam. The sorption intensity (1/n) showed reduction characteristics as the soil concentration of thiamethoxam increased. Biochar has a sorption effect on the soil through covalent bonds and H-bonds with the insecticide molecules, thereby indirectly increasing the sorption potential in the chemical fractions of the organic matter of soil. The application of 32 Mg ha−1 of biochar significantly reduced thiamethoxam in the soil solution. Altogether, the present study reveals that biochar application in soil is a promising tool for mitigating the contaminant potential of thiamethoxam in subsurface waters.

Biochar mitigation of soil acidification and carbon sequestration is influenced by materials and temperature

The alleviation effects on soil acidification by different raw materials and pyrolysis temperatures can broaden the utilization of biochar. In this study, nine types of biochar produced from three raw materials, namely fruit tree branch, peanut shell, and cow dung, at three pyrolysis temperatures (300, 450, and 600 °C) were used to amend acidified brown soil; the rape growth, physiology character, soil chemical and microbial, along with soil organic carbon mineralization were also investigated. The results showed that application of biochar increased soil pH by 8.48–79.25% and reduced exchangeable acidity, exchangeable Al, and exchangeable H by 56.94–94.95%, 34.38–95.66%, and 58.72–93.27%, respectively. Biochar alleviated oxidative stress in plants, reduced malondialdehyde and glutathione content in leaves, promoted rape growth, and increased microbial community diversity and the relative abundances of Acidobacteria and Olpidiomycota in the acidic soil. Moreover, biochar reduced the mineralization rate of organic carbon and the proportion of mineral-bonded organic carbon. Overall, biochar application is an effective strategy to ameliorate soil acidification and enhance rape production and carbon sequestration. The mitigation effect of branch biochar and cow dung biochar on soil acidification was superior to that of peanut shell biochar. The effects of biochar depended on the pyrolysis temperature; the positive effects of biochar samples pyrolyzed at 450 and 600 ℃ were stronger than those pyrolyzed at 300 ℃. In this study, the optimum biochar materials and carbonization temperature for acidified soil improvement, as well as the effects of biochar application on soil microbial and carbon mineralization were clarified, which provides a new potential strategy for acidified soil improvement and expand the application range of biochar.

The use of biochar for reducing carbon footprints in land-use systems: prospects and problems

Biochar, a carbonaceous solid material obtained from the pyrolysis of biomass, has received considerable research attention because of its unique properties and potential to improve crop yields and soil carbon (C) sequestration while reducing environmental degradation and carbon footprints (CF). This paper summarizes the available results on several aspects of biochar research from numerous studies despite their short-term nature. The studies have shown that (1) biochar from the same source added at a given rate to different soils could have different effects, particularly on phosphorus (P) release/retention, based on the respective soil properties; (2) the elemental composition of a feedstock (the biomass source used for biochar production) is not an indication of plant-nutrient availability; (3) pyrolysis temperature has a significant influence on the properties of the biochar, but the optimal temperature depends on the desired qualities of the product such as P release, cation exchange capacity, and surface area; and (4) the risk of nutrient loss during biochar application depends on the nutrient release potential of the biochar as well as the nutrient retention properties of the soil. Some evidence from nature suggests that biochar can hold C in soils for thousands of years, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. In general, the available results on the effect of biochar application on field crops have been variable and site-specific so that general conclusions cannot be drawn on their applicability to a wide spectrum of situations and systems. A number of researchable priorities were identified, including CF under biochar. Similarly, although the land application of biochar to decrease CF sounds like a promising proposition, rigorous long-term studies under farm settings are required before recommending it for large-scale adoption.

Effects of Biochar Application on the Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Maize and its After-Effect

Effects of Biochar Application on the Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Maize and its After-Effect

Biochar Amended Soils and Water Systems: Investigation of Physical and Structural Properties

There are significant regional differences in the perception of the problems posed by global warming, water/food availability and waste treatment recycling procedures. The study illustrates the effect of application of a biochar (BC) from forest biomass waste, at a selected application rate, on water retention, plant available water (PAW), and structural properties of differently standard textured soils, classified as loamy sand, loam and clay. The results showed that soil water retention, PAW, and aggregate stability were significantly improved by BC application in the loamy sand, confirming that application of BC to this soil was certainly beneficial and increased the amount of macropores, storage pores and residual pores. In the loam, BC partially improved water retention, increasing macroporosity, but decreased the amount of micropores and improved aggregate stability and did not significantly increase the amount of PAW. In the clay, the amount of PAW was increased by BC, but water retention and aggregate stability were not improved by BC amendment. Results of the BET analysis indicated that the specific surface area (BET-SSA) increased in the three soils after BC application, showing a tendency of the BET-SSA to increase at increasing PAW. The results obtained indicated that the effects of BC application on the physical and structural properties of the three considered soils were different depending on the different soil textures with a BET-SSA increase of 950%, 489%, 156% for loamy sand, loam and clay soil respectively. The importance of analysing the effects of BC on soil water retention and PAW in terms of volumetric water contents, and not only in terms of gravimetric values, was also evidenced.

Effect of two organic fertilizers on some anatomical features of Pinus pinea L. seedlings grown in field and lathe house

Effect of two organic fertilizers on some anatomical features of Pinus pinea L. seedlings grown in field and lathe house

Effects of Biochar Application and Irrigation on Soil Preferential Flow and Winter Wheat Productivity

Effects of Biochar Application and Irrigation on Soil Preferential Flow and Winter Wheat Productivity

Effects of biochar application and water saving drip irrigation on phosphorus leaching in farmland fluvo-aquic soil

Effects of biochar application and water saving drip irrigation on phosphorus leaching in farmland fluvo-aquic soil

The effect of biochar application and number of shoots on the growth of ratoon sorghum in vertisol soil

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.)) is one of the potential commodities that can be developed to support food and energy diversification programs in Indonesia. It has the advantage that one of them can be ratoon. However, the yield of ratoon is lower than that of the main crop. The research on ratoon sorghum was carried out in vertisol soil. This aims of the study to determine the interaction between biochar application and number of shoots on the growth of ratoon sorghum in vertisol soil, to obtain the right dose of biochar and to get the appropriate number of shoots to increase the yield of ratoon sorghum. The study was arranged in a factorial manner using a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD). The treatment factors were biochar (without biochar, 2.5 tons/ha, 5 tons/ha and 7.5 tons/ha), and the number of shoots (1 shoot, 2 shoots, 3 shoots, and 4 shoots) at the 5% level. The results showed that there was no interaction between biochar treatment and the number of shoots on the variable of panicle sorghum, weight of fresh stover, and weight of dry stover. The results showed an interaction on the variable of plants height observation. Provides growth results that are not significantly different in the parameters of plant height, panicle length and panicle weight. Gives significantly different results on panicle length, weight of fresh stover, and weight of dry stover. The number of 1 shoots produced the highest growth for all observed variables.

Effects of biochar application on soil nitrogen transformation and N 2 O emissions: a review

The sustainability and uncertainty of global climate warming have a profound impact on the sustainable development of human society. The continuous increase of atmospheric N2O concentration is one of the major contributions to the global climate warming. Soil is an important site of nitrogen transformation and a biochemical reaction reservoir of the nitrogen cycle, and also an important source of N2O emissions. Therefore, changes in soil N2O emission rate will significantly affect atmospheric N2O concentration. Biochar refers to the aromatic chemicals prepared by pyrolysis of biomass under the condition of complete or partial hypoxia. Biochar has the characteristics of porosity, strong adsorption, chemical stability, high pH and large cation exchange capacity. After it is applied to soils, biochar will directly or indirectly affect the transformation process of soil nitrogen and significantly affect the soil N2O emissions. This article reviewed the research progress of biochar effects on nitrogen transformation and N2O emission in the soil ecosystem, elaborated the effects of biochar input on the dynamic changes of soil inorganic nitrogen, nitrification, denitrification and N2O emission. Futher, in terms of biochar’s absorption and reduction of nitrogen leaching, effects on soil physicochemical properties, abundance and diversity of soil ammonia oxidizing bacterial, along with functional genes of denitrifying bacteria, the machamnisms influencing the processes above-mentioned are specifically elucidated in details. The future research of biochar in increasing soil sinks, reducing emissions and mitigating the greenhouse effect, as well as the related technology promotion, have been prospected. [Ch, 109 ref.]

Combined biochar and double inhibitor application offsets NH3 and N2O emissions and mitigates N leaching in paddy fields

The effects of combined biochar and double inhibitor application on gaseous nitrogen (N; nitrous oxide [N2O] and ammonia [NH3]) emissions and N leaching in paddy soils remain unclear. We investigated the effects of biochar application at different rates and double inhibitor application (hydroquinone [HQ] and dicyandiamide [DCD]) on NH3 and N2O emissions, N leaching, as well as rice yield in a paddy field, with eight treatments, including conventional urea N application at 280 kg N ha−1 (CN); reduced N application at 240 kg N ha−1 (RN); RN + 7.5 t ha−1 biochar (RNB1); RN + 15 t ha−1 biochar (RNB2); RN + HQ + DCD (RNI); RNB1 + HQ + DCD (RNIB1); RNB2 + HQ + DCD (RNIB2); and a control without N fertilizer. When compared with N leaching under RN, biochar application reduced total N leaching by 26.9–34.8% but stimulated NH3 emissions by 13.2–27.1%, mainly because of enhanced floodwater and soil NH4+-N concentrations and pH, and increased N2O emission by 7.7–21.2%, potentially due to increased soil NO3−-N concentrations. Urease and nitrification inhibitor addition decreased NH3 and N2O emissions, and total N leaching by 20.1%, 21.5%, and 22.1%, respectively. Compared with RN, combined biochar (7.5 t ha−1) and double inhibitor application decreased NH3 and N2O emissions, with reductions of 24.3% and 14.6%, respectively, and reduced total N leaching by up to 45.4%. Biochar application alone or combined with double inhibitors enhanced N use efficiency from 26.2% (RN) to 44.7% (RNIB2). Conversely, double inhibitor application alone or combined with biochar enhanced rice yield and reduced yield-scaled N2O emissions. Our results suggest that double inhibitor application alone or combined with 7.5 t ha−1 biochar is an effective practice to mitigate NH3 and N2O emission and N leaching in paddy fields.

Relationships between Soil Chemical Properties and Soil Structure in Soil after Initial Application and Reapplication of Biochar and Its Combination with N Fertilization

ABSTRACT The effects of biochar application on soil properties have been widely discussed in the literature. As its effect is known to weaken over time, its reapplication may be beneficial in ameliorating the soil properties, including soil structure, however, there are several knowledge gaps. Therefore, this work addresses the effects of initial biochar application (0, 10, 20 t ha−1) and its reapplication (0, 10, 20 t ha−1) alone and in combination with N fertilization (40–240 kg N ha−1) on the relationships between the chemical properties of the soil and soil structure in silty loam Haplic Luvisol (Slovakia) during 2017–2019. Results showed that initial application as well as reapplication of biochar improved soil structure, however, more pronounced changes were observed after biochar reapplication when compared to its initial application. In both cases, most of the soil structure parameters were more favorably affected by the application of biochar alone than by its combination with N fertilization and at a higher rather than a lower rate. Due to the initial application of biochar and its reapplication, the stability of the soil aggregates was significantly supported by increasing soil pH and improvement of the soil sorption capacity, while Fe and Al oxides did not improve soil structure.

Effects of Biochar Application on Soil Organic Carbon in Degraded Saline-sodic Wetlands of Songnen Plain, Northeast China

Effects of Biochar Application on Soil Organic Carbon in Degraded Saline-sodic Wetlands of Songnen Plain, Northeast China

Effects of Biochar Application on Enzyme Activities in Tea Garden Soil.

Animal-manure biochar used as a sustainable amendment to garden soil has been widely applied, and the animal-manure pyrolysis temperatures would also have a regulatory effect on soil functions because of their affections on biochar physio-chemical properties. Here we studied the effects of different dosages of swine-manure biochar on tea garden soil functions, with the swine-manure pyrolysis temperature differed at 350 and 500°C. The results showed that the improvement of soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen and enzyme activities was closely related to the addition of 0.5–2% (biochar wt/soil wt) swine-manure biochar. Under different conditions of different carbon application rates and carbon type, the addition of 2% swine-manure biochar pyrolyzed at 350°C showed the best effects on soil enzyme activities and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen contents. Compared to the control, after the addition of 2% swine-manure biochar, sucrase, phosphatase, catalase, and urease activities increased by 63.3, 23.2, 50.3, and 27.9%, respectively. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen contents also increased by 36.4 and 34.3%, respectively. Our study indicated that the effectiveness of using animal-manure swine-manure biochar as a sustainable amendment to soil would provide evidence of tea garden soil improvement and the environmental response to the usage of biochars.