Effects Of Biochar Research Articles

Effects of biochar, N-enriched biochar and urea on tomato seed germination, vegetative growth, and fruit traits.

Agronomic uses of biochar have been intensely explored in the last 15 years. Recently, a new generation of biochar-based fertilizers has been developed. Raw biochar (BCH), nitrogen-enriched biochar (N + BCH) or urea were added to a coir fiber-based substrate for tomato cultivation, to assess seed germination, growth and fruiting of two cultivars (Cuarenteno and Moneymaker). BCH stimulated seed germination and early radicle growth, possibly because of the presence of karrikins detected in both BCH and N-BCH (0.039 and 0.044 mg kg-1, respectively). However, BCH reduced growth in adult plants in both cultivars, probably because of ammonium retention, causing low-N-stress-related symptoms such as accumulation of flavonoids in the leaf. Urea was toxic for seed germination because of the fast release of ammonium, but caused a positive effect on adult plant growth and yield, increasing chlorophyll in both cultivars, quantum yield and ascorbic acid in cv. Cuarenteno, and decreasing flavonoids and peroxide in leaves of both cultivars. Unlike urea, N + BCH showed a positive impact on plant growth and yield, but without releasing high amounts of ammonium or negatively affecting seed germination. Nitrogen-rich amendments reduced phosphorus and increased iron leaf content in both cultivars. BCH can be effectively used as a growth medium constituent in nurseries for seedling production, whereas N + BCH offers a promising alternative to urea or other nitrogen mineral fertilizers for crop cultivation. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Biochar enhances soil interactions and the initial development of sugarcane.

The present study evaluated the effects of biochar derived from sugarcane straw on the physicochemical and biological properties of soil and the initial development of sugarcane. Microcosm and pot experiments were conducted over 60 days to monitor variables such as pH, water retention capacity, microbial activity, initial growth, and the metabolomic profile of the plant leaves. The results indicated that biochar increased the soil water retention capacity without significantly affecting the pH. The biochar significantly promoted root length and mass and favored the growth of the soil microbiota, as reflected by an increase in the amount of microbial biomass carbon. Metabolomic analysis of sugarcane leaves revealed that soil conditioning with biochar at application rates of 3 and 5% w/w led to increased concentrations of the amino acids isoleucine and valine, accompanied by a reduction in galactose, maltose, and glucose levels. Furthermore, biochar treatment resulted in a decrease in aconitic acid and an increase in acetic and succinic acid concentrations. These findings suggest that biochar may be a promising strategy for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of sugarcane cultivation.

Acidified biochar one-off application for saline-alkali soil improvement: A three-year field trial evaluating the persistence of effects

Salinization is a global soil degradation issue threatening agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Native biochar is a promising soil amendment, but its high alkalinity limits its use in saline-alkali lands. Acidified biochar, with a lower pH, is theoretically more suitable. This study aims to evaluate the persistence of effects of acidified biochar one-off application on soil particle size distribution, physicochemical properties, water retention, temperature regulation, and evaporation conditions of saline-alkali soil, thereby verifying its feasibility and exploring the optimal application range. We conducted a three-year cotton field experiment using palm fruit branch biochar as the raw material, acidified with ferrous sulfate, which involved four biochar applications (0, 10, 20, and 30 t ha−1) and four irrigation quotas (60 %, 80 %, 100 % and 120 % ETc). The results indicated that the initial acidified biochar application slightly increased surface soil (0–20 cm) pH by 0.1 %–3.9 %, this negative effect was nearly eliminated by the third year. Biochar application significantly altered surface soil particle size distribution, increasing sand content by 1.6 %–8.4 %, and persistently improved soil hydraulic properties, with water holding capacity still showing a 6.5 %–16.7 % increase in the third year. Biochar enhanced soil thermal insulation and suppressed soil evaporation, but these benefits gradually diminished with increasing cultivation years. Acidified biochar effectiveness was closely linked to irrigation quota. Significant differences in soil water and heat indicators were observed between the 20 and 30 t ha⁻¹ biochar treatments only under low irrigation quotas. Under sufficient irrigation (100 % and 120 % ETc), the optimal biochar application range was 15–20 t ha⁻¹, while under low irrigation (60 % and 80 % ETc), the optimal range was 20–25 t ha⁻¹. This study demonstrated that acidified biochar one-off application has significant multi-year benefits in improving soil structure and hydrothermal properties, providing a scientific basis for the improvement and sustainable utilization of saline-alkali soil.

The Effect of the Construction of a Tillage Layer on the Infiltration of Snowmelt Water into Freeze–Thaw Soil in Cold Regions

The snow melting and runoff process in the black soil area of Northeast China has led to soil quality degradation in farmland, posing a threat to sustainable agricultural development. To investigate the regulatory effect of tillage layer construction on the infiltration characteristics of snowmelt water, a typical black soil in Northeast China was selected as the research object. Based on field experiments, four protective tillage treatments (CK: control treatment; SB: sub-soiling treatment; BC: biochar regulation treatment; SB + BC: sub-soiling tillage and biochar composite treatment) were set up, and the evolution of soil physical structure, soil thawing rate, snow melting infiltration characteristics, and the feedback effect of frozen layer evolution on snowmelt infiltration were analyzed. The research results indicate that sub-soiling and the application of biochar effectively regulate soil aggregate particle size and increase soil total porosity. Among them, at the 0–10 cm soil layer, the soil mean weight diameter (MWD) values under SB, BC, and SB + BC treatment conditions increased by 6.25%, 16.67%, and 19.35%, respectively, compared to the CK treatment. Sub-soiling increases the frequency of energy exchange between the soil and the environment, while biochar enhances soil heat storage performance and accelerates the melting rate of frozen soil layers. Therefore, under the SB + BC treatment conditions, the maximum soil freezing rate increased by 21.92%, 5.67%, and 25.12% compared to the CK, SB, and BC treatments, respectively. In addition, sub-soiling and biochar treatment effectively improved the penetration performance of snowmelt water into frozen soil layers, significantly enhancing the soil’s ability to store snowmelt water. Overall, it can be concluded that biochar regulation has a good improvement effect on the infiltration capacity of surface soil snowmelt water. Sub-soiling can enhance the overall snowmelt water holding capacity, and the synergistic effect of biochar and deep tillage is the best. These research results have important guiding significance for the rational construction of a protective tillage system model and the improvement of the utilization efficiency of snowmelt water resources in black soil areas.

The Removal and Mitigation Effects of Biochar on Microplastics in Water and Soils: Application and Mechanism Analysis

Due to their widespread distribution, microplastics (MPs) are endangering the soil ecological environment system, causing water pollution and altering the soil’s physicochemical and microbiological features. Because of its unique pore structure and strong stability, biochar is widely used as an adsorbent. However, the effects of MP–biochar interactions in water and soil environment are still unclear. This review outlines the application and mechanism of biochar as an adsorbent in a water environment for the removal of MPs. Also, biochar serves as remediation material for MPs in soils as it mitigates the adverse effects of MPs on soil properties, enzyme activities and soil microbial community. It was found that woody biochar had the highest yield and was more effective in adsorbing MPs. Further research should focus on the combined effects of biochar and MPs, the environmental risks of biochar, the modification of biochar application of MP-removal technologies, the characterization of MP properties, the remediation of combined contamination of MPs and other pollutants, and the transportation of MPs.

Effects of Biochar on the Growth and Physiological and Mechanical Properties of Cucumber Plug Seedlings Before and After Transplanting

Since the characteristics of plug seedlings affect the effectiveness of automatic transplanting, this study aimed to explore the effect of the addition of biochar into substrates on the growth of plug seedlings before and after transplanting. The physicochemical properties of substrates with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% biochar addition all met the requirements of seedling cultivation. The growth trend, root systems, and mechanical properties of seedlings before transplanting and the leaf gas exchange parameters of seedlings after transplanting were measured in this study. The results indicated that the seedlings cultivated with 10% biochar added to the substrate achieved the best growth trend and physiological indices, and the root systems under this treatment were also stronger than those of other treatments, while the seedlings cultivated with 25% biochar treatment were the worst, with less than 22.23% of the growth seen in the 10% biochar treatment, and even less than 1.5% of the growth of the seedlings cultivated without biochar treatment. Since the strong root systems could enhance the mechanical properties of seedling pots, the seedling pots cultivated with 10% biochar added into the substrate possessed the best compression resistance properties, with the maximum value of 49.52 N, and could maintain maximum completeness after free-fall impacting, wherein the loss of root and substrate was only 8.22%. The analysis results of seedlings cultivated after impacting proposed that the seedlings with better growth trends and root systems before transplanting could obtain better leaf gas exchange parameters during the flower stage after transplanting, so the seedlings cultivated with 5%~10% biochar added into the substrate grew better after impacting and then transplanting. It was noticed that the seedlings cultivated with appropriate biochar added into the substrate were able to achieve the optimal growth parameters and mechanical properties before and after transplanting, which were better able to meet the requirements of automatic transplanting. Thus, this study can promote the development of automatic transplanting technology to some extent.

Promoting tomato resilience: effects of ascorbic acid and sulfur-treated biochar in saline and non-saline cultivation environments

The resilience of tomato plants under different cultivation environments, particularly saline and non-saline conditions, was investigated by applying various treatments, including 0.5% Ascorbic Acid (AsA) and 1% Sulphur-treated Biochar (BS). The study evaluated parameters such as fruit length, diameter, yield per plant and pot, Total Soluble Solids (TSS) content, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, enzyme activities (Superoxide Dismutase - SOD, Peroxidase - POD, Catalase - CAT), and nutrient content (Nitrogen - N%, Phosphorus - P%, Potassium - K%). Under saline conditions, significant enhancements were observed in fruit characteristics and yield metrics with the application of AsA and BS individually, with the combined treatment yielding the most substantial improvements. Notably, AsA and BS treatments exhibited varying effects on TSS levels, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, and enzyme activities, with the combination treatment consistently demonstrating superior outcomes. Additionally, nutrient content analysis revealed notable increases, particularly under non-saline conditions, with the combined treatment showcasing the most significant enhancements. Overall, the study underscores the potential of AsA and BS treatments in promoting tomato resilience, offering insights into their synergistic effects on multiple physiological and biochemical parameters crucial for plant growth and productivity.

Rice husk biochar resuscitates the microecological functions of heavy–metal contaminated soil after washing by enriching functional bacteria

Biochar has great potential for simultaneously improving soil ecological functions and eliminating environmental pollutants. However, studies on this strategy in the restoration of ecological functions in chelator–washed soil are lacking, and the effect of biochar on the structure, functions, and microbial interactions of washed soil microbiomes are unclear. Hence, the effect of rice husk biochar (RHB, 2 %) on the physicochemical properties, heavy metal fractions, and microbial community structure of glutamate–N, N–diacetic acid (GLDA)– and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)– washed remediated soil were investigated. Results showed that the RHB addition restored the washed soil physical structure (pores and agglomerates) and meanwhile, the soil colloidal sheet sweeps increased by 20.49 % and 102.07 % in the z–axis, respectively. Additionally, RHB significantly increased washed soil pH (P < 0.05) and alkaline phosphatase and urease activities, while decreased acid phosphatase and glucosidase activities. The Observed–species and Shannon index were significantly higher in soil treated by RHB combined with GLDA and EDTA than those treated with GLDA and EDTA alone (P < 0.05). GLDA washing coupled RHB treatment enriched key bacterial groups such as MND1, Chelativorans, and Ellin6067, while EDTA washing coupled RHB treatment enriched Sreroidobacter, Micromonospora, and Reyranella, that both related to C–, N–, and P– cycles. Importantly, RHB addition could enrich functional bacteria by increasing bacterial resistance, including glucose metabolic homeostasis and metal ion resistance. The observed enrichment of functional bacteria provided evidence for the enhancement of soil nutrient cycles, indicative of improved soil functions by combination of chelator washing and biochar amended.

The Influence of In-Mould Annealing and Accelerated Ageing on the Properties of Impact-Modified Poly(Lactic Acid)/Biochar Composites

In the last few decades, a large number of natural additives have been analysed in connection with the improvement of the properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) bioplastic materials. This article comprehensively analyses the applicability of a highly stable and progressive multifunctional additive produced from renewable resources—biochar. The effect of biochar on the structural development and various thermo-mechanical properties was evaluated as a function of the biochar size and volume, addition of an impact modifier and in-mould annealing during injection moulding. In addition, the effect of accelerated ageing on the change in properties was also analysed. The evaluated results showed a significant influence of the particle size and biochar content on the properties of PLA biocomposites. However, the crucial aspect was the production process with a higher mould temperature and longer production time. Consequently, the effect of additives with adjusted processing worked synergistically on the performance of the resulting biocomposites. The accelerated ageing process did not induce any significant changes in the mechanical, impact and heat resistance behaviour of neat PLA. On the other hand, significant effects on the behaviour of the modified PLA biocomposites were observed. Impact-modified PLA achieved a toughness of 28 kJ/m2, an increase of 61% compared to neat PLA. Similar observations were made when submicron biochar was incorporated into the PLA matrix (a 22% increase with PLA/5B1). These increases were even more pronounced when injected into a 100 °C mould. Due to the synergistic effect, excellent impact toughness results of 95 kJ/m2 (a 428% increase) were achieved with PLA/IM/5B1. Moreover, these results persisted even after accelerated ageing.

Evaluation into the effect of lignocellulosic biochar on the thermal properties of shape stable composite phase change materials

Biochar is suitable for preparing shape stable composite phase change materials (sscPCMs) due to the advantages of cost-effective, environmentally, and sustainability. However, the heat properties of biochar-based sscPCMs were not consistent. To investigate how different types of biochar influence the thermal properties of sscPCMs, three types of sscPCMs were successfully prepared using peanut shell biochar (PSC), poplar wood biochar (PWC), and corn straw biochar (CSC) as framework materials and combined with stearic acid (SA). A comprehensive analysis of the thermal properties of three sscPCMs was performed, taking into account thermal conductivity, phase change latent heat, encapsulation efficiency, crystallization rate, and energy storage efficiency. The study indicated that among the three types of sscPCMs, SA/PWC sscPCMs demonstrated excellent comprehensive performance. The phase change latent heat of SA/PWC reached 100.13 J/g, and the thermal conductivity was 0.38 W/mK. Compared to SA/PSC, the phase change latent heat of SA/PWC increased by 45.96 %, with only a 28.30 % reduction in thermal conductivity. In comparison to SA/CSC, the thermal conductivity of SA/PWC improved by 18.75 %, while the phase change latent heat decreased by only 14.02 %. In addition, the proportions of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin played a crucial role in determining the thermal properties of sscPCMs. This study clarified the mechanism by which biochar influences the thermal characteristic of sscPCMs, offering valuable insights for choosing biochar framework materials.

Sugarcane bagasse derived biochar potential to improve soil structure and water availability in texturally different soils

Low organic matter content is one of the main constraints in arid and semiarid regions. This constraint and its negative influences on soils and plant growth may be alleviated by biochar (BC). Furthermore, improving soil physical and hydraulic attributes by application of biochar has received increased attention. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar on the structural stability, water availability, and pore-size distribution (PSD) of three texturally different calcareous soils collected from different agro-climatologically regions were examined during a long-term experiment. Low and high-temperature biochars, produced in a muffle furnace by the traditional slow pyrolysis method at 300 °C (BC300) and 600 °C (BC600) were evaluated. Pots (15 kg) were filled with three different silty-clay Inceptisols (SCInc), silty-clay-loam Alfisols (SCLAlf), and loam Aridisols (LArid) soils mixed with 0 (control), 1, 2, and 3 w/w% of BC300 and BC600 during 540 days of incubation. The high energy moisture characteristic (HEMC) data was modeled using a modified van Genuchten function to quantify aggregate stability through stability ratio (SR) and structural stability index (SSI). The plant available water (PAW), least limiting water range (LLWR), and integral water capacity (IWC) were calculated with two matric suctions (h) of 330 cm for field capacity (FC) and 15,000 cm for permanent wilting point (PWP). Then the integral energy (EI) values were calculated (EIIWC). Results indicated that the incorporation of 3 w/w% biochar significantly (p < 0.01) increased SR (35 to 100%) and SSI (21 to 28%) indices in all three soils. Biochar significantly increased modal suction (MS) in LArid soils (5 to 158%); whereas, decreased MS of the other soils (3 to 43%). MS, SR, and SSI of BC300 and BC600-treated soils were not significantly different. PAW, LLWR, and IWC significantly decreased in the SCInc (18 to 61%, 8 to 44%, and 6 to 35%) and SCLAlf (8 to 44%, 18 to 35%, and 20 to 47%) soils and increased in LArid (4 to 54%, 3 to 61%, and 24 to 111%) soil with increasing biochar doses. There were no changes in EIIWC in biochar-treated LArid soil where PAW, LLWR, and IWC increased. Biochar increased EIIWC across the studied soil from 1% to 3.38 folds, thereby increasing the gradient of water potential to absorb the available water. Soil and soil-biochar mixtures exhibited heterogeneous and multimodal pore-size distribution (PSD). Biochar promoted the PSD peaks related to water-transmitting pores in SCInc and SCLAlf soils while decreased in LArid soil. In conclusion, results indicated that among the applied levels of biochar, the application of 3 w/w% biochar is suggested as a suitable way to improve soil physical behavior and structural stability.

Reduction of tobacco alkaloid bioaccumulation in pea shoots: a comparative study of biochar derived from cow dung and maize straw

Tobacco alkaloids in tobacco-cultivated soils pose potential risks for succeeding crops, due to their allelopathy and toxicity. Effects of biochar on the dissipation of tobacco alkaloids in soil-crop systems remain poorly understood. In this study, a 40-day pot experiment was conducted to explore the effect of cow dung biochar (CDBC) and maize straw biochar (MSBC) on the uptake of nicotine and nornicotine by pea (Pisum sativum L.) and their dissipation in an agricultural soil. The results revealed that the bioaccumulation of nicotine and nornicotine by pea shoots in the soils added with CDBC and MSBC at 1.5% and 3.0% significantly decreased by 46.97–79.13% and 33.64–71.59%, respectively. CDBC more effectively decreased the uptake and bioaccumulation of nicotine and nornicotine by pea shoots than MSBC due to the higher soil pH and nutrient content. In addition, the enhanced relative abundances of soil nicotine-degrading bacteria belonging to the genera Arthrobacter and Gemmatimonas also contributed to the decreasing uptake of nicotine by pea plants. The decreased bioavailability in the soils due to the increased adsorption was the key factor for the reduced bioaccumulation of tobacco alkaloids. This study provides guidance to protect subsequent crops in tobacco-cultivated soil from tobacco alkaloids with biochar.

Effect of biochar on the co-conversion of carbon-nitrogen and humification of kitchen waste composting process

Composting was an effective technique to treat kitchen waste into high-quality fertilizer or soil amendment. During the composting process of kitchen waste, different degradation rates of carbon and nitrogen resulted in carbon loss, nitrogen emission and low product quality. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms and effects of biochar (5%, 10% and 15%) on synergistic conversion of nitrogen and carbon and humification processes in kitchen waste composting. The findings revealed that the addition of 10% and 15% biochar prolonged the thermophilic phase (>55°C) by a minimum of three days compared to CK. Additionally, the final NH4+-N concentration in the 10% and 15% treatment groups exhibited a 66.7% reduction in comparison to the control. Besides, the 15% addition proved more efficacious in reducing the NH4+-N content. The increase in biochar facilitates the adsorption of ammonia nitrogen and influences the structure of the microbial community, especially Bacteroides and Pseudoxanthomonas, thus promoting nitrogen mineralisation and humification, which provides energy and carbon for the survival and metabolism of more microorganisms. The compost with 15% biochar exhibited higher levels of SBR1031, resulting in a 73.8% increase in the conversion of nitrogen to NO3--N compared to the control. The aforementioned behaviour facilitates a synergistic conversion of nitrogen and carbon. Therefore, the addition of biochar promotes synergistic carbon and nitrogen transformations in terms of nitrogen conservation, organic matter decomposition, microbial species and their interactions, which is essential for the production of value-added compost fertilizers.

The effect of biochar in a specialty adsorbent on enhanced PFAS removal from surface water

An enhanced specialty adsorbent, referred to as biochar-based iron and perlite-integrated green environmental media (BIPGEM), was designed to simultaneously remove both long-chain PFAS mainly including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) from surface water matrices. Batch-scale experiments using BIPGEM revealed that the removal efficiencies for PFOA and PFOS exceeded 98 % when treating a mixture of 3 short-chain PFAS, including perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX Chemicals). Additionally, a fixed-bed column study using BIPGEM revealed that the removal efficiencies of PFOA and PFOS were over 85 % within the first 12 h whereas the removal efficiency of PFBA was over 40 % at the fortieth hour. It was confirmed that the critical role of biochar in the removal of long-chain PFAS, particularly PFOA, can be attributed to the following factors: (1) the morphological structure and pore size of biochar restrict PFAS mobility, (2) the extensive specific surface area of biochar, with a positive charge (point of zero charge = 10.7) at the experimental condition, enhances the adsorption likelihood with the negatively charged hydrophilic heads of PFOA and PFOS, and (3) the presence of non-polar aromatic rings with high hydrophobicity in biochar facilitates the removal of PFAS through hydrophobic interactions with the functional groups of PFAS.

Investigating the Synergistic Effects of Nano-Zinc and Biochar in Mitigating Aluminum Toxicity in Soybeans

Aluminum (Al) toxicity limited root growth by reducing nutrient translocation and promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, particularly in soybean. The endophyte of root could be modified by plant metabolites, which could potentially alter the tolerance to environmental toxicity of plants in acidic-Al soils. To explore how they help soybean mitigate Al toxicity by altering root endophytes, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) at doses of 0, 30, 60, 90 mg/kg and 2% biochar (BC) were selected as bio modifiers, and Al2(SO4)3 at 19 mg/kg was used to simulate Al toxicity. We analyzed root endophytes and metabolites by high-throughput sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We found that ZnO NPs with BC could bolster soybean resilience against Al toxicity by enriching soil nutrients, activating enzymes, and bolstering antioxidant mechanisms. We also observed that it enriched root endophytic microbial diversity, notably increasing populations of Nakamurella, Aureimonas, Luteimonas, and Sphingomonas. These changes in the endophytes contributed to the improved adaptability of plants to adversity under Al toxicity. This study highlighted the potential of using ZnO NPs and BC as a sustainable approach to combat Al toxicity, emphasizing the intricate interplay between plant physiology and rhizosphere microbial dynamics in mitigating the effects of environmental toxicity.

Mechanistic understanding of the biochar-induced inhibition of growth and soil phosphorus solubilization by Bacillus megaterium

Due to the complex composition of biochar and the potential interactions between the components that jointly make up biochar, previous studies have always shown controversial results regarding impacts of biochar on soil phosphorus (P) solubilization. Using a nested experimental design, this study investigated the effects of different components of biochar, i.e. whole biochar (BC), dissolved biochar (DBC) and washed biochar (WBC) on the microbial-mediated P solubilizing process. The growth of Bacillus megaterium, acid/alkaline phosphatase activity, differential metabolites of bacteria and metabolic pathways were measured in treatments with biochar pyrolyzed at 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 °C. Results showed that BC, DBC and WBC all negatively affected the growth and alkaline phosphatase activity of B. megaterium, and BC500/WBC500 and BC400/WBC400 had the greatest impacts. The negative effects of high-temperature biochar on cell proliferation were caused by persistent free radicals and included down-regulation of histidine metabolism by BC400 and interference in nucleotide metabolism by BC600. The impacts of low-temperature biochar on cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity were highly related to the metal content. Using the independent action model, antagonistic effects were found between DBC and WBC on inhibiting B. megaterium growth, while these biochars had synergistic effects on inhibition of alkaline phosphatase activity. Overall, this study provides insights on how biochar adversely modulates microbial-mediated P solubilization.

Investigating the effects of biochars and zeolites in anaerobic digestion and co-digestion of cassava wastewater with livestock manure

Investigating the effects of biochars and zeolites in anaerobic digestion and co-digestion of cassava wastewater with livestock manure

Biochar as a strategy to manage stem rot disease of groundnut incited by Sclerotium rolfsii

Due to the pathogen’s ability to survive in the soil for longer durations, soil-borne diseases are often difficult to control. This study investigates the multifaceted impacts of biochar on the management of stem rot disease in groundnut and its influence on soil properties and microbial communities. The effects of biochar at different concentrations, such as 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% on groundnut stem rot disease incited by Sclerotium rolfsii were evaluated thoroughly. Under laboratory conditions, biochar exhibited no direct inhibitory effects on S. rolfsii at varying concentrations but revealed an indirect suppression of sclerotial body production, suggesting a concentration-dependent influence on pathogen resting structures. Further, it was observed that biochar treatments effectively delayed symptom onset and reduced disease progression in groundnut plants, with significant variation observed among genotypes and biochar concentrations. Notably, interactions involving genotypes ICGV 171002 and ICGV 181035 with BC2 + Sr (3% conc. of biochar + S. rolfsii) and BC3 + Sr (5% conc. of biochar + S. rolfsii) treatments showed superior efficacy in disease reduction under controlled conditions. Field evaluations confirmed these findings, highlighting genotype-specific responses to biochar treatments. However, no significant difference was observed between BC2 + Sr (3%) and BC3 + Sr (5%) treatments in managing stem rot disease compared to controls. Biochar application significantly increased soil nutrient levels, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and increased soil organic matter content, EC, pH, emphasizing its potential to improve soil fertility. Overall, these findings highlight the potential benefits of biochar for sustainable agriculture through disease management, soil nutrient enrichment, and microbial modulation, warranting further investigation into optimal application strategies across different agricultural contexts.

Study on the Adhesion Performance of Biochar-Modified Asphalt Based on Surface Free Energy and Atomic Force Microscopy

To investigate the effect of biochar on the adhesion performance of asphalt, the macroscopic and microscopic adhesion performance of 70# base asphalt, SBS-modified asphalt (SBSMA), sludge-based biochar-modified asphalt, and waste wood-based biochar-modified asphalt (WWBMA) were tested using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle tests, respectively. The impact of these two testing methods on the evaluation of adhesion performance was also analyzed. Research results indicated that biochar increased the number of bee-like structures on the asphalt surface while significantly reducing their average area. This improves the distribution of asphalt adhesion by reducing the adhesion difference between bee-like structured areas and non-bee-like structured areas while simultaneously enhancing the overall adhesion of the asphalt surface. Surface free energy (SFE) theory analysis indicates a linear correlation between the SFE obtained from the contact angle test and the atomic force microscopy test. Biochar significantly increases the SFE of asphalt and its components, thereby increasing the work of adhesion between asphalt and aggregate and reducing the work of debonding. Consequently, it improves the bonding performance between asphalt and aggregate, as well as its resistance to moisture damage.

Effects of Applying Organic Amendments on Soil Aggregate Structure and Tomato Yield in Facility Agriculture.

Amendment significantly improves soil structure and promotes crop growth. To combat soil degradation and low crop yields in facility agriculture, it is crucial to study the optimal application rate of amendments. This study analyzed the effects of biochar, vermicompost, and mineral-source potassium fulvic acid on the stability of aggregate structure, soil nutrient content, and tomato yield in cambisols, providing a theoretical basis for improving the soil quality of plastic greenhouses in Southern China. A pot experiment on tomato cultivation was carried out in yellow-brown soil in plastic greenhouses. The experiment included eight treatments: 1% biochar (B1); 3% biochar (B3); 5% biochar (B5); 3% vermicompost (V3); 5% vermicompost (V5); 0.1% mineral-source potassium fulvic acid (F1); 0.2% mineral-source potassium fulvic acid (F2); and the control condition without adding soil amendments (CK). The results showed that the biochar and vermicompost treatments effectively reduced soil bulk density and increased total soil porosity. Compared to the control, treatments with soil amendments significantly increased soil pH and had different effects on soil nutrients: F2 showed the most significant improvement in the content of available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium, with an increase of 133.33%, 834.59%, and 74.34%, respectively; B3 treatment had the highest increase in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), while B5 treatment had the highest organic matter content. Compared to the CK, the particle size of the biochar treatment was mainly 0.053~0.25 mm, while the V3, F1, and F2 mainly occurred with a particle size > 0.25 mm; and V3 has the best aggregate stability. Biochar, vermicompost, and mineral potassium fulvic acid can all promote tomato yield, with the F2 and V3 treatments having a yield increase effect of over 30%. Furthermore, Pearson's correlation analysis showed a highly significant positive correlation between geometric mean diameter (GMD) and mean weight diameter (MWD), water-stable macroaggregate content (R0.25), and a positive correlation between alkaline-dissolved nitrogen, available phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon content, and aggregate stability indicators. Adding 0.2% mineral-source potassium fulvic acid optimizes cambisols' properties, enhances aggregate formation and stability, boosts tomato yield, and shows great application potential.