Short-term Effects Of Biochar Research Articles

Short-term effects of biochar and cake fertilizer on soil properties, plant growth, and fruit quality of Nanfeng tangerine

Short-term effects of biochar and cake fertilizer on soil properties, plant growth, and fruit quality of Nanfeng tangerine

Short-term effects of biochar and gypsum on soil hydraulic properties and sodicity in a saline-alkali soil

Salt and sodicity of saline-alkali soil adversely affect the construction of ecological landscapes and negatively impact crop production. The reclamation potential of biochar (BC, wheat straw biochar applied at 1% by weight), gypsum (G, 0.4% by weight), and gypsum coupled with biochar (GBC) was examined in this laboratory-based study by evaluating their effects on a saline-alkali soil (silt loam) with no amendment as a control (CK). Saline ice and fresh water (simulated rainfall) were leached through soil columns to investigate changes in salt content, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), alkalinity, and pH of the leachate and the soil. Results showed that saturated water content and field water capacity (FWC) significantly increased by 4.4% and 5.6%, respectively, in the BC treatment after a short incubation time. Co-application of biochar and gypsum (GBC) increased soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) by 58.4%, which was also significantly higher than the sole addition. Electrical conductivity (EC) of the leachate decreased sharply after saline ice leaching; subsequent freshwater leaching accelerated the removal of the rest of the salts, irrespective of the amendment application. However, the application of gypsum (G and GB) significantly enhanced the removal of exchangeable Na+ and reduced leachate SAR. After leaching, the soil salt content decreased significantly for all treatments. The application of gypsum resulted in a significantly lower soil pH, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), SAR, and alkalinity values than those recorded for the CK and BC treatments. These results demonstrated that the co-application of gypsum and biochar could improve saline-alkali soil hydraulic conductivity and decrease leaching-induced sodicity over a short period.

Short-term effects of biochar on soil CO2 efflux in boreal Scots pine forests

Key messageDuring the first summer, wood biochar amendments increased soil temperature, pH, and soil CO2effluxes in a xeric boreal Scots pine forest. The increase of soil CO2efflux could be largely explained by increases in by soil temperature. Higher biochar application rates (1.0 vs 0.5 kg m−2) led to higher soil CO2efflux while the pyrolysis temperature of biochar (500 or 650 °C) had no effect on soil CO2efflux.ContextUsing biochar as a soil amendment has been proposed to increase the carbon sequestration in soils. However, a more rapid soil organic matter turnover after biochar application might reduce the effectiveness of biochar applications for carbon sequestration. By raising the pyrolysis temperature, biochar with lower contents of labile carbohydrates can be produced.AimsTo better understand the effects of biochar on boreal forest soil, we applied two spruce biochar with different pyrolysis temperatures (500 °C and 650 °C) at amounts of 1.0 and 0.5 kg m−2 in a young xeric Scots pine forest in southern Finland.MethodsSoil CO2, microbial biomass, and physiochemical properties were measured to track changes after biochar application during the first summer.ResultsSoil CO2 increased 14.3% in 1.0 kg m−2 treatments and 4.6% in 0.5 kg m−2. Soil temperature and pH were obviously higher in the 1.0 kg m−2 treatments. Differences in soil CO2 among treatments disappear after correcting by soil temperature and soil moisture.ConclusionBiochar increased soil CO2 mainly by raising soil temperature in the short term. Higher biochar application rates led to higher soil CO2 effluxes. The increase in soil CO2 efflux may be transient. More studies are needed to get the optimum biochar amount for carbon sequestration in boreal forest.

Short term effects of biochar with different particle sizes on phosphorous availability and microbial communities

Despite the increasing interest for biochar as a soil amendment, a knowledge gap remains on different particle size of biochar on soil phosphorous (P) availability and its impacts on microbial community. We hypothesized that biochar particle size and incubation temperature can significantly influence soil P availability and microbial community in subtropical acidic soil. A laboratory incubation study was established to investigate the effects of soil pH, available P and soil microbial responses to biochar addition having varying particle sizes using paddy soil and red soil under different incubation temperatures (15 °C & 25 °C). Biochar produced via pyrolysis of spent mushroom substrate feedstock was sieved into three particle sizes ((≤0.5 mm (fine), 0.5–1.0 mm (medium) and 1.0–2.0 mm (large)). The results exhibited that the fine particle biochar resulted in significantly higher release of P, soil pH, available P and bacterial species richness while simultaneously reducing the activities of phosphatase enzyme in both soils. Apprehending the impact of biochar particle size and incubation temperature, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) predicted that soil microbial communities with fine particle biochar and high incubation temperature (25 °C) clustered separately. Redundancy analysis depicted that fine particle biochar had a direct association with available P and soil pH while high incubation temperature depicted a strong affinity for microbial communities. Hence, it is suggested that fine particle biochar and high incubation temperature may provide better habitat for microorganisms compared to the other particle sizes which may be due to improved soil pH and available P. However, a long term study of different biochar particles application in subtropical acidic soil needs to be pursued further for a more comprehensive understanding on this issue.

Short-term effects of biochar and Bacillus pumilus TUAT-1 on the growth of forage rice and its associated soil microbial community and soil properties

The synergistic effects of biochar (BC) and plant growth-promoting bacteria inoculant on crop growth and microbial communities’ composition in the rhizosphere and endorhizosphere (roots) of forage rice were examined under a short-term greenhouse condition. We performed in-pot experiments to evaluate the effects of BC and Bacillus pumilus strain TUAT-1 inoculant (Bio), both alone and in combination (BB), on the growth and microbial community of rhizosphere and roots in forage rice at 2 and 5 weeks after transplantation. At both growth stages, rice growth was improved by either BC or Bio alone. TUAT-1 was readily detected in rhizosphere with greater abundance following BB treatment than after Bio treatment alone. The bacterial communities of the rhizosphere, non-rhizosphere soil (un-planted bulk), and endorhizosphere of roots were determined using next-generation sequencing. Compared with the microbial community and diversity in the rhizosphere and endorhizosphere of roots, BC had greater effects on rhizosphere than on endorhizosphere, whereas Bio more effectively altered the microbial communities of the endorhizosphere layer of roots. Soil properties (pH and total N, exchangeable NH4-N, and K levels) were improved by either BC or Bio alone, suggesting that the changes of soil microbial communities might occur directly or indirectly as an effect of the alteration of soil physico-chemical properties. Overall, the result from this study suggests that biochar amendment and TUAT-1 inoculant have the potential to enhance growth and nutrient uptake in forage rice, and they depend on soil physico-chemical properties and the alteration of native microbial communities’ composition.

Short-term effects of biochar on soil CO2 efflux in boreal Scots pine forests

Short-term effects of biochar on soil CO2 efflux in boreal Scots pine forests

Two-year study of biochar: Achieving excellent capability of potassium supply via alter clay mineral composition and potassium-dissolving bacteria activity

At present, there has been renewed interest in biochar research, but most of them were focused on the short-term effects of biochar and the information of long-term application of biochar is still lacking. In addition, the nutrient mechanism of biochar has rarely been the subject of research. This research explored the effect of potassium (K) nutrient and the response of bacterial communities to biochar in yellow-brown soil based on two-year experiment. In this study, we used peanut shell biochar obtained by pyrolysis at 400 °C, and at the same time, 0%, 20%, 40%, 100% conventional potassium fertilizer were used. The results indicated that the effective improvement of biochar on acidic soil was long-term and 2% biochar replaced 40% conventional potassium fertilizer. Biochar accelerated the conversion of slowly-available K to available K by changing the composition of clay minerals and promoting the growth of K-dissolving bacteria. From the perspective of bacterial community, biochar significantly increased the relative abundance of Sphingomonas, Gaiella, and Elev-16S-1332, which improved the potential ability of soil to degrade pollutants and inhibit pathogens. The pH, organic matter, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and available phosphorus and potassium were important environmental factors that caused significant effects in the bacterial community of yellow-brown soil. Overall, the study demonstrates that biochar is not only an effective alternative to potash fertilizer but also improves soil bacterial communities.

An Investigation Into the Short-Term Effects of Biochar on Nitrate Leaching From Artificial Columns of Sand

Leaching of NO3 has been shown to be a major problem in coarse-textured sandy soils. It has been suggested that biochar application to sandy soils could reduce leaching of NO3. However, how biochar could be used to provide short-term NO3 leaching reduction in sandy soils has received little research attention. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if and how biochar could be used to reduce NO3 leaching from artificial columns of sand (sandy soil). To achieve this, a simple assay was developed in a controlled temperature room to assess the short-term impacts of biochar on NO3 leaching from a column containing sand. The capacity to pick-up variations in NO3 leaching pattern from the sand columns based on the concentrations of the NO3 solutions used to perfuse the sand columns, as well as, the rate at which these solutions were perfused through the sand columns using this approach was initially established. A pulse chase experiment showed that the NO3 was very mobile, and once the supply was removed, the column of sand rapidly lost the NO3. The exception appears to the inclusion of biochar where this process is slowed down, but eventually the sand column lost all the NO3. When oak biochar produced through high temperature pyrolysis (500-600 oC) by a commercial producer (Humko, d.o.o., Bled Sheenjek, Slovenija) was applied to the sand columns at a rate of 10% (w/w), the pattern of NO3 leaching was modified. Biochar appeared to delay NO3 leaching from the sand. The extent of this delay, and how it may influence NO3 availability in the soil for plant uptake requires further research.

Short-term effects of biochar and salinity on soil greenhouse gas emissions from a semi-arid Australian soil after re-wetting

Arid and semi-arid soils often show a pulse of soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions upon re-wetting – whether from irrigation water or rainfall. We used a laboratory incubation to elucidate interactions of salinity, biochar amendment, and simulated wetting intensity in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) in a semi-arid Australian soil. A factorial experimental design was used with three main factors: irrigation water salinity (using NaCl, control or ~0.9dSm−1, 5dSm−1 and 10dSm−1), biochar amendment (0% and 5% by mass of Eucalyputs polybractea biochar) and soil moisture (25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of water-holding capacity, WHC – a proxy for wetting intensity after irrigation or rainfall). The strongest single regulating variable of rates of soil CO2 emission was WHC (+171% increase between 25% and 100% WHC). Salinity reduced CO2 emissions (relative to controls) by −19% at 5dSm−1 and −28% at 10dSm−1. Soils amended with biochar produced less (−10%) CO2 emissions. All treatments showed negative CH4 emissions (or CH4 oxidation) that were only influenced by WHC. Soil N2O emissions increased with salinity (+60%), while biochar additions reduced them slightly (−12%). N2O emissions were not influenced by WHC. Overall, results showed that biochar additions can mitigate some of the “pulse” effects of rainfall on emissions (~10% in term of global warming potential across all treatments).

Short-term effects of biochar on grapevine fine root dynamics and arbuscular mycorrhizae production

Application of biochar to the soil is globally recognised as a means to improve soil structure and fertility, increase carbon sequestration, enhance crop production and mitigate climate change. However, although the fine root system is fundamental for plant growth, crop productivity, carbon and nutrient cycling, little is known about the effect of biochar on plant fine roots. This study, conducted in a Montepulciano (Vitis vinifera L.) vineyard, was aimed at investigating the impact of biochar application (at the rate of 10tha−1) on soil chemical and physical properties, fine root dynamics and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) production during a one-year sampling period. To this aim, seasonal variation of fine root mass, length and diameter was measured by the sequential coring technique, whereas fine root annual production was calculated by minimum-maximum procedure and turnover rate of live roots by maximum standing biomass. For AMF annual production, in-growth mesh bags were used to measure glomalin as quantitative indicator of mycorrhizae presence. Results showed that biochar significantly increased organic carbon (20.7%), available ammonium (84.4%), and available water content of the soil (11.8%), while it also promoted the formation of the large fraction of macro aggregates (ø>2mm; 3.1% control; 5.5% treated). Cation exchange capacity, pH, total nitrogen content, and total and available phosphorus content remained unaffected. Immediately after biochar soil amendment, while fine root length remained unchanged, a significant increase in fine root biomass was measured resulting in a higher mean annual biomass (8.56gm−2 control; 13.34gm−2 treated), annual production (8.71gm−2 control; 12.7gm−2 treated) and lifespan (as evidenced by a lower turnover rate; 1.02 yr−1 control; 0.95 yr−1 treated). Moreover, the increase of fine root biomass resulted to be associated with radial growth since mean fine root diameter was significantly higher in biochar-treated plants (0.56mm) than in control plants (0.46mm). Biochar had no significant effect on the annual production of AMF. The results of the present study show that the improvements of soil chemical and physical features due to biochar application have an immediate effect on fine root dynamics and morphology. Furthermore, the increase of fine root biomass is mainly due to radial growth and occurs during the water shortage period, supporting fruit setting and ripening in grapevine plants.

Short-term effects of biochar on soil properties and wheat yield formation with meat bone meal and inorganic fertiliser on a boreal loamy sand

Poor water retention capacity (WRC) and nutrient deficiency commonly limit crop yields in sandy soils. The use of biochar as a soil amendment has been previously reported to improve these limiting factors in subtropical and temperate soils. We studied the effects of biochar on soil properties and yield formation of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) when applied together with inorganic fertiliser or meat bone meal (MBM) to an Endogleyic Umbrisol with a loamy sand texture in boreal conditions. In a two-year field experiment, biochar was applied at 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30tha−1 combined with three fertiliser treatments (unfertilised control, MBM and inorganic fertiliser) providing equal amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Soil WRC and fertility as well as wheat yield, yield components and quality were analysed. Soil moisture content, leaf area index and leaf chlorophyll values (SPAD) were monitored during the experiment. Biochar increased the plant-available water content of the topsoil in the first year and reduced the bulk density in the second year after application. It also increased the contents of easily soluble K and soil organic C (SOC) in the 20cm of topsoil, but had no effects on other soil nutrients, pH or moisture content. Biochar amendment decreased the soil NO3−-N content below control values in the first year but increased it significantly in the second year. The addition of biochar did not significantly affect the nitrogen uptake, grain yield or quality of wheat, possibly because of its low nutrient availability and the high organic matter content of the soil.

Maize biochars accelerate short-term soil nitrogen dynamics in a loamy sand soil

Biochar addition to soils has been proposed as a means to increase soil fertility and carbon sequestration. However, its effect on soil nitrogen (N) cycling and N availability is poorly understood. To gain better insight into the short-term effects of biochar on gross N transformation processes, a 15N tracing experiment in combination with numerical data analysis was conducted. An arable loamy sand soil was used and mixed with two silage maize biochars, produced at 350 °C and 550 °C. The results showed accelerated soil N cycling following biochar addition, with increased gross N mineralization (185–221%), nitrification (10–69%) and ammonium (NH4+) consumption rates (333–508%). Moreover, transfer of N from a recalcitrant soil organic N (Nrec) pool to a more labile soil organic N (Nlab) pool was observed. In the control treatment, 8% of the NH4+ mineralized from Nlab was immobilized to the Nrec pool. In contrast, 79% and 55% of the NH4+ mineralized from Nrec were immobilized to the Nlab pool in the treatment with biochar-350 °C and biochar-550 °C, respectively. NH4+–N was adsorbed quickly to biochar at the start of the experiment, thereby buffering plant-available N. In conclusion, these types of biochar accelerated soil N transformations in the short term, thereby increasing soil N bio-availability, through a combined effect of mineralization of the recalcitrant soil organic N pool and subsequent NH4+ immobilization in a labile soil organic N pool.