The environmental benefits of biochar application, ranging from improvements in crop yield to global change mitigation, have been extensively studied in the last decade. However, such benefits have not been profusely demonstrated under a Mediterranean climate and still less in combination with high pH soils. In our study, the short to medium effects of biochar application on a soil-plant system under Mediterranean conditions in an alkaline soil were assessed.
Material and methodsBarley plants were grown in field mesocosms during three agronomical years at three biochar addition rates (0, 5, and 30 t ha?1). Related to soil, different physicochemical parameters were analyzed as well as microbial respiration, biomass, and functional diversity. In the plant domain, in vivo ecophysiology variables such as leaf transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis rate were determined while photosynthetic pigment content and soluble protein concentrations were measured in the laboratory. Additionally, crop yield and nutrient composition were also analyzed. The soil-plant connection was investigated by the N content ratio in both fractions establishing the nitrogen efficiency in the system.
Results and discussionThe highest rate of biochar amendment enhanced soil moisture and electrical conductivity combined with an increase of SO42?, Cl?, Mg2+, and K+, and decrease of NO3? and HPO4?. Notable variations regarding nutrition and moisture were induced in this Mediterranean alkaline soil after biochar addition although pH remained stable. Contrastingly, there were no major effects on microbial activity, but a lower abundance of the nosZ functional gene was found. Similarly, plant parameters were unaffected regarding chemical composition and ecophysiology although biochar induced a higher efficiency in the plant nitrogen uptake without increasing crop yield.
ConclusionsBiochar addition at the highest rate (30 t ha?1) reduced soil-soluble nitrate although N uptake by the plant remained invariable, in turn coupled to no effects on crop productivity. Our study showed that, in a Mediterranean agroecosystem, a wood biochar produced by gasification was unable to increase crop yield, but enhanced soil water retention, decreased the need for N fertilization, and decreased soil-soluble nitrate concentrations, something that could help to mitigate the excessive nitrate levels associated with over-fertilization.
相似文献Recent research suggests that Swedish organic arable soils have been under-recognized as a potential source of phosphorus (P) loading to water bodies. The aim of this study was to compare P losses through leaching from organic and high-fertility mineral soils. In addition, the effectiveness of a magnesium-salt-coated biochar applied below the topsoil as a mitigation strategy for reducing P losses was evaluated.
Materials and methodsPhosphorus leaching was measured from four medium- to high-P arable soils, two Typic Haplosaprists (organic 1 and 2), a Typic Hapludalf (sand), and an unclassified loam textured soil (loam), in a 17-month field study utilizing 90-cm-long lysimeters. A magnesium-salt-coated biochar was produced and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XPD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray adsorption (XANES) spectroscopy, and its phosphate adsorption capacity was determined at laboratory scale. It was also applied as a 3-cm layer, 27 cm below the soil surface of the same lysimeters and examined as a mitigation measure to reduce P leaching.
Results and discussionTotal-P loads from the 17-month, unamended lysimeters were in the order of organic 2 (1.2 kg ha?1)?>?organic 1 (1.0 kg ha?1)?>?sand (0.3 kg ha?1)?>?loam (0.2 kg ha?1). Macropore flow, humic matter competition for sorption sites, and fewer sorption sites likely caused higher P losses from the organic soils. Analysis by XRD and SEM revealed magnesium was primarily deposited as periclase (MgO) on the biochar surface but hydrated to brucite (Mg(OH)2) in water. The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) of the coated biochar was 65.4 mg P g?1. Lysimeters produced mixed results, with a 74% (P?<?0.05), 51% (NS), and 30% (NS) reduction in phosphate-P from the organic 1, organic 2, and sand, respectively, while P leaching increased by 230% (NS) from the loam.
ConclusionsThe findings of this study indicate that P leached from organic arable soils can be greater than from mineral soils, and therefore, these organic soils require further investigation into reducing their P losses. Metal-enriched biochar, applied as an adsorptive layer below the topsoil, has the potential to reduce P losses from medium- to high-P organic soils but appear to be less useful in mineral soils.
相似文献Soil chromium (Cr) pollution has received substantial attention owing to related food chain health risks and possible promotion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The aim of the present study was to develop a promising remediation technology to alleviate Cr bioavailability and decrease GHG emissions in Cr-polluted paddy soil.
Materials and methodsWe investigated the potential role of biochar amendment in decreasing soil CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions, as well in reducing Cr uptake by rice grains at application rates of 0 t ha?1 (CK), 20 t ha?1 (BC20), and 40 t ha?1 (BC40) in Cr-polluted paddy soil in southeastern China. In addition, the soil aggregate size distribution, soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration of soil aggregates, soil available Cr concentration, and rice yield were analyzed after harvesting.
Results and discussionBiochar amendment significantly reduced CO2, CH4, and N2O emission fluxes. Compared to CK, total C emissions in the BC20 and BC40 treatments decreased by 9.94% and 17.13% for CO2-C, by 30.46% and 37.10% for CH4-C, and by 34.24% and 37.49% for N2O-N, respectively. Biochar amendment increased the proportion of both the 2000–200 μm and 200–20 μm size fractions in the soil aggregate distribution. Accordingly, the organic carbon concentration of these fractions increased, which increased the total SOC. Moreover, biochar amendment significantly decreased soil available Cr concentration and total Cr content of the rice grains by 33.6% and 14.81% in BC20 and 48.1% and 33.33% in BC40, respectively. Rice yield did not differ significantly between biochar amendment treatment and that of CK.
ConclusionsBiochar application reduced GHG emissions in paddy soil, which was attributed to its comprehensive effect on the soil properties, soil microbial community, and soil aggregates, as well as on the mobility of Cr. Overall, the present study demonstrates that biochar has a great potential to enhance soil carbon sequestration while reducing Cr accumulation in rice grains from Cr-polluted rice paddies.
相似文献Biochar has agronomic potential but currently is too expensive for widespread adoption. New methodologies are emerging to reduce the cost such as enriching biochar with nutrients that match crops and soil requirements. However, the effects of biochar-based fertilisers on plant yield and soil nutrient availability have not been widely examined. This study investigated the effects of a novel organo-mineral biochar fertiliser in comparison to organic and commercial biochar fertiliser on ginger (Zingiber officinale Canton).
Materials and methodsThere were four treatments: (1) commercial organic fertiliser (5 t ha?1), as the control; (2) commercial biochar-based fertiliser (5 t ha?1); (3) organo-mineral biochar fertiliser at low rate (3 t ha?1); and (4) organo-mineral biochar fertiliser at high rate (7.5 t ha?1). A replicated pot trial was established with black dermosol soil and ten replicate pots for each treatment. Ginger was planted and grown for 30 weeks. Plant growth, biomass, foliar nutrients and water extractable soil nutrients including phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) were examined.
Results and discussionHigh rate organo-mineral biochar fertiliser increased soil P and K availability at week 30 (harvest) after planting, compared to all other treatments and low rate organo-mineral biochar fertiliser performed similarly to the organic control for P and K. High rate organo-mineral biochar fertiliser increased total foliar nutrient content at week 30 in P, K and Ca compared to commercial biochar fertiliser. High rate organo-mineral biochar fertiliser improved the commercial value of ginger (+?36%) due to a shift in the proportion of higher grade rhizomes. Low rate organo-mineral biochar fertiliser plants displayed similar yield, total dry and aboveground biomass to commercial organic fertiliser. Commercial biochar fertiliser had significantly lower biomass measures compared with other treatments as the rate applied had lower nutrient concentrations.
ConclusionsOur results show organo-mineral biochar fertilisers could be substituted for commercial organic fertilisers at low rates to maintain similar yield or applied at high rates to increase commercial value where economically feasible.
相似文献Humic substances, which are integral components of total organic carbon (TOC), influence soil quality. The study aimed to investigate whether humic and non-humic fractions exhibit early, consistent, and measurable changes and affect TOC sensitivity and storage in a tropical sandy loam soils amended with corn cob biochar.
Materials and methodsThere were four treatments with four replicates established in a randomized complete block design. Composite soil samples were taken from plots without biochar (CT), from plots incorporated with 15 t biochar ha?1 (BC-15), and 30 t biochar ha?1 without or with phosphate fertilizer (BC-30 and BC-30+P). The TOC, and humin, humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (HA) fractions of soil organic carbon were determined for each treatment. The optical densities (400–700 nm) were measured on the soil-free extracts by spectrophotometry; the densities measured at 465 and 665 nm were used to calculate the E465/E665 ratios.
Results and discussionThe BC-30 and BC-30+P plots recorded the highest TOC, humin, humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (FA) contents with respect to the lowest in the CT. The total exchangeable carbon stratification was significantly higher in all the biochar-treated plots relative to the CT. Spectral analysis showed higher values of E465/E665 (5.02 and 5.15) in the CT and BC-15-treated soils, respectively, compared with the BC-30 and BC-30+P-amended soils with E465/E665 ratios of 2.76 and 2.98, respectively.
ConclusionsCorn cob biochar applied to a tropical sandy loam:
? increased the concentrations of HA and FA and led to increased stratification of TOC, with a stronger effect on HA compared with FA;
? significantly lowered E465/E665 at the high biochar application rate of 30 t ha?1, implying the dominance of high molecular weight humic acid-like substances, and increased degree of aromaticity of the TOC.
相似文献The aim of this research was to quantify the effect of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) on soil nitrification rate, functional gene abundance of soil ammonia oxidisers, and the concomitant effect on nitrous oxide emissions from urine patches in a shallow, free-draining soil in Canterbury during late autumn/winter season.
Materials and methodsUrine was collected from dairy cows grazing either ryegrass/white clover (RGWC), 30% plantain (P30) mixed in with RGWC or 100% plantain (P100) pasture, and applied at two rates (700 or 450 kg N ha?1) to intact soil blocks growing either RGWC, P30 or P100 pasture.
Results and discussionResults showed that increased plantain content reduced N-concentration in urine from 7.2 in RGWC urine to 4.5 and 3.7 g N L?1 in P30 and P100 urine, respectively. Total N2O emissions and emission factors (EF3) from urine-treated pastures were low, <?2 kg N ha?1 and <?0.22%, respectively. Urine application at the lower urine N-loading rate of 450 kg N ha?1 (i.e. representative of that in a P30 urine patch) resulted in 30% lower N2O emissions (P?<?0.01) and 35% lower soil nitrate concentrations (P?<?0.001) compared to those at the higher urine loading rate of 700 kg N ha?1 (i.e. representative of that in a RGWC urine patch). Increasing plantain content in the pasture sward from 0 to 30% and 100% with urine N applied at the same loading rate did not reduce N2O emissions or nitrification compared to the standard ryegrass-white clover pasture. Cow urine derived from the different pasture diets had no effect on N2O emissions, N transformation or ammonia-oxidiser abundance in soil compared to the RGWC urine applied at the same rate.
ConclusionsThe main effect of plantain in this study appears to be related to the reduction in urine N-loading rate, rather than factors related to urine properties or plantain-soil interactions.
相似文献The aim of the research was to assess the effect of biochar addition on aging, degradation, and sorption processes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to soil organic matter. The study was carried out as a sorption experiment in strictly controlled water and air conditions, which allowed for the accurate observation and prediction of PAH behavior in soils.
Materials and methodsFour soils were fortified with a PAH mixture (Fluorene-Flu, Anthracene-Ant, Phenanthrene-Phe, Pyrene-Pyr, Chrysene-Chry) at 20 mg kg?1 of single-compound concentration level. The experiment was carried out in two trials: soils?+?5PAHs amended with biochar and soil?+?5PAHs without biochar addition with incubation times of 0, 1, 3, 6, and 9 months. After each interval time, the extractable (E-SOM) and stable organic matter (S-SOM) were measured as well as PAHs determined in two forms: total concentration (PAH-tot) and residual concentration (PAH-rest) after E-SOM extraction. The PAH loss and half-life times were estimated according to pseudo first-order kinetics equation.
Results and discussionThe amounts of PAH-tot in the soils without biochar decreased by an average of 92%, while in soil with biochar, this was 41% after 9 months of aging. The amount of PAHs-rest bounded with S-SOM after 9 months of incubation varied from 0.9 to 3.5% and 0.2 to 1.3% of the initial PAH concentration, respectively, for soils non-induced and induced by biochar. In soils without biochar, Flu, Ant, Phe, and Pyr exhibited similar T1/2 (43–59 days), but Chry was characterized by a much higher and broader T1/2 than other hydrocarbons (67–280 days). Biochar addition to the soils significantly influenced the half-life changes for all PAHs. The highest changes were noted for Phe (14-fold increase), and the lowest was for Flu (7-fold increase).
ConclusionsThe addition of exogenous-rich carbon material such as biochar to the soil significantly changes the behavior and sorption potential of PAHs in the soil. Soils enriched with biochar are characterized by a higher persistence of PAHs, longer aging time, and lower affinity for sorption by native organic matter structures. Soils freshly polluted by PAH are mainly sorbed by E-SOM, which significantly increases their accessibility and reduces formation of bound-residues in the soil.
相似文献The majority of biochar studies use soils with only a narrow range of properties making generalizations about the effects of biochar on soils difficult. In this study, we aimed to identify soil properties that determine the performance of biochar produced at high temperature (700 °C) on soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and exchangeable base cation (Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+) content across a wide range of soil physicochemical properties.
Materials and methodsTen distinct soils with varying physicochemical properties were incubated for 12 weeks with four rates of biochar application (0.5, 2, 4, and 8% w/w). Soil pH, CEC, and exchangeable base cations (Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+) were determined on the 7th and 84th day of incubation.
Results and discussionOur results indicate that the highest biochar application rate (8%) was more effective at altering soil properties than lower biochar rates. Application of 8% biochar increased pH significantly in all incubated soils, with the increment ranging up to 1.17 pH unit. Biochar induced both an increment and a decline in soil CEC ranging up to 35.4 and 7.9%, respectively, at a biochar application rate of 8%. Similarly, biochar induced increments in exchangeable Ca2+ up to 38.6% and declines up to 11.4%, at an 8% biochar application rate. The increment in CEC and exchangeable Ca2+ content was found in soils with lower starting exchangeable Ca2+ contents than the biochar added, while decreases were observed in soils with higher exchangeable Ca2+ contents than the biochar. The original pH, CEC, exchangeable Ca2+, and texture of the soils represented the most crucial factors for determining the amount of change in soil pH, CEC, and exchangeable Ca2+ content.
ConclusionsOur findings clearly demonstrate that application of a uniform biochar to a range of soils under equivalent environmental conditions induced two contradicting effects on soil properties including soil CEC and exchangeable Ca2+ content. Therefore, knowledge of both biochar and soil properties will substantially improve prediction of biochar application efficiency to improve soil properties. Among important soil properties, soil exchangeable Ca2+ content is the primary factor controlling the direction of biochar-induced change in soil CEC and exchangeable Ca2+ content. Generally, biochar can induce changes in soil pH, CEC, and exchangeable Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+ with the effectiveness and magnitude of change closely related to the soil’s original properties.
相似文献Accelerated erosion removes fertile top soil along with nutrients through runoff and sediments, eventually affecting crop productivity and land degradation. However, scanty information is available on soil and nutrient losses under different crop covers in a vertisol of Central India. Thus, a field experiment was conducted for 4 years (2010–2013) to study the effect of different crop cover combinations on soil and nutrient losses through runoff in a vertisol.
Materials and methodsVery limited information is available on runoff, soil, and nutrient losses under different vegetative covers in a rainfed vertisol. Thus, the hypothesis of the study was to evaluate if different crop cover combinations would have greater impact on reducing soil and nutrient losses compared to control plots in a vertisol.
This experiment consisted of seven treatment combinations of crop covers namely soybean (Glycine max) (CC1), maize (Zea mays) (CC2), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) (CC3), soybean (Glycine max)?+?maize (Zea mays) ??1:1 (CC4), soybean (Glycine ma x))?+?pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) ?2:1 (CC5), maize (Zea mays)?+?pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) ??1:1 (CC6), and cultivated fallow (CC7). The plot size was 10?×?5 m with 1% slope, and runoff and soil loss were measured using multi-slot devisor. All treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replications.
Results and discussionResults demonstrated that the runoff and soil loss were significantly (p?<?0.05) higher (289 mm and 3.92 Mg ha?1) under cultivated fallow than those in cropped plots. Among various crop covers, sole pigeon pea (CC3) recorded significantly higher runoff and soil loss (257 mm and 3.16 Mg ha?1) followed by that under sole maize (CC2) (235 mm and 2.85 Mg ha?1) and the intercrops were in the order of maize?+?pigeon pea (211 mm and 2.47 Mg ha?1) followed by soybean?+?maize (202 mm and 2.38 Mg ha?1), and soybean?+?pigeon pea (195 mm and 2.15 Mg ha?1). The lowest runoff and soil loss were recorded under soybean sole crop (194 mm and 2.27 Mg ha?1). The data on nutrient losses indicated that the highest losses of soil organic carbon (SOC) (25.83 kg ha?1), total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) (7.76, 0.96, 32.5 kg ha?1) were recorded in cultivated fallow (CC7) as compared to those from sole and intercrop treatments. However, sole soybean and its intercrops recorded the minimum losses of SOC and total N, P, and K, whereas the maximum losses of nutrients were recorded under pigeon pea (CC3). The system productivity in terms of soybean grain equivalent yield (SGEY) was higher (p?<?0.05) from maize?+?pigeon pea (3358 kg ha?1) followed by that for soybean?+?pigeon pea (2191 kg ha?1) as compared to sole soybean. Therefore, maize?+?pigeon pea (1:1) intercropping is the promising option in reducing runoff, soil-nutrient losses, and enhancing crop productivity in the hot sub-humid eco-region.
ConclusionsStudy results highlight the need for maintenance of suitable vegetative cover as of great significance to diffusing the erosive energy of heavy rains and also safe guarding the soil resource from degradation by water erosion in vertisols.
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