422 results on '"Slash-and-char"'
Search Results
152. Biochar amendment of soil improves resilience to climate change
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Patrick J. Drohan, Paul R. Adler, Roger T. Koide, R. Howard Skinner, Curtis J. Dell, Matthew S. Peoples, and Binh Thanh Nguyen
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Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Soil texture ,Forestry ,Slash-and-char ,Soil conditioner ,Field capacity ,Permanent wilting point ,Agronomy ,Soil water ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Water content - Abstract
Because of climate change, insufficient soil moisture may increasingly limit crop productivity in certain regions of the world. This may be particularly consequential for biofuel crops, many of which will likely be grown in drought-prone soils to avoid competition with food crops. Biochar is the byproduct of a biofuel production method called pyrolysis. If pyrolysis becomes more common as some scientists predict, biochar will become more widely available. We asked, therefore, whether the addition of biochar to soils could significantly increase the availability of water to a crop. Biochar made from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) shoots was added at the rate of 1% of dry weight to four soils of varying texture, and available water contents were calculated as the difference between field capacity and permanent wilting point water contents. Biochar addition significantly increased the available water contents of the soils by both increasing the amount of water held at field capacity and allowing plants to draw the soil to a lower water content before wilting. Among the four soils tested, biochar amendment resulted in an additional 0.8–2.7 d of transpiration, which could increase productivity in drought-prone regions or reduce the frequency of irrigation. Biochar amendment of soils may thus be a viable means of mitigating some of the predicted decrease in water availability accompanying climate change that could limit the future productivity of biofuel crops. more...
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- 2014
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153. Agronomic performance of a high ash biochar in two contrasting soils
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Benjamin Smider and Balwant Singh
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Ecology ,Soil classification ,Carbon sequestration ,Slash-and-char ,Green waste ,Nutrient ,Agronomy ,visual_art ,Soil water ,Biochar ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,Environmental science ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Charcoal ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
Intensive greenhouse industry wastes large amounts of nutrient-rich green waste through improper disposal practices. Converting this greenhouse waste into biochar for soil application offers a viable option to recycle nutrients and long-term C storage. This study was carried out to evaluate the agronomic potential of a biochar produced from tomato green waste in two contrasting soils. We also estimated the amount of waste generated from intensive greenhouse tomato production in Australia. From weekly measurements of leaf picking over a 13-week period, we estimate approximately 133 Mg ha−1 year−1 of green waste on fresh weight basis. Biochar, produced by slowly pyrolysing the green waste at 550 °C, had very high-pH (12.1), electrical conductivity (EC, 54.2 dS m−1), ash content (560 g kg−1) and CaCO3 equivalence (330 g kg−1). Agronomic performance of the biochar was evaluated by growing Hybrid sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa cv – Sentinel) in the greenhouse for 7 weeks. We used three levels of biochar (0, 5 and 15 g kg−1 soil) in a factorial combination with three fertiliser rates (0, 50 and 100% of the recommended rate) applied to two contrasting soils (an Orthic Tenosol and a Red Ferrosol). Biochar application to the Ferrosol significantly increased the shoot dry matter of corn and contrastingly decreased the yield in case of the Tenosol. The positive effect of the biochar in the Ferrosol was attributed to release of nutrients from the biochar and biochar's liming effect and associated increased availability of nutrients. However, in poorly buffered Tenosol the application of biochar produced phytotoxic effects due to excessive soluble salts and high pH. The uptake of most nutrient elements increased in the corn shoot in the Ferrosol and decreased in the Tenosol. Although the biochar produced from green waste was highly alkaline and contained excessive soluble salts, given the right soil properties it can be a good soil ameliorant. The true agronomic potential of the biochar should be further evaluated in different soil types under field conditions. more...
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- 2014
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154. Biochar, hydrochar and uncarbonized feedstock application to permanent grassland—Effects on greenhouse gas emissions and plant growth
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Christian Koch, Sonja Schimmelpfennig, Claudia Kammann, Christoph Müller, and Ludger Grünhage
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Ecology ,Amendment ,food and beverages ,Biomass ,Raw material ,Carbon sequestration ,complex mixtures ,Slash-and-char ,Agronomy ,Greenhouse gas ,Environmental chemistry ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Ecosystem respiration ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
Both reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration have the potential to reduce global climate warming and avoid dangerous climate change. We assessed the sequestration potential as well as possible risks and benefits of carbon amendments (16 ± 4% of soil organic C) from Miscanthus × giganteus in different carbonization stages of a temperate grassland soil together with pig slurry: (1) untreated dried biomass (feedstock), (2) hydrothermally carbonized biomass (hydrochar) and (3) pyrolyzed biomass (biochar) in comparison to a control (only pig slurry application). The field study was complemented by a laboratory incubation study, followed by a growth experiment with Lolium perenne. In the field, greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, N2O, and CH4) were monitored weekly over 1.5 years and over three months in the lab. Initial nitrogen losses via ammonia emissions after substrate–slurry application were assessed in an additional greenhouse study. We found that biochar reduced soil and ecosystem respiration in incubation and in the field, respectively. Additionally, biochar improved methane oxidation, though restricted by emissions outbursts due to slurry amendment. It also reduced N2O emissions significantly in the lab study but not in the field. Hydrochar and feedstock proved to be easily degradable in incubation, but had no effect on ecosystem respiration in the field. Feedstock amendment significantly increased N2O emissions in incubation and one year after application likewise in the field. In a growth experiment subsequent to the incubation, only biochar amendment increased L. perenne biomass (+29%) significantly, likely due to N retention. In the field, biochar caused a significant shift in the plant species composition from grasses to forbs, whereas hydrochar significantly reduced yields within two growth periods (2011 and 2012). Ammonia emissions were significantly higher with feedstock and biochar compared to the control or acidic hydrochar. The overall results indicate that biochar is better suited for C sequestration and GHG mitigation in grasslands than hydrochar or the uncarbonized feedstock. However, NH3 emission reductions may only occur when the biochar is neutral or slightly acidic. more...
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- 2014
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155. Biochar and biochar-compost as soil amendments to a vineyard soil: Influences on plant growth, nutrient uptake, plant health and grape quality
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Kathleen A. Mackie, Claudio Niggli, Michael W.H. Evangelou, Hans-Peter Schmidt, Samuel Abiven, Claudia Kammann, University of Zurich, and Schmidt, Hans-Peter
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Topsoil ,Ecology ,UFSP13-8 Global Change and Biodiversity ,Soil organic matter ,Vineyard ,Soil quality ,Slash-and-char ,Soil conditioner ,10122 Institute of Geography ,Agronomy ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,Animal Science and Zoology ,1102 Agronomy and Crop Science ,910 Geography & travel ,1103 Animal Science and Zoology ,Soil fertility ,2303 Ecology ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
Most European vineyard soils exhibit low soil fertility. They are highly vulnerable to erosion, low in soil organic matter content and, therefore, in water holding capacity and nitrate retention. The applications of biochar and biochar-compost are said to address some of these issues. We tested the ability of these amendments to improve soil quality and plant production quality in a 30-year-old vineyard in Valais, Switzerland. The amendments of biochar alone (8 t ha−1, produced from wood at 500 °C), aerobic compost (55 t ha−1) and biochar-compost (8 t ha−1 + 55 t ha−1, mixed before the composting process) were compared to an un-amended control soil. During the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 various vine and green cover growth, vine health and grape quality parameters were monitored. Biochar and biochar-compost treatments induced only small, economically irrelevant and mostly non-significant effects over the three years. We concluded that topsoil application of higher amounts of biochar has no immediate economic value for vine growing in poor fertility, alkaline, temperate soil. more...
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- 2014
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156. Impact of Biochar on Water Holding Capacity of Two Chinese Agricultural Soil
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Dao Yuan Wang, Hao Wang, Deng Hua Yan, and Xin Shan Song
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Field capacity ,Soil conditioner ,Soil organic matter ,Soil water ,Biochar ,General Engineering ,Environmental science ,Soil fertility ,Soil type ,Pulp and paper industry ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
Adding biochar to agricultural soil has been suggested as an approach to enhance soil carbon sequestration. Biochar has also been used as a soil amendment to reduce nutrient leaching, reduce soil acidity and improve water holding capacity. Walnut shells and woody material are waste products of orchards that are cheap, carbon-rich and good feedstock for production of biochar. The effectiveness of biochar as an amendment varies considerably as a function of its feedstock, temperature during pyrolysis, the biochar dose to soil, and mechanical composition. Biochar was produced from pyrolysis of walnut shell at 900 °C and soft wood at 600 to 700 °C. We measured the effect of these different parameters in two types of agricultural soil in Jilin and Beijing, China, a silt clay loam and a sandy loam, on the soils’ particle size distribution and water retention characteristics. Biochars with two different doses were applied to each soil type. Soil field capacity and permanent wilting point were measured using a pressure plate extractor for each combination of biochar and soil type. The results show that the effect of biochar amendment on soil water retention characteristics depend primarily on soil particle size distribution and surface characteristics of biochar. High surface area biochar can help raise the water holding capacity of sandy soil. more...
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- 2014
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157. Short-Term Interactive Effects of Biochar, Green Manure, and Inorganic Fertilizer on Soil Properties and Agronomic Characteristics of Maize
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Richard F. Preziosi, Geoffrey D. Robson, and Samuel T. Partey
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biology ,Tithonia ,Plant Science ,engineering.material ,biology.organism_classification ,Slash-and-char ,Soil management ,Green manure ,Agronomy ,Soil water ,Biochar ,engineering ,Environmental science ,Fertilizer ,Soil fertility ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Food Science - Abstract
The application of biochar with inorganic fertilizers is shown to improve crop productivity. However, resource-poor farmers may be constrained in their ability to meet the fertilizer requirements. In this short-term greenhouse research, we investigated whether combining biochar and green manure sources of Tithonia diversifolia and Vicia faba could be a viable soil management option for smallholder agroecosystems. Generally, the application of the green manures either singly or mixed with biochar showed similar effects on soil properties. However, in contrast to mixed biochar and fertilizer treatments, soil microbial biomass C, mineral N, available P, and pH were generally higher in soils that received mixed green manure and biochar applications. The results also showed a positive but comparable synergistic effect of applying green manure or fertilizers with biochar. It was inferred that the combined applications of biochar and V. faba or T. diversifolia increased maize grain yield by 35 and 25 %, respectively, compared with sole V. faba and T. diversifolia applications. Relative to sole fertilizer application, there was a 27 % increase in maize grain yield when fertilizer was combined with biochar. The increased biological yield of maize in mixed than single treatments was attributed to the increased N use efficiency of maize plants that received mixed application of biochar and green manures or inorganic fertilizer. The results established that in places where inorganic fertilizers are limited, green manures could be applied with biochar for improved soil fertility and crop productivity. more...
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- 2014
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158. Plant growth responses to biochar addition: an Australian soils perspective
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Evelyn S. Krull, Mark Farrell, Lynne M. Macdonald, and Lukas Van Zwieten
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food and beverages ,Soil Science ,Soil classification ,Vertisol ,Calcisol ,Soil type ,Microbiology ,Slash-and-char ,Agronomy ,Soil pH ,Biochar ,Soil water ,Environmental science ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
The use of biochar as an agricultural amendment has attracted much attention owing to its potential to improve soil condition and plant growth; however, production outcomes are often uncertain. Although soil type is a major driver of plant productivity, there are relatively few biochar studies that directly compare plant growth responses across a range of soil types. We tested the wheat growth response to biochar derived from poultry litter and from wheat straw applied at 1, 5 and 10 t ha−1 (approximately 0.13, 0.67 and 1.33 % w/w) in four soils representing major agricultural regions in Australia: an acidic arenosol (Western Australian cereal belt), an acidic rhodic ferralsol (Northern New South Wales), a neutral vertisol (Queensland cropping) and an alkaline haplic calcisol (Eyre Peninsula in South Australia). In the neutral vertisol, where plant growth was vigorous in the control treatments, biochar had little impact, whereas in the alkaline calcisol, there was a small significant increase in shoot biomass at high (10 t ha−1) application rates. Plant growth responses in the acidic soils were most evident but demonstrated a strong contrast to one another. In the acidic arenosol, negative growth impact correlated with increasing electrical conductivity, while in the acidic ferralsol a small rate-dependent increase in pH correlated with relatively large gains in biomass, possibly due to improved phosphorus nutrition and alleviated Al toxicity. Moving towards effective integration of biochar as a management tool will not only require stratification based on soil types, but wider consideration of the main plant production constraints, such as pH, pertinent to a particular system. more...
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- 2014
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159. Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts of Utilizing Waste for Biochar in Rural Areas in Indonesia–A Systems Perspective
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Verania Andria, Annik Magerholm Fet, Henrik Lindhjem, Magnus Sparrevik, and Gerard Cornelissen
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Rural Population ,Environmental engineering ,Agriculture ,General Chemistry ,Environment ,Carbon sequestration ,Carbon ,Slash-and-char ,Soil conditioner ,Soil ,Socioeconomic Factors ,Indonesia ,Environmental protection ,Biofuel ,Charcoal ,Biochar ,Environmental Chemistry ,Environmental science ,Agricultural productivity ,Soil fertility ,Fertilizers ,Life-cycle assessment - Abstract
Biochar is the product of incomplete combus- tion (pyrolysis) of organic material. In rural areas, it can be used as a soil amendment to increase soil fertility. Fuel- constrained villagers may however prefer to use biochar briquettes as a higher-value fuel for cooking over applying it to soils. A systems-oriented analysis using life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost benefit analysis (CBA) was conducted to analyze these two alternative uses of biochar, applying the study to a rural village system in Indonesia. The results showed soil amendment for enhanced agricultural production to be the preferential choice with a positive benefit to the baseline scenario of −26 ecopoints (LCA) and −173 USD (CBA) annually pr. household. In this case, the positive effects of carbon sequestration to the soil and the economic value of the increased agricultural production outweighed the negative environmental impacts from biochar production and the related production costs. Use of biochar in briquettes for cooking fuel yielded negative net effects in both the LCA and CBA (85 ecopoints and 176 USD), even when positive health effects from reduced indoor air pollution were included. The main reasons for this are that emissions during biochar production are not compensated by carbon sequestration and that briquette making is labor-intensive. The results emphasize the importance of investigating and documenting the carbon storage effect and the agricultural benefit in biochar production-utilization systems for a sustainable use. Further research focus on efficient production is necessary due to the large environmental impact of biochar production. In addition, biochar should continue to be used in those soils where the agricultural effect is most beneficial. more...
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- 2014
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160. Biochar as a global change adaptation: predicting biochar impacts on crop productivity and soil quality for a tropical soil with the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model
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James Williams, Roberto C. Izaurralde, Taras E. Lychuk, Robert L. Hill, and William B. McGill
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Global and Planetary Change ,Topsoil ,Ecology ,Agronomy ,Oxisol ,Soil pH ,Biochar ,Cation-exchange capacity ,Environmental science ,Soil carbon ,Soil quality ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model with newly-developed biochar algorithms was used to determine the impacts of biochar amendments on corn (Zea mays L.) yields, soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, bulk density (Db) and soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. The objectives were (1) to determine biochar impacts on crop yields and soil properties of a tropical soil and (2) to evaluate biochar’s potential as a climate change adaptation tool. EPIC was validated using results of a 4−yr experiment performed on an Amazonian Oxisol amended with biochar at rates of 0, 8, and 20 Mg ha−1. Simulated yields of corn on biochar amended soil were significantly greater than control yields (p more...
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- 2014
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161. Humification characterization of biochar and its potential as a composting amendment
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Jining Zhang, Liming Shao, Chenghao Luo, Fan Lü, and Pinjing He
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Environmental Engineering ,Compost ,Chemistry ,Amendment ,Water ,Oryza ,General Medicine ,Biodegradable waste ,Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ,engineering.material ,Wood ,Husk ,Humus ,Slash-and-char ,Soil ,Agronomy ,Charcoal ,Environmental chemistry ,Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ,Biochar ,engineering ,Environmental Chemistry ,Water content ,General Environmental Science - Abstract
Biochar has received increasing attention due to its applications as a soil amendment. Here, the chemical properties of solid and water-extractable fractions of four biochar samples were investigated. The results showed that wood biochar and bamboo biochar samples were 60%–80% more hydrophobic than those of rice husk biochar and rice husk ash. In addition, the acidity was 3.88 mmol/g from the total functional groups and 1.03 mmol/g from the carboxyl groups/lactones/phenols found in the wood biochar sample, which were about 1.5 times greater than those of the bamboo biochar sample. These functional groups could be used to determine the sorptive capacity of biochar for ionic solutes and water content and to increase the degradation of compost organics. The wood biochar sample was found to have the most humification materials (fulvic acid-like material + humic acid-like material) in the water-extractable fraction, which was 3–10 times higher than that in the rice husk biochar and rice husk ash; humified materials were not detected in the bamboo biochar sample. Humification materials in biochar may be involved in increasing the proportion of humic acid-like materials in humic-like substances within the compost product. Wood biochar had better hydrophobic, sorptive, aromatic, and humification properties compared to other biochars, suggesting that it may be used in composting in order to exert its effect as both a bulking agent and a composting amendment during the solid waste composting process. more...
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- 2014
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162. No Effect Level of Co-Composted Biochar on Plant Growth and Soil Properties in a Greenhouse Experiment
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Bruno Glaser, Gerald Dunst, and Hardy Schulz
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Total organic carbon ,compost ,food.ingredient ,Compost ,Chemistry ,biochar ,no-effect-level ,greenhouse ,C management ,lcsh:S ,engineering.material ,Slash-and-char ,lcsh:Agriculture ,Nutrient ,Avena ,food ,Agronomy ,Loam ,Biochar ,engineering ,Soil fertility ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
It is claimed that the addition of biochar to soil improves C sequestration, soil fertility and plant growth, especially when combined with organic fertilizers such as compost. However, little is known about agricultural effects of small amounts of composted biochar. This greenhouse study was carried out to examine effects of co-composted biochar on oat (Avena sativa L.) yield in both sandy and loamy soil. The aim of this study was to test whether biochar effects can be observed at very low biochar concentrations. To test a variety of application amounts below 3 Mg biochar ha−1, we co-composted five different biochar concentrations (0, 3, 5, 10 kg Mg−1 compost). The biochar-containing compost was applied at five application rates (10, 50, 100, 150, 250 Mg ha−1 20 cm−1). Effects of compost addition on plant growth, Total Organic Carbon, Ntot, pH and soluble nutrients outweighed the effects of the minimal biochar amounts in the composted substrates so that a no effect level of biochar of at least 3 Mg ha−1 could be estimated. more...
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- 2014
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163. Short-Term Effect of Feedstock and Pyrolysis Temperature on Biochar Characteristics, Soil and Crop Response in Temperate Soils
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Samuel Bodé, Frederik Ronsse, Henrik Hauggaard-Nielsen, Jason Cook, Pascal Boeckx, Simon Shackley, Greet Ruysschaert, Victoria Nelissen, and Dorette Sophie Müller-Stöver
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soil fertility ,lcsh:S ,Raw material ,nitrogen ,Slash-and-char ,biochar ,crop growth ,labile carbon ,adsorption ,Crop ,lcsh:Agriculture ,Agronomy ,Earth and Environmental Sciences ,Soil water ,Biochar ,Temperate climate ,Environmental science ,Soil fertility ,SDG 2 - Zero Hunger ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Pyrolysis - Abstract
At present, there is limited understanding of how biochar application to soil could be beneficial to crop growth in temperate regions and which biochar types are most suitable. Biochar’s (two feedstocks: willow, pine; three pyrolysis temperatures: 450 °C, 550 °C, 650 °C) effect on nitrogen (N) availability, N use efficiency and crop yield was studied in northwestern European soils using a combined approach of process-based and agronomic experiments. Biochar labile carbon (C) fractions were determined and a phytotoxicity test, sorption experiment, N incubation experiment and two pot trials were conducted. Generally, biochar caused decreased soil NO3− availability and N use efficiency, and reduced biomass yields compared to a control soil. Soil NO3− concentrations were more reduced in the willow compared to the pine biochar treatments and the reduction increased with increasing pyrolysis temperatures, which was also reflected in the biomass yields. Woody biochar types can cause short-term reductions in biomass production due to reduced N availability. This effect is biochar feedstock and pyrolysis temperature dependent. Reduced mineral N availability was not caused by labile biochar C nor electrostatic NH4+/NO3− sorption. Hence, the addition of fresh biochar might in some cases require increased fertilizer N application to avoid short-term crop growth retardation. more...
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- 2014
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164. Design and Testing of Biochar Stoves
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Hileni Amupolo and Rajaram Swaminathan
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Direct combustion ,Waste management ,Carbonization ,Stove ,Biochar ,Soil water ,Amendment ,Environmental science ,Common method ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
Biochar is a solid material obtained from the carbonization of biomass. Biochar is used on agricultural lands as a soil amendment to improve the fertility of the soils. Currently the most common method of producing biochar is through biochar stoves. There are two basic stove operations in the production of biochar. The first type of stove produces biochar by direct combustion of biomass. Here biomass is burnt inside a chamber in an oxygen limited environment. The resulting residue is the bio-char. The second type involves burning the biomass in one chamber and housing the biomass to be charred in the annular portion of an outer chamber. Heat is transferred from the burning fuel on the inner chamber to the material to be charred in the outer chamber. While the process of biochar production in these stoves is known, the basic principles of the stove design are not readily available. The design methodology for both the types was developed from first principles. Prototypes of both types were constructed based on the design developed and tested. The paper lists the basic principles in the design of biochar stoves and the test results. more...
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- 2014
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165. Quantifying the effect of biochar amendment on soil quality and crop productivity in Chinese rice paddies
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Yingbin Zou, Ligeng Jiang, Min Huang, Liu Yang, and Huadong Qin
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Crop ,Agronomy ,Biochar ,Amendment ,Soil Science ,Environmental science ,Paddy field ,Soil classification ,Straw ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Soil quality ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
China needs to produce about 20% more rice by 2030 to meet the growing demand for food that will result from population growth and economic development. This is not an easy task with soil quality being one of the major limiting factors. Improving the recycling of organic manures can be an important step toward stabilizing and optimizing soil quality in crop production systems. Recently, the pyrolysis conversion of crop straw into biochar and using it as a soil amendment has begun to attract increasing attention in China. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of 6 published studies with 11 field experiments to quantify the biochar amendment effect on soil quality and crop productivity in Chinese rice paddies. Our analysis showed that short-term application of biochar amendment had a positive effect on soil quality in rice paddies across a wide range of climates and soil types in China. However, the average effect of biochar amendment on rice yield was neutral. In contrast to biochar amendment, N fertilizer was less effective for improving soil quality but more effective for increasing rice yield. More interestingly, we found that biochar amendment had a positive effect on rice yield under N fertilizer application conditions, and there was a tight relationship between the effect of biochar amendment on rice yield and that on agronomic N use efficiency. The results lead us to conclude that further investigations are needed to determine (1) the long-term effect of biochar amendment on rice productivity, (2) the effect of biochar amendment on N uptake and metabolism in rice, and (3) the effect of biochar amendments produced from different feedstock and under different process conditions on soil quality and rice productivity in Chinese paddies. more...
- Published
- 2013
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166. Effects of biochars produced from different feedstocks on soil properties and sunflower growth
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María Carmen del Campillo, Rafael Villar, José Torrent, Vidal Barrón, Antonio Gallardo, Juan Calero, and José Antonio Alburquerque
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Field capacity ,Soil conditioner ,Agronomy ,Soil biodiversity ,Soil organic matter ,Biochar ,Soil water ,Soil Science ,Environmental science ,Plant Science ,Soil fertility ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
The use of biochar as a soil amendment is gaining interest to mitigate climate change and improve soil fertility and crop productivity. However, studies to date show a great variability in the results depending on raw materials and pyrolysis conditions, soil characteristics, and plant species. In this study, we evaluated the effects of biochars produced from five agricultural and forestry wastes on the properties of an organic-C-poor, slightly acidic, and loamy sand soil and on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) growth. The addition of biochar, especially at high application rates, decreased soil bulk density and increased soil field capacity, which should impact positively on plant growth and water economy. Furthermore, biochar addition to soil increased dissolved organic C (wheat-straw and olive-tree-pruning biochars), available P (wheat-straw biochar), and seed germination, and decreased soil nitrate concentration in all cases. The effects of biochar addition on plant dry biomass were greatly dependent upon the biochar-application rate and biochar type, mainly associated to its nutrient content due to the low fertility of the soil used. As a result, the addition of ash-rich biochars (produced from wheat straw and olive-tree pruning) increased total plant dry biomass. On the other hand, the addition of biochar increased the leaf biomass allocation and decreased the stem biomass allocation. Therefore, biochar can improve soil properties and increase crop production with a consequent benefit to agriculture. However, the use of biochar as an amendment to agricultural soils should take into account its high heterogeneity, particularly in terms of nutrient availability. more...
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- 2013
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167. Effects of co-produced biochar on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of pyrolysis-derived renewable fuels
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Zhichao Wang, Jennifer B. Dunn, Michael Wang, and Jeongwoo Han
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Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Bioengineering ,Renewable fuels ,Carbon sequestration ,Pulp and paper industry ,Slash-and-char ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Agronomy ,chemistry ,Biofuel ,Greenhouse gas ,Pyrolysis oil ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,Pyrolysis - Abstract
Biochar is a co-product from biomass pyrolysis that can sequester carbon when applied to soils. It may also reduce N2O and CH4 emissions from soils, increase fertilizer efficiency, increase soil organic carbon, and increase crop yields. Treatment of these additional agricultural effects in life cycle analyses (LCAs) of pyrolysis-based liquid fuels could significantly influence LCA results. In this study, we include these effects in analyses of fast and slow pyrolysis. We also consider scenarios in which biochar is combusted to produce electricity. Probability distribution functions are developed for biochar yield and carbon content whereas average, minimum, and maximum values for biochar's stability factor and agricultural effects are developed from a thorough literature review and used in baseline and sensitivity analyses. Overall, life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for pyrolysis-based gasoline are lower when biochar is applied to soil than when it is combusted. Carbon abatement (CA) values of fast and slow pyrolysis fuel production systems are comparable. CA is reduced for an alternative fast pyrolysis system in which the pyrolysis oil is combusted for heat and electricity generation rather than upgraded to a hydrocarbon fuel. In the baseline case with biochar soil application, inclusion of agricultural effects reduces GHG emissions by 2.1 g CO2e/MJ from 16 g CO2e/MJ. Biochar carbon content and yield exert the strongest influence on GHG emissions results. Results are also sensitive to biochar's ability to suppress N2O emissions and increase soil organic carbon, which are subject to high uncertainty. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd more...
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- 2013
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168. Effect of biochar on carbon dioxide release, organic carbon accumulation, and aggregation of soil
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Li Hua, Hongrui Ma, Susu Jin, and Zhaoqing Lu
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Total organic carbon ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Environmental Engineering ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Chemistry ,General Chemical Engineering ,Soil organic matter ,Amendment ,Carbon sequestration ,complex mixtures ,Slash-and-char ,Agronomy ,Soil water ,Biochar ,Environmental Chemistry ,Organic matter ,Waste Management and Disposal ,General Environmental Science ,Water Science and Technology - Abstract
The potential carbon sequestration ability of biochar was investigated. The results indicated the amendment of biochar to soil could reduce the CO2 emission and increase the organic matter of soil effectively. The influence extent enhanced as the increase of biochar and the influence extent on soil with lower organic matter content is much obvious than soil with higher organic matter content. After incubated 7 months, soil CO2 emission was suppressed significantly by the amendment of biochar. The CO2 release amount in soils with 8% biochar decreased 29%∼39% compared with control. Organic matter content in soils with 8% biochar increased 41%∼75%. In addition, biochar promoted the formation of soil aggregates. Mean weight diameter of micro-aggregates in soils with biochar increased obviously compared with the control, indicating that stability of soil aggregates improved as the increase of biochar. The research demonstrated that biochar had potential ability on soil carbon sequestration, which was realized by enhance organic matter content, suppressing CO2 release and improving micro-structure characteristic of soil. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 941–946, 2014 more...
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- 2013
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169. Life in the ‘charosphere’ – Does biochar in agricultural soil provide a significant habitat for microorganisms?
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Richard S. Quilliam, Helen C. Glanville, Stephen C. Wade, and Davey L. Jones
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Colonisation ,Topsoil ,Agronomy ,Soil biodiversity ,Soil biology ,Soil organic matter ,Biochar ,Soil Science ,Environmental science ,Microbiology ,Soil quality ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
Biochar application has become a novel and emergent technology for sequestering C, improving soil quality and crop production, and is a potential win–win strategy for ecosystem service delivery. Biochar addition can also stimulate soil microbial activity, and although it is unclear exactly why biochar should benefit soil microorganisms, it is thought that the large surface area and volume of pores provide a significant habitat for microbes. The aim of this study was to determine the level of microbial colonisation of wood-derived biochar that had been buried in an agricultural soil for three years. We have examined the level of colonisation on the internal and external surfaces of field-aged biochar by scanning electron microscopy, and used 14C-labelled glucose to quantify the rates of microbial activity in different spatial niches of the biochar and the surrounding soil. Microbial colonisation of field-aged biochar was very sparse, with no obvious differences between the external and internal surfaces. At the high field application rate of 50 t ha−1, biochar contributed only 6.52 ± 0.11% of the total soil pore space and 7.35 ± 0.81% of the total soil surface area of the topsoil (0–30 cm). Further, 17.46 ± 0.02% of the biochar pores were effectively uninhabitable for most microbes, being more...
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170. The Research of Biochar Adsorption on Soil
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Kai Yan Lin, You Yang Wang, Chen Jie, Hui Ping Si, and Jun Hui Wu
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Waste management ,Environmental remediation ,Soil organic matter ,General Medicine ,engineering.material ,complex mixtures ,Slash-and-char ,Soil conditioner ,Environmental chemistry ,Soil water ,Biochar ,engineering ,Environmental science ,Fertilizer ,Soil fertility - Abstract
This article discusses biochar adsorption and its effects on soil and discusses the future trends in this area. The large surface area, and many oxygen-containing functional groups of biochar determined by the feedstocks and the condition in pyrolysis affect the capacity of biochar to adsorb fertilizer, water, heavy metals and organic pollution. With enriched porous structures, biachar can increase the porosity and water retention capacity of soils. With the functional groups and the composition, biochar have a high adsorption capacity for fertilizer, heavy metals, organic pollutants. This paper provides an overview on the biochar sorption in fertilizer, heavy metals and organic pollutants in soil and its implication for soil to keep soil fertilizer as a controlled-released carrier and to improve soil environments as landscaping organic mulch, as well as for remediation of contaminated soils. Further research directions are identified to ensure a safe and sustainable use of biochar as a soil amendment. more...
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- 2013
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171. Biochar for soil carbon sequestration
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Seung Han Woo
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Waste management ,Environmental remediation ,Environmental chemistry ,Biochar ,Amendment ,General Earth and Planetary Sciences ,Biomass ,Environmental science ,Carbon sequestration ,Pyrolysis ,General Environmental Science ,Slash-and-char ,Negative carbon dioxide emission - Abstract
Biochar is charred materials generated during pyrolysis processes in the absence of oxygen using biomass, resulting in high carbon contents. In recent years, biochar has attracted more increasingly due to its potential role in carbon sequestration, renewable energy, waste management, soil amendment for agricultural use, and environmental remediation. Since biochar has a long-term stability in soil for thousands of years, biochar can be carbon negative compared to carbon-neutral biomass energy that decomposes eventually. Moreover, when biochar is applied to soil, crop production can be largely improved due to its high pH and its superior ability to retain water and nutrients. This paper review the research trends of biochar including the principles of carbon sequestration by biochar, its physico-chemical properties, and its applications on agricultural and environmental area. more...
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- 2013
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172. Changes in δ15N in a soil–plant system under different biochar feedstocks and application rates
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Shahla Hosseini Bai, Frédérique Reverchon, Hong Yang, Guijun Yan, Robert C. Flicker, Dongke Zhang, Zhihong Xu, and Chengrong Chen
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food and beverages ,Soil Science ,complex mixtures ,Microbiology ,Soil quality ,Slash-and-char ,Nutrient ,Agronomy ,Biochar ,Soil water ,Environmental science ,Woodchips ,Cycling ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Nitrogen cycle - Abstract
The application of biochar in soils has been hypothesised to improve soil quality whilst enhancing carbon (C) sequestration. However, its effect on nitrogen (N) dynamics in the soil–plant system is still not fully understood. In the present work, N isotope composition (δ15N) was used to facilitate the understanding of the processes involved in the N cycling when biochar is applied. We evaluated, through a wheat pot trial, the effect of different application rates of two types of biochar produced from jarrah and pine woodchips on the wheat biomass at harvest and on the soil and plant C and N contents and δ15N. In addition, the potential benefit of using nutrient-saturated biochar for the soil–plant system was also investigated. Whilst biochar produced from different feedstocks had similar effects on soil and plant nutrient contents, they induced differences in wheat grain biomass and plant δ15N. The effect of the biochar application rate was more pronounced, and at rates higher than 29 t ha−1, the application of biochar decreased grain biomass by up to 39 % and potentially increased N losses. Isotopic analyses indicated that this acceleration of N dynamics had probably occurred before the stage of wheat grain formation. The application of nutrient-enriched biochar resulted in an improved wheat grain production, most likely due to the enhanced nutrient availability, and in reduced N cycling rates in the plant–soil system, which could offset the competition between biochar and plants for nutrients and could decrease adverse environmental impacts due to N losses. more...
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173. Effect of biochar application in combination with domestic wastewater on biomass yield of bioenergy plantations
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Rajeev Kumar Srivastava, Sudipta Ramola, and Padma Vasudevan
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education.field_of_study ,Agroforestry ,Strategy and Management ,Population ,Biomass ,Carbon sequestration ,Slash-and-char ,Soil conditioner ,General Energy ,Biofuel ,Bioenergy ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,education - Abstract
Purpose – The energy demand of growing population is on rise despite the fact that conventional energy reserves are limited and exhaustive in nature. To quench the ever-needing demand of energy, there is an urgent need to find out new energy options. In this regard, role of bioenergy plantation has gained enormous attention of scientist community all over the world. Biochar, a black pyrolysed carbonaceous product, is used as soil amendment and is reported to provide several benefits such as retention of nutrients in soil, better cation exchange capacity, soil carbon sequestration with better biomass yield. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The present study investigated the effect of domestic waste water (grey water) as well as biochar in combination for above-ground biomass of Eucalyptus hybrid (clone 413) and Anthocephalus cadamba plantations under flooded irrigation. Findings – Height, girth and above-ground biomass of both plantations increased significantly from control. Above-ground biomass of A. cadamba was observed to be better than Eucalyptus hybrid during initial period of establishment. After application of biochar, treatment WW+BBm was found to produce maximum above-ground biomass followed by treatment WW and WW+ BBg in both plantations system. Originality/value – The present study encompassed a real sustainable approach for environmental management by integrating the use of waste water (source of nutrients) as well as biochar (a solid waste pyrolysed material that act as soil fertilizer, an efficient adsorbent as well as a sink for carbon sequestration) for the better biomass yield of bioenergy plantations. more...
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174. Impact of biochar addition on water retention, nitrification and carbon dioxide evolution from two sandy loam soils
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J. Ulyett, M. Hann, M.G. Kibblewhite, and Ruben Sakrabani
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Soil conditioner ,No-till farming ,Agronomy ,Soil biodiversity ,Soil organic matter ,Biochar ,Soil water ,Cation-exchange capacity ,Soil Science ,Environmental science ,complex mixtures ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
Summary Some intensive agricultural practices result in soil degradation through loss of soil organic matter. Organic farming may mitigate this problem, if managed properly, but may result in a yield penalty compared with conventional systems. Biochar addition to soil could influence both agricultural systems, but previous studies are not definitive about its impact on soil processes. Sandy soils are more susceptible to the effects of reduced soil organic matter on soil hydrology and nutrient dynamics. Nitrogen (N) is important for crop growth and soil water content can influence its transformation and cycling. This study explored the effect of biochar amendment on soil water retention and nitrification processes in soils under organic and conventional management. Carbon dioxide evolution was used as an indicator of related microbial activity. A water release curve study and a 60-day incubation experiment were set up to consider the effect of biochar application on organically and conventionally managed sandy loam soils. The results showed that addition of biochar increased water retention for both soils and this is attributed to its porous structure. On incubation of an organically managed soil, with green-waste compost, initial ammonium level was small, reflecting microbial demand for N. The large cation exchange capacity of the organically managed soil retained ammonium, reducing availability for nitrification. Carbon dioxide evolution increased with continuing small contents of ammonium and nitrate when biochar was added to the organically managed soil. Biochar enhanced nitrification without increased respiration during incubation of a conventionally managed soil with added mineral N; a possible explanation for this enhancement is the increase in pH resulting from the biochar addition. more...
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175. Long-Term Carbon Sequestration and Environmental Immobilization of Biochar: A Review
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Meng Meng Wang and Qixing Zhou
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Waste management ,Environmental remediation ,Global warming ,Biochar ,General Engineering ,Environmental engineering ,Environmental science ,Biomass ,Carbon sequestration ,Raw material ,Soil contamination ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to environmental application of biochar because its great potential in mitigating global warming and remedying contaminated soils. In this review, long-term carbon sequestration and environmental immobilization of biochar were discussed. It indicated that the synthesis of biomass into biochar not only helps in the CO2fixation, suppress the emission of green gases, but also represent the suitable candidate for contaminated soil remediation due to its cheap cost and large mount of raw materials. more...
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176. Energy balances, greenhouse gas emissions and economics of biochar production from palm oil empty fruit bunches
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Tinia Idaty Mohd Ghazi, Azni Idris, Mohammad Amran Mohd Salleh, Lek Hang Lau, Andreas Meyer-Aurich, Philipp Grundman, Soni Sisbudi Harsono, and Anja Hansen
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Economics and Econometrics ,Engineering ,Waste management ,business.industry ,Energy balance ,Slash-and-char ,Bioenergy ,Greenhouse gas ,visual_art ,Biochar ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,business ,Charcoal ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Pyrolysis ,Renewable resource - Abstract
This paper presents results from a gate-to-gate analysis of the energy balance, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic efficiency of biochar production from palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFB). The analysis is based on data obtained from EFB combustion in a slow pyrolysis plant in Selangor, Malaysia. The outputs of the slow pyrolysis plant are biochar, syngas, bio-oil and water vapor. The net energy yield of the biochar produced in the Selangor plant is 11.47 MJ kg−1 EFB. The energy content of the biochar produced is higher than the energy required for producing the biochar, i.e. the energy balance of biochar production is positive. The combustion of EFB using diesel fuel has the largest energy demand of 2.31 MJ kg−1 EFB in the pyrolysis process. Comparatively smaller amounts of energy are required as electricity (0.39 MJ kg−1 EFB) and for transportation of biochar to the warehouse and the field (0.13 MJ kg−1 EFB). The net greenhouse gas emissions of the studied biochar production account for 0.046 kg CO2-equiv. kg−1 EFB yr−1 without considering fertilizer substitution effects and carbon accumulation from biochar in the soil. The studied biochar production is profitable where biochar can be sold for at least 533 US-$ t−1. Potential measures for improvement are discussed, including higher productivity of biochar production, reduced energy consumption and efficient use of the byproducts from the slow pyrolysis. more...
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177. REVIEW: Charcoal function and management in boreal ecosystems
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Stephen A. Hart and Nancy Luckai
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Ecology ,Soil organic matter ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Soil carbon ,Slash-and-char ,Carbon cycle ,Boreal ,chemistry ,Environmental protection ,visual_art ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,Environmental science ,Ecosystem ,Charcoal ,Carbon - Abstract
Summary Charcoal plays an important role in soil function and carbon storage in fire-prone ecosystems. Charcoal is present in most boreal forest soils as a result of naturally recurring wildfires, which convert 0·7–2% of biomass to charcoal. In boreal forests, charcoal represents 8–10% of soil carbon and 1 pg of carbon globally. Charcoal is resistant to decay, representing a form of super-passive carbon, with half-lives one to two orders of magnitude greater than those of other soil organic matter. High concentrations of negative surface charges increase nutrient retention, impacting boreal soil function, productivity and species composition. Due to a lack of soil mixing processes, charcoal in boreal soils is vulnerable to recombustion in recurring fires, inhibiting the accumulation of charcoal over time, unlike in other fire-prone ecosystems. Boreal charcoal stocks are highly variable. Increased fire intensity results in greater charcoal formation, with stand-replacing crown fires resulting in much larger charcoal stocks than non-stand-replacing ground fires. Current estimates of carbon storage based on Scandinavian studies of non-stand-replacing fires may underestimate charcoal stocks by factors of 2–3. Synthesis and applications. Charcoal contributes to boreal soil function, ecosystem productivity, nutrient retention and carbon cycling. In the absence of fire, charcoal loses many active properties, contributing to declining productivity with increasing time since fire. Incorporation of charcoal into ecosystem management using prescribed burns may contribute to sustainable management of boreal forests and maintaining global carbon cycles. more...
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178. Interactions between biochar stability and soil organisms: review and research needs
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S. De Neve, Ellen R. Graber, Nele Ameloot, and Frank G. A. Verheijen
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Agronomy ,Chemistry ,Soil biology ,Biochar ,Soil water ,Soil Science ,Soil carbon ,Mineralization (soil science) ,Soil type ,complex mixtures ,Pyrolysis ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
Summary The stability of biochar in soils is the cornerstone of the burgeoning worldwide interest in the potential of the pyrolysis/biochar platform for carbon (C) sequestration. While biochar is more recalcitrant in soil than the original organic feedstock, an increasing number of studies report greater C-mineralization in soils amended with biochar than in unamended soils. Soil organisms are believed to play a central role in this process. In this review, the variety of interactions that occur between soil micro-, meso- and macroorganisms and biochar stability are assessed. In addition, different factors reported to influence biochar stability, such as biochar physico-chemical characteristics, soil type, soil organic carbon (SOC) content and agricultural management practices are evaluated. A meta-analysis of data in the literature revealed that biochar-C mineralization rates decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature, biochar-C content and time. Enhanced release of CO2 after biochar addition to soil may result from (i) priming of native SOC pools, (ii) biodegradation of biochar components from direct or indirect stimulation of soil organisms by biochar or (iii) abiotic release of biochar-C (from carbonates or chemi-sorbed CO2). Observed biphasic mineralization rates suggest rapid mineralization of labile biochar compounds by microorganisms, with stable aromatic components decomposed at a slower rate. Comparatively little information is available on the impact of soil fauna on biochar stability in soil, although they may decrease biochar particle size and enhance its dispersion in the soil. Elucidating the impacts of soil fauna directly and indirectly on biochar stability is a top research priority. more...
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179. Biochar’s effect on crop productivity and the dependence on experimental conditions—a meta-analysis of literature data
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Jorge Paz-Ferreiro, Rongjun Bian, Stephen Joseph, Lianqing Li, Xiaoyu Liu, Chunying Ji, Afeng Zhang, and Genxing Pan
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fungi ,Amendment ,food and beverages ,Soil Science ,Plant Science ,Soil carbon ,complex mixtures ,Slash-and-char ,Crop ,Agronomy ,Loam ,Soil water ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,Soil fertility - Abstract
For the last decade, there has been an increasing global interest in using biochar to mitigate climate change by storing carbon in soil. However, there is a lack of detailed knowledge on the impact of biochar on the crop productivity in different agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of biochar soil amendment (BSA) on crop productivity and to analyze the dependence of responses on experimental conditions. A weighted meta-analysis was conducted based on data from 103 studies published up to April, 2013. The effect of BSA on crop productivity was quantified by characterizing experimental conditions. In the published experiments, with biochar amendment rates generally more...
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180. Feasibility Study Using Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash and Biochar from Binary Mixtures of Organic Waste as Agronomic Materials
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Wu-Jang Huang, Odette Varela Milla, and Hsiao-Hui Wang
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Environmental Engineering ,Waste management ,General Chemical Engineering ,Biomass ,Biodegradable waste ,engineering.material ,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology ,Husk ,Slash-and-char ,Soil conditioner ,Bottom ash ,Biochar ,engineering ,Environmental Chemistry ,Environmental science ,Fertilizer ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Water Science and Technology - Abstract
In this study, properties of rice husk biochar and bamboo biochar are tested to evaluate their potential value as soil conditioners in combination with municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash from three different cities in southern Taiwan (cities of Pingtung, Chiayi, and Chunghua). From the results, it is possible to conclude that rice husk biochar pyrolized at 400°C may have a positive effect on the develop- ment and growth of Zea maize L., especially when mixed with bottom ash from Pingtung; with and without additions of fertilizer the treat- ments showed the best results in germination (100%) and plant weight. In addition, the conversion of organic waste to biochar may offer an attractive option for minimizing the volume of waste products by incorporating bottom ash with soil amendments. The highest increment percentage in biomass total weight in each system is with the treatment with 400°C pyrolized rice husk biochar; it has an increment percentage of 150 and 100% for Pingtung and Chunghua cities, respectively, without fertilizer, and 75-400% for Chiayi with fertilizer. DOI: 10.1061/ (ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000186. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Municipal wastes; Solid wastes; Bottom ash; Mixtures; Agriculture; Organic matter; Taiwan; Recycling. more...
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181. Responses of methane emissions and rice yield to applications of biochar and straw in a paddy field
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Min Yang, Cheng Wang, Yi Li, Jiafa Luo, Weixiang Wu, Hailong Wang, and Da Dong
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Stratigraphy ,Crop yield ,Straw ,Methane ,Slash-and-char ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Agronomy ,chemistry ,Yield (wine) ,visual_art ,Biochar ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,Environmental science ,Paddy field ,Charcoal ,Earth-Surface Processes - Abstract
Purpose Directly returning straw back to the paddy field would significantly accelerate methane (CH4) emission, although it may conserve and sustain soil productivity. The application of biochar (biomass-derived charcoal) in soil has been proposed as a sustainable technology to reduce methane (CH4) emission and increase crop yield. We compared the effects of either biochar or rice straw addition with a paddy field on CH4 emission and rice yield. more...
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182. The effects of walnut shell and wood feedstock biochar amendments on greenhouse gas emissions from a fertile soil
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Sanjai J. Parikh, Johan Six, and Fungai N.D. Mukome
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chemistry.chemical_classification ,Denitrification ,Chemistry ,Compost ,Soil organic matter ,Soil Science ,engineering.material ,Slash-and-char ,Agronomy ,Environmental chemistry ,Biochar ,engineering ,Organic matter ,Fertilizer ,Soil fertility - Abstract
Land application of biochar, as a strategy to enhance soil fertility and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is receiving widespread interest. Short-term soil incubations (29 days) were used to investigate the effects of agriculturally relevant biochar applications from two contrasting feedstocks and temperatures on CO 2 and N 2 O emissions from a fertile agricultural soil amended with different types of fertilizer (organic and synthetic). In addition, the effects of biochar on the denitrification process were examined using an acetylene based method to ascertain N 2 O and N 2 emissions during denitrification. Complementary incubation experiments without soil (biochar and biochar with compost) examined the impact on natural or amended organic matter (compost) and biochar stability and surface chemistry were also investigated. Batch incubations (25 °C) of biochar (softwood pyrolyzed at 410 °C [WF 410 ] and 510 °C [WF 510 ] and walnut shell pyrolyzed at 900 °C [WA 900 ]) amended soils were performed to determine emissions of CO 2 and N 2 O due to complete (absence of acetylene [C 2 H 2 ]) and incomplete denitrification (presence of C 2 H 2 ). Similarly, GHG emissions from the complementary incubations were also measured. Concurrent biochar surface compositional changes were investigated with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Biochar effects on CO 2 emissions were not significantly different from controls. WA 900 biochar (high pH) affects N cycling resulting in significantly higher emissions of N 2 O under conditions of complete denitrification and of N 2 under conditions examining incomplete denitrification. WF 410 (highest H/C ratio and lowest surface area) treatments with compost resulted in higher GHGs emissions which is attributed to a priming effect of the compost organic matter (COM). In addition, WF 410 was most susceptible to degradation, evident from infrared spectroscopic analysis of the biochars. Although these results suggest that not all biochars provide substantial benefits as a soil amendment, the data do demonstrate potential for development of biochars with beneficial impacts on GHG emission mitigation and enhancement of soil C stocks. more...
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- 2013
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183. Positive effects of composted biochar on plant growth and soil fertility
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Bruno Glaser, Hardy Schulz, and Gerald Dunst
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[SDV.SA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences ,Nutrient cycle ,Environmental Engineering ,Terra preta ,Soil amendment ,010501 environmental sciences ,engineering.material ,Soil fertility ,complex mixtures ,7. Clean energy ,01 natural sciences ,Slash-and-char ,Climate change mitigation ,C sequestration ,Biochar ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,[SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment ,2. Zero hunger ,Chemistry ,Compost ,fungi ,food and beverages ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,15. Life on land ,Agronomy ,13. Climate action ,Soil water ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,engineering ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Fertilizer ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
International audience; Mankind is actually facing serious issues due to the overexploitation of fossil fuels, biomass, soils, nitrogen, and phosphorus. It is claimed that biochar addition to soil improves C sequestration to prevent CO2 from atmospheric cycling. Biochar addition should also increase soil fertility in a similar way as anthropogenic dark earths of Central Amazonia. Previous studies have shown that biochar stimulates plant growth and increase fertilizer efficiency, especially when biochar is combined with organic fertilizers such as compost. However, little is known about optimum addition amounts and mixture ratios of biochar and compost. Indeed most experiments to mimic Terra preta de Indio focused on biochar alone or biochar in combination with mineral fertilizers. Therefore, we studied optimum biochar and compost amounts and mixture ratios with respect to plant response and soil fertility. We tested the effect of total amount from 0 to 200 Mg/ha, and biochar proportion from 0 % to 50 % biochar, of 18 different compost mixtures on growth of oat (Avena sativa L.) and soil properties in a fully randomized greenhouse study with sandy and loamy soil substrates. We sampled soil substrates before and after plant growth and analyzed plant growth and yield, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), mineralized nitrogen (Nmin), soil reaction (pH), and electrical conductivity (EC) applying standard procedures. Results show that biomass production was increased with rising biochar and compost amounts. Oat plant height and seed weight was improved only with rising biochar amounts, but not with compost amounts. This could be explained by increase of total organic C and total N but not by plant-available ammonium and nitrate. The positive influence of composted biochar on plant growth and soil properties suggests that composting is a good way to overcome biochar’s inherent nutrient deficiency, making it a suitable technique helping to refine farm-scale nutrient cycles. more...
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184. Impact of biochar addition to soil on greenhouse gas emissions following pig manure application
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Peadar G. Lawlor, Mark G. Healy, Cornelius J. O' Flynn, and Shane M. Troy
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Tillage ,Crop residue ,Agronomy ,Soil organic matter ,Soil water ,Biochar ,Soil Science ,Environmental science ,Rice hulls ,Microbiology ,Manure ,Slash-and-char - Abstract
The application of biochar produced from wood and crop residues, such as sawdust, straw, sugar bagasse and rice hulls, to highly weathered soils under tropical conditions has been shown to influence soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, there is a lack of data concerning GHG emissions from soils amended with biochar derived from manure, and from soils outside tropical and subtropical regions. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect on emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) following the addition, at a rate of 18 t ha−1, of two different types of biochar to an Irish tillage soil. A soil column experiment was designed to compare three treatments (n = 8): (1) non-amended soil (2) soil mixed with biochar derived from the separated solid fraction of anaerobically digested pig manure and (3) soil mixed with biochar derived from Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis). The soil columns were incubated at 10 °C and 75% relative humidity, and leached with 80 mL distilled water, twice per week. Following 10 weeks of incubation, pig manure, equivalent to 170 kg nitrogen ha−1 and 36 kg phosphorus ha−1, was applied to half of the columns in each treatment (n = 4). Gaseous emissions were analysed for 28 days following manure application. Biochar addition to the soil increased N2O emissions in the pig manure-amended column, most likely as a result of increased denitrification caused by higher water filled pore space and organic carbon (C) contents. Biochar addition to soil also increased CO2 emissions. This was caused by increased rates of C mineralisation in these columns, either due to mineralisation of the labile C added with the biochar, or through increased mineralisation of the soil organic matter. more...
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185. Potential applications of wastes from energy generation particularly biochar in Malaysia
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Nur Akmal Rebitanim, Nur Zalikha Rebitanim, Wan Azlina Wan Ab Karim Ghani, and Mohamad Amran Mohd Salleh
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Flue gas ,Waste management ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Environmental engineering ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Combustion ,Slash-and-char ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Biochar ,Carbon dioxide ,Environmental science ,Soil fertility ,Pyrolysis ,Carbon - Abstract
In Malaysia, abundant agricultural wastes are generated yearly. Therefore it is beneficial to discover new ways to utilize the wastes and employ the carbon source in different industries. Biochar are produced through many heat treatments such as combustion, gasification and pyrolysis for energy generation. The characteristics of these stable carbons such as the physical properties, chemical composition, surface area and surface chemistry determine the effectiveness of the cabon in different applications. Biochar has the ability to retain carbon and this condition is advantageous to prevent the release of carbon back to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. Application of biochar to soil helps to improve soil fertility and raise agricultural productivity. Biochar also has the ability to reduce carbon dioxide in the flue gas system. There have only been a few studies that discuss on the potential applications of this agriculture waste. The biochar's potential application as carbon sequester for soil application, energy production and dye sorption is being explored in this paper. more...
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- 2013
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186. Impact of Biochar on Organic Contaminants in Soil: A Tool for Mitigating Risk?
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Kirk T. Semple and Uchenna Ogbonnaya
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sorption ,Environmental remediation ,lcsh:S ,Biota ,Raw material ,Pesticide ,bioaccessibility ,Slash-and-char ,lcsh:Agriculture ,Agronomy ,Environmental chemistry ,Soil water ,Biochar ,desorption ,Environmental science ,biochar ,bioavailability ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Pyrolysis - Abstract
The presence of biochar in soils through natural processes (forest fires, bush burning) or through application to soil (agriculture, carbon storage, remediation, waste management) has received a significant amount of scientific and regulatory attention. Biochar alters soil properties, encourages microbial activity and enhances sorption of inorganic and organic compounds, but this strongly depends on the feedstock and production process of biochar. This review considers biochar sources, the production process and result of pyrolysis, interactions of biochar with soil, and associated biota. Furthermore, the paper focuses on the interactions between biochar and common anthropogenic organic contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, and dioxins, which are often deposited in the soil environment. It then considers the feasibility of applying biochar in remediation technologies in addition to other perspective areas yet to be explored. more...
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- 2013
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187. Biochar Impacts on Soil Physical Properties and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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Atanu Mukherjee and Rattan Lal
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soil amendment ,Soil organic matter ,lcsh:S ,Environmental engineering ,Amendment ,Soil science ,green house gas (GHG) emissions ,Bulk density ,Soil quality ,Slash-and-char ,lcsh:Agriculture ,Greenhouse gas ,soil physical properties ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,biochar ,soil quality ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Pyrolysis - Abstract
Biochar, a co-product of a controlled pyrolysis process, can be used as a tool for sequestering C in soil to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and as a soil amendment. Whereas the impacts of biochar application on soil chemical properties are widely known, the research information on soil physical properties is scarce. The objectives of this review are to (i) synthesize available data on soil physical properties and GHG emissions, (ii) offer possible mechanisms related to the biochar-amended soil processes, and (iii) identify researchable priorities. Application rates of 1%–2% (w/w) of biochar can significantly improve soil physical quality in terms of bulk density (BD), and water holding capacity (WHC). However, little data are available on surface area (SA), aggregation stability, and penetration resistance (PR) of biochar-amended soil. While biochar amendment can initially accentuate the flux of carbon dioxide (CO2), the emission of GHGs may be suppressed over time. A 2-phase complexation hypothesis is proposed regarding the mechanisms of the interaction between soil and biochar. more...
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- 2013
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188. Can biochar reduce soil greenhouse gas emissions from a Miscanthus bioenergy crop?
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Niall P. McNamara, David S. Reay, Jeanette Whitaker, and Sean D.C. Case
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nitrous oxide ,biology ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Soil organic matter ,Amendment ,carbon dioxide ,Forestry ,Miscanthus ,biology.organism_classification ,Ecology and Environment ,soil ,Slash-and-char ,climate change ,Agriculture and Soil Science ,Agronomy ,Bioenergy ,Greenhouse gas ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,biochar ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,charcoal ,Renewable resource - Abstract
Energy production from bioenergy crops may significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through substitution of fossil fuels. Biochar amendment to soil may further decrease the net climate forcing of bioenergy crop production, however, this has not yet been assessed under field conditions. Significant suppression of soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions following biochar amendment has been demonstrated in short-term laboratory incubations by a number of authors, yet evidence from long-term field trials has been contradictory. This study investigated whether biochar amendment could suppress soil GHG emissions under field and controlled conditions in a Miscanthus × Giganteus crop and whether suppression would be sustained during the first 2 years following amendment. In the field, biochar amendment suppressed soil CO2 emissions by 33% and annual net soil CO2 equivalent (eq.) emissions (CO2, N2O and methane, CH4) by 37% over 2 years. In the laboratory, under controlled temperature and equalised gravimetric water content, biochar amendment suppressed soil CO2 emissions by 53% and net soil CO2 eq. emissions by 55%. Soil N2O emissions were not significantly suppressed with biochar amendment, although they were generally low. Soil CH4 fluxes were below minimum detectable limits in both experiments. These findings demonstrate that biochar amendment has the potential to suppress net soil CO2 eq. emissions in bioenergy crop systems for up to 2 years after addition, primarily through reduced CO2 emissions. Suppression of soil CO2 emissions may be due to a combined effect of reduced enzymatic activity, the increased carbon-use efficiency from the co-location of soil microbes, soil organic matter and nutrients and the precipitation of CO2 onto the biochar surface. We conclude that hardwood biochar has the potential to improve the GHG balance of bioenergy crops through reductions in net soil CO2 eq. emissions. more...
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
189. Impact of biochar application on nitrogen nutrition of rice, greenhouse-gas emissions and soil organic carbon dynamics in two paddy soils of China
- Author
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Jean Wan Hong Yong, Georg Cadisch, Shuijin Hu, Jianguo Zhu, Zubin Xie, James E. Amonette, Cong Tu, Gang Liu, Yanping Xu, and Qi Liu
- Subjects
Inceptisol ,Soil Science ,Plant Science ,Soil carbon ,Ultisol ,engineering.material ,Carbon sequestration ,Straw ,Slash-and-char ,Agronomy ,Biochar ,engineering ,Environmental science ,Fertilizer - Abstract
Two field microcosm experiments and 15N labeling techniques were used to investigate the effects of biochar addition on rice N nutrition and GHG emissions in an Inceptisol and an Ultisol. Biochar N bioavailability and effect of biochar on fertilizer nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) were studied by 15N-enriched wheat biochar (7.8803 atom% 15N) and fertilizer urea (5.0026 atom% 15N) (Experiment I). Corn biochar and corn stalks were applied at 12 Mg ha−1 to study their effects on GHG emissions (Experiment II). Biochar had no significant impact on rice production and less than 2 % of the biochar N was available to plants in the first season. Biochar addition increased soil C and N contents and decreased urea NUE. Seasonal cumulative CH4 emissions with biochar were similar to the controls, but significantly lower than the local practice of straw amendment. N2O emissions with biochar were similar to the control in the acidic Ultisol, but significantly higher in the slightly alkaline Inceptisol. Carbon-balance calculations found no major losses of biochar-C. Low bio-availability of biochar N did not make a significantly impact on rice production or N nutrition during the first year. Replacement of straw amendments with biochar could decrease CH4 emissions and increase SOC stocks. more...
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
190. Life Cycle Assessment to Evaluate the Environmental Impact of Biochar Implementation in Conservation Agriculture in Zambia
- Author
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Gijs D. Breedveld, Vegard Martinsen, Gerard Cornelissen, Magnus Sparrevik, and John L. Field
- Subjects
Crops, Agricultural ,Conservation of Natural Resources ,Geography ,business.industry ,Conservation agriculture ,Environmental engineering ,Zambia ,Agriculture ,General Chemistry ,Environment ,Zea mays ,Slash-and-char ,Climate change mitigation ,Environmental protection ,Charcoal ,Stove ,Biochar ,Environmental Chemistry ,Soil fertility ,business ,Life-cycle assessment - Abstract
Biochar amendment to soil is a potential technology for carbon storage and climate change mitigation. It may, in addition, be a valuable soil fertility enhancer for agricultural purposes in sandy and/or weathered soils. A life cycle assessment including ecological, health and resource impacts has been conducted for field sites in Zambia to evaluate the overall impacts of biochar for agricultural use. The life cycle impacts from conservation farming using cultivation growth basins and precision fertilization with and without biochar addition were in the present study compared to conventional agricultural methods. Three different biochar production methods were evaluated: traditional earth-mound kilns, improved retort kilns, and micro top-lit updraft (TLUD) gasifier stoves. The results confirm that the use of biochar in conservation farming is beneficial for climate change mitigation purposes. However, when including health impacts from particle emissions originating from biochar production, conservation farming plus biochar from earth-mound kilns generally results in a larger negative effect over the whole life cycle than conservation farming without biochar addition. The use of cleaner technologies such as retort kilns or TLUDs can overcome this problem, mainly because fewer particles and less volatile organic compounds, methane and carbon monoxide are emitted. These results emphasize the need for a holistic view on biochar use in agricultural systems. Of special importance is the biochar production technique which has to be evaluated from both environmental/climate, health and social perspectives. more...
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
191. Review on utilization of biochar for metal-contaminated soil and sediment remediation
- Author
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Aizhong Ding, Lirong Cheng, Dayang Wang, Mingming Wang, Yi Zhu, Bruce Andserson, and Xiaohui Zhao
- Subjects
Geologic Sediments ,Environmental Engineering ,Environmental remediation ,Amendment ,Biomass ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Slash-and-char ,Biochar ,Environmental Chemistry ,Soil Pollutants ,Environmental Restoration and Remediation ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,General Environmental Science ,Waste management ,Environmental engineering ,food and beverages ,Sediment ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Medicine ,Contamination ,Soil contamination ,Metals ,Charcoal ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science - Abstract
Biochar is a carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative material produced through thermal decomposition of plant- and animal-based biomass under oxygen-limited conditions. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the application of biochar as an adsorbent, soil ameliorant and climate mitigation approach in many types of applications. Metal-contaminated soil remediation using biochar has been intensively investigated in small-scale and pilot-scale trials with obtained beneficial results and multifaceted effects. But so far, the study and application of biochar in contaminated sediment management has been very limited, and this is also a worldwide problem. Nonetheless, there is reason to believe that the same multiple benefits can also be realized with these sediments due to similar mechanisms for stabilizing contaminants. This paper provides a review on current biochar properties and its use as a sorbent/amendment for metal-contaminated soil/sediment remediation and its effect on plant growth, fauna habits as well as microorganism communities. In addition, the use of biochar as a potential strategy for contaminated sediment management is also discussed, especially as regards in-situ planning. Finally, we highlight the possibility of biochar application as an effective amendment and propose further research directions to ensure the safe and sustainable use of biochar as an amendment for remediation of contaminated soil and sediment. more...
- Published
- 2017
192. Biochar boosts tropical but not temperate crop yields
- Author
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Bruce A. Hungate, M. Prodana, Diego Abalos, Simon Jeffery, Frank G. A. Verheijen, Jan Willem van Groenigen, and Ana Catarina Bastos
- Subjects
010501 environmental sciences ,engineering.material ,01 natural sciences ,complex mixtures ,Slash-and-char ,soil ,Soil pH ,Biochar ,Temperate climate ,biochar ,Bodembiologie ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,General Environmental Science ,2. Zero hunger ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Agroforestry ,Crop yield ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Tropics ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Soil Biology ,15. Life on land ,crop yield ,PE&RC ,meta-analysis ,Agronomy ,13. Climate action ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,engineering ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science ,Fertilizer ,Arable land - Abstract
Applying biochar to soil is thought to have multiple benefits, from helping mitigate climate change [1, 2], to managing waste [3] to conserving soil [4]. Biochar is also widely assumed to boost crop yield [5, 6], but there is controversy regarding the extent and cause of any yield benefit [7]. Here we use a global-scale meta-analysis to show that biochar has, on average, no effect on crop yield in temperate latitudes, yet elicits a 25% average increase in yield in the tropics. In the tropics, biochar increased yield through liming and fertilization, consistent with the low soil pH, low fertility, and low fertilizer inputs typical of arable tropical soils. We also found that, in tropical soils, high-nutrient biochar inputs stimulated yield substantially more than low-nutrient biochar, further supporting the role of nutrient fertilization in the observed yield stimulation. In contrast, arable soils in temperate regions are moderate in pH, higher in fertility, and generally receive higher fertilizer inputs, leaving little room for additional benefits from biochar. Our findings demonstrate that the yield-stimulating effects of biochar are not universal, but may especially benefit agriculture in low-nutrient, acidic soils in the tropics. Biochar management in temperate zones should focus on potential non-yield benefits such as lime and fertilizer cost savings, greenhouse gas emissions control, and other ecosystem services. more...
- Published
- 2017
193. Effect of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type on agricultural properties and stability and biochars
- Author
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Débora Marcondes Bastos Pereira Milori, Thalita Fernanda Abbruzzini, Rafaela Feola Conz, Cristiano Alberto de Andrade, Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri, and DEBORA MARCONDES BASTOS PEREIRA, CNPDIA.
- Subjects
Characterization ,010501 environmental sciences ,Raw material ,01 natural sciences ,Char ,Slash-and-char ,Biochar ,C sequestration ,Cation-exchange capacity ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Chemistry ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Medicine ,Pulp and paper industry ,Manure ,Agronomy ,visual_art ,PIRÓLISE ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Sawdust ,Organic C ,Pyrolysis ,GHC - Abstract
Pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type used to produce biochar influence the physicochemical properties of the obtained product, which in turn display a range of results when used as soil amendment. From soil carbon (C) sequestration strategy to nutrient source, biochar is used to enhance soil properties and to improve agricultural production. However, contrasting effects are observed from biochar application to soil results from a wide range of biochar’s properties in combination with specific environmental conditions. Therefore, elucidation on the effect of pyrolysis conditions and feedstock type on biochar properties may provide basic information to the understanding of soil and biochar interactions. In this study, biochar was produced from four different agricultural organic residues: Poultry litter, sugarcane straw, rice hull and sawdust pyrolysed at final temperatures of 350°C, 450°C, 550°C and 650°C. The effect of temperature and feedstock type on the variability of physicochemical properties of biochars was evaluated through measurements of pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, macronutrient content, proximate and elemental analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analyses. Additionally, an incubation trial was carried under controlled conditions to determine the effect of biochar stability on CO2-eq emissions. Results showed that increasing pyrolysis temperature supported biochar stability regardless of feedstock, however, agricultural properties varied widely both as an effect of temperature and feedstock. Animal manure biochar showed higher potential as nutrient source rather than a C sequestration strategy. Improving the knowledge on the influence of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type on the final properties of biochar will enable the use of better tailored materials that correspond to the expected results while considering its interactions with environmental conditions. more...
- Published
- 2017
194. Impact of biochar application on the productivity of a temperate vegetable cropping system
- Author
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Louise Murphy, Alieta Eyles, Anna Wrobel-Tobiszewska, and M. Boersma
- Subjects
biology ,Crop yield ,Eucalyptus polybractea ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,010501 environmental sciences ,Horticulture ,engineering.material ,biology.organism_classification ,01 natural sciences ,Soil quality ,Slash-and-char ,Agronomy ,Soil water ,Biochar ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,engineering ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science ,Fertilizer ,Cropping system ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Few studies have investigated the potential of biochar in supporting cool temperate horticultural systems with fertile soils. We examined the effects of applying 10 t ha−1 of blue mallee (Eucalyptus polybractea) biochar in combination with fertiliser rate treatments (either full or half the regional recommended rate) on crop yield, yield parameters and soil properties of a cool temperate vegetable cropping system on a red Ferrosol. Biochar amendment did not improve crop yield or other yield parameters of cauliflower, peas and broccoli crops. Similarly, soil parameters including nitrate and ammonium were unaffected by biochar treatment. We suggest the lack of biochar effect on crop and soil parameters was related to the inherent chemical fertility and structural robustness of Ferrosols, which may have mitigated any potential benefits from biochar amendment. Our results demonstrate that biochar application may not bring significant soil quality and crop productivity improvements to high-input agricultural systems. more...
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
195. Examining the Potential of Forest Residue-Based Amendments for Post-Wildfire Rehabilitation in Colorado, USA
- Author
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Derek Pierson, Kerri L. Minatre, Timothy S. Fegel, Charles C. Rhoades, Eugene F. Kelly, and M. Francesca Cotrufo
- Subjects
Article Subject ,lcsh:R ,lcsh:Medicine ,Soil classification ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,complex mixtures ,Slash-and-char ,Soil conditioner ,Agronomy ,Soil pH ,Soil water ,Biochar ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science ,lcsh:Q ,lcsh:Science ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,Water content ,Mulch ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,General Environmental Science ,Research Article - Abstract
Wildfire is a natural disturbance, though elemental losses and changes that occur during combustion and post-fire erosion can have long-term impacts on soil properties, ecosystem productivity, and watershed condition. Here we evaluate the potential of forest residue-based materials to rehabilitate burned soils. We compare soil nutrient and water availability, and plant recovery after application of 37 t ha−1of wood mulch, 20 t ha−1of biochar, and the combination of the two amendments with untreated, burned soils. We also conducted a greenhouse trial to examine how biochar influenced soil nutrient and water content under two wetting regimes. The effects of wood mulch on plant-available soil N and water content were significant and seasonally consistent during the three-year field study. Biochar applied alone had few effects under field conditions, but significantly increased soil pH, Ca, P, and water in the greenhouse. The mulched biochar treatment had the greatest effects on soil N and water availability and increased cover of the most abundant native plant. We found that rehabilitation treatments consisting of forest residue-based products have potential to enhance soil N and water dynamics and plant recovery following severe wildfire and may be justified where erosion risk or water supply protection are crucial. more...
- Published
- 2016
196. Biochar amendment reduces paddy soil nitrogen leaching but increases net global warming potential in Ningxia irrigation, China
- Author
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Hongyuan Liu, Yansui Liu, Ruliang Liu, Zhengli Yang, Aiping Zhang, Yongsheng Wang, Shiqi Yang, and Yang Zhou
- Subjects
Irrigation ,Multidisciplinary ,Soil organic matter ,Science ,Amendment ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Article ,Slash-and-char ,Agronomy ,Biochar ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Paddy field ,Environmental science ,Medicine ,Soil fertility ,Leaching (agriculture) ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
The efficacy of biochar as an environmentally friendly agent for non-point source and climate change mitigation remains uncertain. Our goal was to test the impact of biochar amendment on paddy rice nitrogen (N) uptake, soil N leaching, and soil CH4 and N2O fluxes in northwest China. Biochar was applied at four rates (0, 4.5, 9 and13.5 t ha−1 yr−1). Biochar amendment significantly increased rice N uptake, soil total N concentration and the abundance of soil ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), but it significantly reduced the soil NO3−-N concentration and soil bulk density. Biochar significantly reduced NO3−-N and NH4+-N leaching. The C2 and C3 treatments significantly increased the soil CH4 flux and reduced the soil N2O flux, leading to significantly increased net global warming potential (GWP). Soil NO3−-N rather than NH4+-N was the key integrator of the soil CH4 and N2O fluxes. Our results indicate that a shift in abundance of the AOA community and increased rice N uptake are closely linked to the reduced soil NO3−-N concentration under biochar amendment. Furthermore, soil NO3−-N availability plays an important role in regulating soil inorganic N leaching and net GWP in rice paddies in northwest China. more...
- Published
- 2016
197. Biochar amendment of grassland soil may promote woody encroachment by Eastern Red Cedar
- Author
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Ramesh Laungani, Tyler Kuhfahl, Kenneth J. Elgersma, Maria Juarez, and Kristin M. McElligott
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,plant-soil feedback ,Soil Science ,Context (language use) ,Plant Science ,01 natural sciences ,Grassland ,nitrogen ,Slash-and-char ,Invasion ,litter ,Biochar ,biochar ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Plant litter ,Soil conditioner ,Agronomy ,Soil water ,immobilization ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,Litter ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Although carbon (C) additions to soil have been used in restoration to combat invasive species through changes in soil nitrogen (N) availability, carbon amendments to soil derived from plant material can impact soil N availability in a species-specific manner. As such, amendment-driven feedbacks on N may impact invasive species success and woody encroachment. Soil amendments like biochar, which is often added to soil to increase C storage in grassland systems, may unintentionally encourage woody encroachment into these grasslands by changing soil N dynamics. Few studies have examined biochar impacts on non-agricultural species, particularly invasive species. Woody encroachment of Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) into grasslands provides an ideal context for examining the impact of biochar in grasslands. In the greenhouse, we examined the effect of biochar or leaf litter derived from native and exotic grasses on J. virginiana seedling growth. Juniperus virginiana seedlings grew 40% bigger in biochar amended soil as compared to seedlings grown in litter amended soil. Additionally, we found a more than 2 order of magnitude increase in available NH4+ in the biochar treatments compared to the litter amended soils. Furthermore we found that biochar feedstock type did not have an impact on the effect of biochar, as both native and exotic grass biochar had similar impacts on soil N levels and J. virginiana growth. Our work suggests that once grassland litter is converted to biochar, species impacts on soil N may disappear. In conclusion, our data suggests soil amendments of biochar may encourage woody encroachment into grasslands. more...
- Published
- 2016
198. Pyrolysis: a Sustainable Way From Biomass to Biofuels and Biochar
- Author
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Ersan Pütün, Başak Burcu Uzun, and Esin Apaydın Varol
- Subjects
Biomass to liquid ,Biofuel ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,Biomass ,Pulp and paper industry ,Pyrolysis ,Slash-and-char - Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
199. Particulate matter emissions from biochar-amended soils as a potential tradeoff to the negative emission potential
- Author
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Zhongju Meng, Brenton Sharratt, Junran Li, Sujith Ravi, Jianguo Zhang, and Stuart Olshevski
- Subjects
Pollution ,Biogeochemical cycle ,Multidisciplinary ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Soil science ,15. Life on land ,010501 environmental sciences ,Carbon sequestration ,Particulates ,01 natural sciences ,Article ,6. Clean water ,Slash-and-char ,13. Climate action ,visual_art ,Environmental chemistry ,Biochar ,Soil water ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,Environmental science ,Charcoal ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,media_common - Abstract
Novel carbon sequestration strategies such as large-scale land application of biochar may provide sustainable pathways to increase the terrestrial storage of carbon. Biochar has a long residence time in the soil and hence comprehensive studies are urgently needed to quantify the environmental impacts of large-scale biochar application. In particular, black carbon emissions from soils amended with biochar may counteract the negative emission potential due to the impacts on air quality, climate, and biogeochemical cycles. We investigated, using wind tunnel experiments, the particulate matter emission potential of a sand and two agriculturally important soils amended with different concentrations of biochar, in comparison to control soils. Our results indicate that biochar application considerably increases particulate emissions possibly by two mechanisms–the accelerated emission of fine biochar particles and the generation and emission of fine biochar particles resulting from abrasion of large biochar particles by sand grains. Our study highlights the importance of considering the background soil properties (e.g., texture) and geomorphological processes (e.g., aeolian transport) for biochar-based carbon sequestration programs. more...
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
200. The interactions of composting and biochar and their implications for soil amendment and pollution remediation: a review
- Author
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Ming Chen, Juan Dai, Guangming Zeng, Xiaodong Li, Jie Liang, Chen Jin, Cui Lai, Haipeng Wu, Lunhui Lu, Liang Hu, Xu Jijun, Junfeng Liu, and Jia Wan
- Subjects
Environmental remediation ,Amendment ,010501 environmental sciences ,engineering.material ,01 natural sciences ,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology ,Slash-and-char ,Soil ,Waste Management ,Biochar ,Cation-exchange capacity ,Organic matter ,Environmental Restoration and Remediation ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Waste management ,Compost ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Medicine ,Humus ,Agronomy ,chemistry ,Charcoal ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,engineering ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Environmental science ,Environmental Pollutants ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Compost and biochar, used for the remediation of soil, are seen as attractive waste management options for the increasing volume of organic wastes being produced. This paper reviews the interaction of biochar and composting and its implication for soil amendment and pollution remediation. The interaction of biochar and composting affect each other’s properties. Biochar could change the physico-chemical properties, microorganisms, degradation, humification and gas emission of composting, such as the increase of nutrients, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter and microbial activities. The composting could also change the physico-chemical properties and facial functional groups of biochar, such as the improvement of nutrients, CEC, functional groups and organic matter. These changes would potentially improve the efficiency of the biochar and composting for soil amendment and pollution remediation. Based on the above review, this paper also discusses the future research required in this field. more...
- Published
- 2016
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