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Effects of biochar application on soil greenhouse gas fluxes: a meta‐analysis.
- Source :
- GCB Bioenergy; Apr2017, Vol. 9 Issue 4, p743-755, 13p
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Abstract: Biochar application to soils may increase carbon (C) sequestration due to the inputs of recalcitrant organic C. However, the effects of biochar application on the soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes appear variable among many case studies; therefore, the efficacy of biochar as a carbon sequestration agent for climate change mitigation remains uncertain. We performed a meta‐analysis of 91 published papers with 552 paired comparisons to obtain a central tendency of three main GHG fluxes (i.e., CO<subscript>2</subscript>, CH<subscript>4</subscript>, and N<subscript>2</subscript>O) in response to biochar application. Our results showed that biochar application significantly increased soil CO<subscript>2</subscript> fluxes by 22.14%, but decreased N<subscript>2</subscript>O fluxes by 30.92% and did not affect CH<subscript>4</subscript> fluxes. As a consequence, biochar application may significantly contribute to an increased global warming potential (GWP) of total soil GHG fluxes due to the large stimulation of CO<subscript>2</subscript> fluxes. However, soil CO<subscript>2</subscript> fluxes were suppressed when biochar was added to fertilized soils, indicating that biochar application is unlikely to stimulate CO<subscript>2</subscript> fluxes in the agriculture sector, in which N fertilizer inputs are common. Responses of soil GHG fluxes mainly varied with biochar feedstock source and soil texture and the pyrolysis temperature of biochar. Soil and biochar pH, biochar applied rate, and latitude also influence soil GHG fluxes, but to a more limited extent. Our findings provide a scientific basis for developing more rational strategies toward widespread adoption of biochar as a soil amendment for climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- BIOCHAR
GREENHOUSE gases
FLUX (Energy)
CARBON in soils
CARBON sequestration
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17571693
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- GCB Bioenergy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 130128686
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12376