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Albalasmeh AA, Quzaih MZ, Gharaibeh MA, Rusan M, Mohawesh OE, Rababah SR, Alqudah A, Alghamdi AG, Naserin A. Significance of pyrolytic temperature, application rate and incubation period of biochar in improving hydro-physical properties of calcareous sandy loam soil. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7012. [PMID: 38528139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57755-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Biochar is increasingly recognized for its ability to enhance hydro-physical properties of soil, offering promising solutions for improving soil structure, water retention, and overall agricultural productivity. In this study, sandy loam soil was amended at different rates (0, 15, 30, and 60 t ha-1) of biochar produced from olive pomace (Jift) at different pyrolysis temperatures (300, 400, 500, and 600 °C), and incubated for 30, 60, and 90 days. The biochar-amended soils were collected for analysis after each incubation period for infiltration rate, aggregate stability, soil water retention, water repellency, and penetration resistance. At 300 °C, aggregate stability increased with biochar amendments; the highest value (65%) was after 60 days of incubation. At other pyrolysis temperatures, aggregate stability decreased, or no effect of temperature was observed. Also, at 300 °C, the infiltration rate was decreased with biochar application and the lowest value of (0.14 ml/min) was at 90 days of incubation. At other pyrolysis temperatures, the infiltration rate was increased with increased biochar application rate. Water retention was increased with biochar application at 300 °C; however, biochar application did not affect water retention at other pyrolysis temperatures. These results strongly suggest the improvement of soil physical and hydraulic properties following the addition of biochar amendment. Overall, biochar had positive effects on hydro-physical properties. The biochar produced at 300 °C pyrolysis temperature was the most beneficial to agriculturally relevant hydraulic conditions. However, field assessments are necessary to evaluate the long-term effects of biochar on hydro-physical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar A Albalasmeh
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan.
| | - Mohammad Z Quzaih
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Mamoun A Gharaibeh
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Munir Rusan
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Osama E Mohawesh
- Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Mutah University, P.O. Box: 7, Karak, 61710, Jordan
| | - Samer R Rababah
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Alqudah
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Art and Science, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdulaziz G Alghamdi
- Department of Soil Sciences, College of Food and Agricultural Science, King Saud University, PO Box 2460, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amir Naserin
- Department of Water Engineering, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, 6341773637, Iran
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Dengxiao Z, Hongbin J, Wenjing Z, Qingsong Y, Zhihang M, Haizhong W, Wei R, Shiliang L, Daichang W. Combined biochar and water-retaining agent application increased soil water retention capacity and maize seedling drought resistance in Fluvisols. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167885. [PMID: 37863232 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change has accelerated the occurrence of agricultural drought events, which threaten food security. Therefore, improvements in the soil water retention capacity (WRC) and crop drought resistance are crucial for promoting the sustainability of the agricultural environment. In this study, we explored the effects of applying biochar and water-retaining agent (WRA) on soil WRC and crop drought resistance in a Fluvisols, along with their potential mechanisms. We applied two types of biochar (based on wheat and maize straw) and two WRAs (polyacrylamide and starch-grafted sodium acrylate) to Fluvisols with different textures, and then evaluated soil water retention and crop drought physiological resistance. The combined biochar and WRA treatment increased the WRC in both the sandy loam and clay loam Fluvisols. Biochar and WRA increased the relative content of soil hydrophilic functional groups. Compared with the control (CK), the combined application of biochar and WRA increased the field capacity, reduced soil water volatilization under drought conditions, and slowed water infiltration into the Fluvisols. The soil WRC was higher with the wheat straw biochar (WBC) treatment than with the maize straw biochar (MBC) treatment. It was also higher with polyacrylamide treatment than with the starch-grafted sodium acrylate treatment. The combined application of biochar and WRA improved crop drought physiological resistance by significantly increasing the maize seedling potassium (K) and soluble sugar contents, increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, and reducing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The results indicate that the application of biochar and WRA alleviated drought stress by increasing the soil WRC and improving crop drought resistance in Fluvisols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Dengxiao
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jie Hongbin
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Zhang Wenjing
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yuan Qingsong
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Ma Zhihang
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Wu Haizhong
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Rao Wei
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Liu Shiliang
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Wang Daichang
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
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Nyambo P, Motsi H, Chiduza C, Malobane ME. Biochar ageing improves soil properties, growth and yield of red radish (Raphanus sativus) in a Haplic Cambisol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288709. [PMID: 37467302 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of biochar as a soil ameliorant has recently gained momentum. However, its application has been reported to have some adverse effects soon after the pyrolysis process. This study aimed to determine the effect of different biochar ageing methods and fertiliser applications on selected soil properties, growth, and yield of red radish (Raphanus sativus L.). A 2 x 3 factorial arrangement was used in a complete randomised design (CRD) with three replications. The factors were (1) biochar ageing at three levels, i.e., naturally aged biochar (NB), artificially aged biochar (AB), and fresh biochar (FB), and (2) fertiliser at two levels viz fertilised (F) and non-fertilised (NF). A control treatment (without biochar) was also included. Irrespective of the ageing method used, biochar application significantly increased soil pH, while fertiliser application significantly reduced soil pH throughout the experiment. Similarly, biochar application significantly increased soil hydraulic conductivity compared to the control. However, after ten weeks, significantly higher soil hydraulic conductivity was reported in treatments with AB biochar compared to both NB and FB. The application of fertiliser in biochar-amended soils improves the soil's hydraulic properties and increases radish growth. The study concludes that AB biochar + fertiliser application improves soil properties and growth of radish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Nyambo
- Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | - Hammond Motsi
- Department of Agronomy, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | - Cornelius Chiduza
- Department of Agronomy, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | - Mashapa Elvis Malobane
- Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, South Africa
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Yuan Z, Song Y, Li D, Huang B, Chen Y, Ge X, Zheng M, Liao Y, Xie Z. Effects of biochar application on the loss characteristics of Cd from acidic soil under simulated rainfall conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:83969-83980. [PMID: 35776308 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21623-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biochar is widely used for immobilizing heavy metals in soil as a kind of high-effective passivator. This research conducted incubation and simulated rainfall experiments to study the effects of biochar application on the loss characteristics of runoff and sediment, as well as the transportation of the Cd during the water erosion process. Two rainfall intensities (60 and 120 mm h-1) and five biochar application rates (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) were considered in the experiment. The result showed that slaking had a greater effect than mechanical stirring in aggregate breakdown of the soil, and the addition of biochar generally increased the sensitivity of the soil to wet stirring, while had no obvious influence on the resistance to slaking. The H2O and CaCl2 extractable Cd in soil significantly decreased with the increase of biochar application rate. The runoff yields decreased with the increase of biochar application rate at both the two rainfall intensities, while the eroded sediment generally decreased at the 120 mm h-1 rainfall intensity. The addition of biochar tended to increase the loss of the middle-sized (1-0.05 mm) aggregates at the 60 mm h-1 rainfall intensity, whereas reduced their loss at the 120 mm h-1 rainfall intensity. Biochar application could significantly reduce the concentration of Cd in the runoff and decreased the total loss amount of Cd (sediment+runoff) in most of the cases. Excessively high level (7%) of biochar application may aggravate soil erosion and result in more Cd loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaijian Yuan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environment and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- International Academy of Soil and Water Conservation, Meizhou, 514000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yueyan Song
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Dingqiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environment and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- International Academy of Soil and Water Conservation, Meizhou, 514000, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environment and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China.
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China.
- International Academy of Soil and Water Conservation, Meizhou, 514000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yunhui Chen
- Jiangxi Provincial Meteorological Observatory, Nanchang, 330096, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojun Ge
- South China Normal University, School of Environment, Guangzhou, 510631, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingguo Zheng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environment and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- International Academy of Soil and Water Conservation, Meizhou, 514000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yishan Liao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environment and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- International Academy of Soil and Water Conservation, Meizhou, 514000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenyue Xie
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environment and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangzhou, 510650, People's Republic of China
- International Academy of Soil and Water Conservation, Meizhou, 514000, People's Republic of China
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Chen Z, Kamchoom V, Apriyono A, Chen R, Chen C. Laboratory study of water infiltration and evaporation in biochar-amended landfill covers under extreme climate. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 153:323-334. [PMID: 36181742 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Biochar has been used as an environment-friendly enhancer to improve the soil hydraulic properties. Previous studies focused on the effect of biochar addition for irrigation in agricultural soils. However, the understanding of the influence of biochar addition on water infiltration in compacted soils as used in landfill covers is limited. This study investigated the effects of peanut shell biochar addition on soil water infiltration with consideration of soil microstructure variations. The performance of biochar-amended soil was also explored under extreme rainfall and drought conditions. In this experiment, peanut shell biochar with particles finer than 0.25 mm was amended into compacted silty sand. Index soil properties and microstructure were observed. One-dimension (1-D) column tests and corresponding numerical modelling were carried out to investigate the performance of this cover material under different climate scenarios. The results suggested that the application of biochar can increase soil porosity, but a significant number of large pores (i.e., larger than 20 μm) was minimized. With the application of biochar, the soil covers thus become more efficient in preventing infiltration and percolation. This is also crucial to minimize the need for a relatively large thickness of soil cover. With an increase in porosity, the biochar can improve the soil water retention. Under extreme drought, the application of biochar can reduce the very low pore-water pressure (PWP) in soils by more than 50%. From all of these, peanut shell biochar can potentially be an eco-friendly and more sustainable solution for soil covers, even under extreme climate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongkui Chen
- Shenzhen Yanzhi Science and Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen 518101, China
| | - Viroon Kamchoom
- Excellent Centre for Green and Sustainable Infrastructure, School of Engineering, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand.
| | - Arwan Apriyono
- Excellent Centre for Green and Sustainable Infrastructure, School of Engineering, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
| | - Rui Chen
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chaowei Chen
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Gámiz B, Velarde P, Spokas KA, Cox L. The Role of Nanoengineered Biochar Activated with Fe for Sulfanilamide Removal from Soils and Water. Molecules 2022; 27:7418. [PMID: 36364242 PMCID: PMC9657491 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Biochar is a nanoengineered sorbent proposed to control the contamination derived from the presence of residual concentrations of sulfonamides in soil. In this work, we evaluated the sorption of sulfanilamide (SFA) in commercial biochar (BC) produced at 500 °C from oak hardwood (Quercus ilex) and its analog activated with 2% (w/w) Fe (BC-Fe). Subsequently, the effect on dissipation and transport of SFA in untreated soil and soil treated with BC and BC-Fe was also assessed. Laboratory batch studies revealed that BC-Fe increased the sorption of SFA as compared to the pristine BC with Kd of 278 and 98 L/kg, respectively. The dissipation of SFA in either untreated soil or soil treated with BC or BC-Fe was similar, displaying half-lives ranging between 4 and 6.4 days. Conversely, the concurrent determination of sorption during the incubation experiment showed that lower amounts of SFA in solution at the beginning of the experiments were bioavailable in BC-Fe-treated soil when compared to the rest of the treatments shortly after application. Leaching column studies confirmed the amendment's capability to bind the SFA compound. Therefore, the decrease in bioavailability and movement of SFA in treated soils suggest that biochar soil application can reduce SFA soil and water contamination. According to our results, BC surface modification after Fe activation may be more appropriate for water decontamination than for soil since there were no significant differences between the two types of biochar when added to the soil. Therefore, these outcomes should be considered to optimize the SFA mitigation potential of biochar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Gámiz
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Avenida Reina Mercedes 10, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Pilar Velarde
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Avenida Reina Mercedes 10, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Kurt A. Spokas
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 439 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Lucía Cox
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Avenida Reina Mercedes 10, 41012 Seville, Spain
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Wang H, Shao D, Ji B, Gu W, Yao M. Biochar effects on soil properties, water movement and irrigation water use efficiency of cultivated land in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 829:154520. [PMID: 35292320 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biochar, has recently, been widely used as a potential soil additive to improve the quality of cultivated land. However, the effect of biochar on irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) remains unclear in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effects of biochar on the soil properties, water infiltration, and irrigation water efficiency of QTP cultivated land. A column experiment with four biochar application levels (0, 3, 6, and 9 kg·m-2 denoted CK, BC1, BC2, and BC3, respectively) was conducted to explore the biochar effect on the soil water infiltration process. The soil bulk density (γ), saturated water content (θs), soil water retention curve (SWRC), specific water capacity C(h), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) were measured after the trial. The effects of biochar application level, biochar application depth, irrigation water depth, and initial soil moisture on water loss and IWUE were then simulated by HYDRUS-2D. The results showed that biochar slowed the process of soil water infiltration by changing the soil physical properties and hydraulic properties, reducing the water loss by 5%-15.02%, effectively alleviating the waste of irrigation water, and therefore increasing IWUE by 2%-9.43%. Water loss and IWUE were significantly associated with the biochar application depth and level. Additionally, a biochar level of 6 kg·m-2 showed the best effect for ameliorating the QTP's cultivated soil. These results provide a novel approach for reducing water loss and enhancing the irrigation water use efficiency of QTP cultivated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Dongguo Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
| | - Bin Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wenquan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Minglei Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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Zhang Y, Zhao H, Hu W, Wang Y, Zhang H, Zhou X, Fei J, Luo G. Understanding how reed-biochar application mitigates nitrogen losses in paddy soil: Insight into microbially-driven nitrogen dynamics. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 295:133904. [PMID: 35157877 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biochar application to chemical-amended paddy soils has been proposed as a potential strategy to enhance nitrogen (N) retention and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by crops. However, optimal concentrations for these enhancements and the potential drivers are not well understood. Herein, a column-based pot experiment was carried out to investigate the impacts of reed-biochar application rate on N losses and dynamics in paddy soils treated by chemical fertilizer, and particularly, to explore the dominant factors of the processes. The addition of 2-4% reed-biochar had the most significant effects on mitigating N loss by leaching. Reed-biochar amendment increased soil total N and mineral N (NH4+-N and NO3--N) content, and denitrifying gene abundance, and the increments of those variables were positively related to the application rate. Soil treated with 1-4% reed-biochar at harvest period showed higher gene abundances of ammonia-oxidizing and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and higher activity of β-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) and leucine aminopeptidase compared with the 4-8% application rate. The amoA-AOA gene abundance, NAG activity, and total carbon (C) content were the main predictors of total N and mineral N accumulated leakage. Total C content was the main predictor of soil total N and mineral N content, followed by the pH and NAG activity. These results suggest that adding 2-4% reed-biochar was more beneficial to mitigate N loss and thus enhance soil N storage and availability. This study highlights the importance of understanding how microbial populations mediate N transformation to decipher biochar-driven NUE enhancement in paddy soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use, Changsha, 410128, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Hang Zhao
- College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use, Changsha, 410128, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Wang Hu
- College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use, Changsha, 410128, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Yizhe Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use, Changsha, 410128, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Hanfeng Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use, Changsha, 410128, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Jiangchi Fei
- College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use, Changsha, 410128, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Gongwen Luo
- College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Farmland Pollution Control and Agricultural Resources Use, Changsha, 410128, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Changsha, 410128, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China.
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Liao W, Drake J, Thomas SC. Biochar granulation enhances plant performance on a green roof substrate. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 813:152638. [PMID: 34968588 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Green roofs have been widely promoted as a means to enhance ecosystem services in cities, but roofs present a harsh growing environment for plants. Biochar is suggested to be a highly beneficial substrate additive for green roof systems due to its low weight, high nutrient and water retention capacity, and recalcitrance. However, biochar is susceptible to wind and water erosion, which may result in biochar loss and negative environmental impacts. Applications of biochar as large particles or in granulated form may mitigate biochar erosion potential, but relevant data on plant performance and substrate properties are lacking. We examined the effects of granulated and conventional biochars at a range of particle sizes on plant performance of the drought-tolerant forb Agastache foeniculum. We found that granulated biochar strongly enhanced plant growth, reproduction, and physiological status, acting to neutralize pH and enhance water retention capacity of the substrate. In contrast, although conventional biochar reduced substrate bulk density and enhanced substrate total porosity and water retention capacity, it suppressed plant growth. Our results also suggest that granulated biochar at intermediate particle sizes (2-2.8 mm) best enhanced plant performance. We conclude that use of granulated biochars on green roofs can strongly promote plant performance while increasing water infiltration and retention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxi Liao
- Institute of Forestry and Conservation, John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture Landscape and Design, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks St., Toronto, ON M5S 3B3, Canada.
| | - Jennifer Drake
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, 35 St. George St., Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada
| | - Sean C Thomas
- Institute of Forestry and Conservation, John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture Landscape and Design, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks St., Toronto, ON M5S 3B3, Canada
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Das S, Chatterjee S, Rajbanshi J. Responses of soil organic carbon to conservation practices including climate-smart agriculture in tropical and subtropical regions: A meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150428. [PMID: 34818818 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Considering the current threatening conditions of climate change, Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) aims to improve the soil health and its organic carbon stocks by encouraging soil carbon sequestration through conservation practices in agricultural lands. However, the effects of these practices differ due to diverse climatic scenario, soil characteristics and management system. To identify the suitable practices that can be effective under tropical and subtropical conditions, a systematic evaluation in the form of a meta-analysis of these practices and their outcomes was performed over those regions. In this work we have included 516 observations from 84 articles published from 2000 to 2021 to analyse the influence of three CSA practices (conservation tillage, cover crop and biochar application) on the SOC (soil organic carbon) stocks over varying periods of experimentation. In addition to this, the combined effect of CSA and other conservation agronomic practices such as agroforestry has also been considered in the analysis. The results showed that biochar application had the most influence upon SOC stocks in the agricultural lands (25.38%) followed by conservation tillage (18.81%) and cover crop (15.8%). Medium term experiments (6-20 years) of these conservation practices showed about 31.00-96.15%improvement in SOC while the effects gradually diminished in long term experiments (>20 years). The combinations of these practices have been observed to have an evidently positive impact upon the SOC stocks in general. This work provides a systematic evaluation of all the widely performed CSA and other conservation practices and their effects on SOC dynamics under differing management settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmistha Das
- Department of Geography, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Joy Rajbanshi
- Department of Geography, Vivekananda College for Women, University of Calcutta, India.
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Singh G, Mavi MS, Choudhary OP, Gupta N, Singh Y. Rice straw biochar application to soil irrigated with saline water in a cotton-wheat system improves crop performance and soil functionality in north-west India. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 295:113277. [PMID: 34348432 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Applications of biochar to degraded soils have attracted considerable interest because of its capacity to enhance nutrients availability to the plants, sequester C and immobilize organic and inorganic pollutants. A five-year field experiment was conducted in a cotton-wheat system to investigate the effect of different levels of irrigation water salinity (0.3, 5, 10, and 15 dS m-1) and rice straw biochar (0, 2, 4, and 8 t ha-1) on the crop yield and soil functions. Rice straw-derived biochar was applied every year to cotton and its residual effect was observed on wheat. Results of the study indicated that regular irrigation with saline water (5-15 dS m-1) reduced both seed cotton (12-44%) and wheat grain (7-27%) yield. However, application of biochar (2-8 t ha-1) to plots irrigated with saline water showed 6-23% and 13-27% greater seed cotton and wheat grain yield compared with unamended plots, respectively. Likewise, biochar application to soil irrigated with canal or saline water showed significant beneficial effects on soil pH, EC, nutrient metabolism and availability, bulk density, infiltration rate and microbial biomass carbon. Our results indicated that biochar amendment especially at the optimum rate of 4 t ha-1 effectively promoted crop performance by ameliorating soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. In the absence of any chemical amendment for alleviating salinity stress, the results of the present study established that the biochar holds promising potential as a soil amendment in ameliorating soil functions and promoting plant productivity under saline water irrigated conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurpreet Singh
- Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Manpreet Singh Mavi
- Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India.
| | - Om Parkash Choudhary
- Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Naveen Gupta
- Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Yadvinder Singh
- Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India; Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), Ladhowal, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
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Yoo SY, Kim YJ, Yoo G. Understanding the role of biochar in mitigating soil water stress in simulated urban roadside soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 738:139798. [PMID: 32526414 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Biochar has been proposed as a promising amendment that may improve soil structure. However, our understanding how it mitigates extreme soil water stress in roadside soils is limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of biochar on soil properties and plant growth under extreme water stress conditions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted on two-year-old Gingko biloba saplings planted in pots with sandy soil only (CON) and with sandy soil mixed with biochar (BC). To simulate excessive water stress conditions, we increased the soil water-filled pore space up to the saturation level throughout the experimental period. We also simulated the switching water conditions by maintaining the saturation condition for 30 days, followed by no addition of water. The BC treatment significantly influenced the aggregate distribution and enhanced the proportion of macroaggregates (>250 μm). The biochar itself also functioned as a macroaggregate and contributed to increased aeration under the excessive water condition. Under the switching water condition, the micropores within the biochar might have helped maintain the available water for plant roots and soil microbes. Plant growth was significantly higher in the BC than CON soils for both the excessive and switching water sets. In the BC soils, plant growth was higher in the excessive than in the switching water sets, indicating that the soil water status in our BC treatment for the excessive water set was not stressful enough to inhibit plant growth. The % optimal water condition, which is defined as the proportion of days when the soil water status is within the least limiting water range, had a very high explanatory power to explain the plant growth (r = 0.7172, p < 0.0001). Our results indicate that biochar can alleviate water stresses in urban roadside soils by retaining plant available water under the wet and dry conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sin Yee Yoo
- Department of Applied Environmental Science, Kyung Hee University, 1732, Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446701, Republic of Korea; Urban Forests Research Center, National Institute of Forest Science, Hoegi-ro 57, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02455, Republic of Korea
| | - You Jin Kim
- Department of Applied Environmental Science, Kyung Hee University, 1732, Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446701, Republic of Korea
| | - Gayoung Yoo
- Department of Applied Environmental Science, Kyung Hee University, 1732, Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446701, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732, Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446701, Republic of Korea.
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Hong N, Cheng Q, Goonetilleke A, Bandala ER, Liu A. Assessing the effect of surface hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity on pollutant leaching potential of biochar in water treatment. J IND ENG CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2020.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Tan X, Zhu S, Show PL, Qi H, Ho SH. Sorption of ionized dyes on high-salinity microalgal residue derived biochar: Electron acceptor-donor and metal-organic bridging mechanisms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 393:122435. [PMID: 32151933 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Biochar (BC) has attracted much attention owing to its superior sorption capacity towards ionized organic contaminants. However, the mechanism of ionized organics sorption occurring within BC containing large amounts of minerals is still controversial. In this study, we demonstrate the physicochemical structure of high-salinity microalgal residue derived biochar (HSBC) and elucidate the corresponding sorption mechanisms for four ionized dyes along with determining the crucial role of involved minerals. The results indicate that sodium and calcium minerals mainly exist within HSBCs, and the pyrolysis temperature can dramatically regulate the phases and interfacial property of both carbon matrix and minerals. As a result, the HSBC shows a higher sorption potential, benefiting from abundant functional groups and high content of inorganic minerals. Using theoretical calculations, the activities of electron donor-acceptor interaction between HSBCs and different dyes are clearly illustrated, thereby identifying the critical role of Ca2+ in enhancing the removal of ionized dyes in HSBCs. In addition, Ca-containing minerals facilitate the sorption of ionized dyes in HSBCs by forming ternary complexes through metal-bridging mechanism. These results of mineral-induced dye sorption mechanisms help to better understand the sorption of ionized organics in high-salt containing BC and provide a new disposal strategy for hazardous microalgal residue, as well as provide a breakthrough in making the remediation of ionized organic contaminated microalgal residue derived absorbent feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefei Tan
- College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150050, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China; Dalian SEM Bio-Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., Dalian, 116620, PR China
| | - Shishu Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Haiqun Qi
- College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150050, PR China
| | - Shih-Hsin Ho
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China.
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Saffari N, Hajabbasi MA, Shirani H, Mosaddeghi MR, Mamedov AI. Biochar type and pyrolysis temperature effects on soil quality indicators and structural stability. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 261:110190. [PMID: 32148266 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Quality of soils of the arid zones with low organic matter can be improved through the application of natural amendments especially biochar from various available feedstocks. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of corn residue and poultry manure and their biochars on soil organic carbon (SOC), hot-water soluble carbohydrates (HWSC), basal soil respiration (BSR),and structural stability determined by HEMC (high-energy moisture characteristic). A sandy loam soil in pots were thoroughly mixed with 1, 2 and 4% w/w of corn residues (CR) and poultry manure (PM) feedstock and their biochars prepared at 350 and 650 °C of slow pyrolysis. Maize seeds were planted in pots and grown until physiological maturity when soil characteristics were measured. Treatments considerably altered the means of studied soil quality indicators, and increased SOC (1.5-10 times) and HWSC (1-7 times), and HEMC indices: volume of drainable pores ratio (VDPR, 1.5- 3.5 times), and stability ratio (SR, 1-3 times). Increasing pyrolysis temperature, regardless of the type and rate of feedstock, significantly decreased the SOC, BSR and percent of water-stable aggregates, and consequently structural stability indices. Contribution of both PM feedstock and its biochars was less effective than the CR ones (particularly the biochar produced at higher pyrolysis temperature), due to elevated sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) associated with higher slaking, physico-chemical dispersion and lower aggregate and structural stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Saffari
- Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran.
| | - M A Hajabbasi
- Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - H Shirani
- Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, 77188-97111, Iran
| | - M R Mosaddeghi
- Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - A I Mamedov
- Faculty of Agriculture, Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture, OMU, Samsun, 55139, Turkey
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Ni JJ, Bordoloi S, Shao W, Garg A, Xu G, Sarmah AK. Two-year evaluation of hydraulic properties of biochar-amended vegetated soil for application in landfill cover system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 712:136486. [PMID: 31931222 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Landfill cover should ideally have a medium with high water retention ability and low hydraulic conductivity to prevent rainfall infiltrating into the hazardous waste layer. Even though biochar amended soil (BAS) is advocated as cover medium, the interactions between biochar and plant, as well as the effects of biochar aging and plant growth on soil hydraulic properties are still not clear. This study aims to investigate the effects of grass (Cynodon dactylon) growth in BAS on soil water retention and saturated hydraulic conductivity (ks) over a two-year period. Four ground conditions were tested, namely bare silty sand with and without biochar, vegetated silty sand with and without biochar. The biochar content was kept at 10% (v/v). During the first 6 months, soil water content corresponding to field capacity (FC) and permanent wilting point (PWP) in grassed soil increased by 17% and 27%, respectively. With biochar inclusion, 43% and 57% additional increases in FC and PWP respectively were observed. Moreover, ks in biochar-amended grassed soil decreased by 50%. Furthermore, grass growth from 6 to 24 months reduced FC by 32%, PWP by 40% but caused 20 times increase in ks of grassed soil. With the presence of biochar, FC and PWP decreased by only 6% and 8%, respectively, and ks increased by 200% due to the enhanced plant growth (specifically root growth) by biochar. After two years, ks of grassed soil with biochar was 16 times smaller than that without biochar. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of biochar in maintaining the enhanced soil water retention ability and reduced ks in vegetated soil over a two-year study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Jun Ni
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Sanandam Bordoloi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Wei Shao
- College of Hydrometeorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ankit Garg
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shantou University, Guangdong, China
| | - Guizhong Xu
- Geotechnical Research Institute, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yanchen 224005, China
| | - Ajit K Sarmah
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
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Zhao L, Nan H, Kan Y, Xu X, Qiu H, Cao X. Infiltration behavior of heavy metals in runoff through soil amended with biochar as bulking agent. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 254:113114. [PMID: 31491698 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Biochar as a porous carbon material could be used for improving soil physical and chemical properties, while insufficient attention has been paid to potential risks induced by infiltration of heavy metals in the runoff water flowing through biochar-amended soil. Four different soil-biochar matrices with same volumes were constructed including soil alone (M1), biochar alone (M2), soil-biochar layering (M3) and soil-biochar mixing (M4). Leaching experiments were conducted with Pb, Cu, and Zn contaminated runoff water. Results showed that biochar amendment greatly improved the water permeation, and the infiltration rates in M2, M3, and M4 were 2.85-23.0 mm min-1, being much higher than those in M1 (1.33-4.05 mm min-1), though the rates decreased as the leaching volumes increased. However, biochar induced more Pb, Cu, and Zn infiltrated through soil-biochar matrix. After 350-L leaching, M1 retained about 95% Pb, 90% Cu, and 36% Zn, while M2 only retained 4.80% Pb, 17.4% Cu, and 4.01% Zn; about 30% Pb, 80% Cu, and 15% Zn were retained in M3 and M4. Notably, Zn was trapped first and then re-leached into the filtrate, which resulted in a much higher effluent Zn than the influent Zn at the later stage. However, the unit weight of biochar showed a higher capacity for retaining heavy metals compared to per unit of soil. Under the dynamic water flow, all benefits and disadvantages induced by biochar were weakened with its physical disintegration. Biochar as soil amendment can enhance plant growth via ameliorating soil structure, while it would pose risks to environment because of large penetration of heavy metals. If biochar was compacted to form a denser physical structure, perhaps more heavy metals could be retained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hongyan Nan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yue Kan
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hao Qiu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xinde Cao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security of Shanghai, Shanghai 200040, China.
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Changes in Water Infiltration after Simulated Wetting and Drying Periods in two Biochar Amendments. SOIL SYSTEMS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems3040063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Biochar impacts soil-water related processes such as infiltration and contributes to the hydrological response of catchments. The aim of this work is to determine the impact of wetting and drying conditions on the infiltration behavior of two biochar amendments and to validate the performance of three infiltration models: Kostiakov, Horton, and Philips. Two materials, sand and a sandy loam, were mixed with 0%, 2.5%, and 5% (by dry wt.) mango wood biochar produced at a highest heating rate of 600 °C and with a particle size of <63 μm. A sequence of four wetting and drying cycles were simulated. In each cycle, infiltration was measured. We found that biochar addition decreased infiltration because the formation of narrower pores reduced infiltration capacity. The higher the biochar dosage, the more resilient the treatment became concerning the changes on the water infiltrated. Repetitive wetting and drying cycles resulted in a reconfiguration of structural pores affecting the transport of water and air. The infiltration models of Kostiakov and Horton could predict the infiltration dynamics in the amended materials, although they show some instabilities along the WD cycles.
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Effect of Biochar Application Rates on the Hydraulic Properties of an Agricultural-Use Boreal Podzol. SOIL SYSTEMS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems3030053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Boreal agriculture struggles with soils of lower agronomic value, most of which are sandy with a low water holding capacity (WHC) and prone to nutrient leaching. Biochar amendments are associated with positive effects on soil hydraulic properties and enhanced nutrient retention. However, these effects are strongly related to feedstock type and pyrolysis parameters and depend on biochar application rates and soil types. While biochar could increase the productivity of boreal agriculture by improving water and nutrient use efficiency, little is known about its effects on hydraulic processes in podzol. In this study, we investigated the effects of biochar rates (10, 20, 40, 80 Mg carbon ha−1) and maturity on soil hydrology for an agriculturally used Podzol in Labrador, Canada. The in-situ soil water content (SWC) and weather data over an entire growing season were analysed. Hydrus 1D simulations were used to estimate changes in water fluxes. SWC showed clear differentiation among storage parameters (i.e., initial, peak and final SWC) and kinetic parameters (i.e., rate of SWC change). Storage parameters and soil wetting and drying rates were significantly affected by biochar rates and its maturity. The magnitude of the changes in SWC after either wetting or drying events was statistically not affected by the biochar rate. This confirms that biochar mostly affected the WHC. Nevertheless, reductions in cumulative lower boundary fluxes were directly related to biochar incorporation rates. Overall, biochar had positive effects on hydrological properties. The biochar rate of 40 Mg C ha−1 was the most beneficial to agriculturally relevant hydraulic conditions for the tested Podzol.
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Designer Biochars Impact on Corn Grain Yields, Biomass Production, and Fertility Properties of a Highly-Weathered Ultisol. ENVIRONMENTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/environments6060064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
There are mixed reports for biochars’ ability to increase corn grain and biomass yields. The objectives of this experiment were to conduct a three-year corn (Zea mays L.) grain and biomass production evaluation to determine soil fertility characteristics after designer biochars were applied to a highly weathered Ultisol. The amendments, which consisted of biochars and compost, were produced from 100% pine chips (PC); 100% poultry litter (PL); PC:PL 2:1 blend; PC mixed 2:1 with raw switchgrass (Panicum virgatum; rSG) compost; and 100% rSG compost. All treatments were applied at 30,000 kg/ha to a Goldsboro loam sandy (Fine-loamy, siliceous, sub-active, thermic Aquic Paleudult). Annual topsoil samples were collected in 5-cm depth increments (0 to 15-cm deep) and pH was measured along with Mehlich 1 phosphorus (M1 P) and potassium (M1 K) contents. After three years of corn production, there was no significant improvement in the annual mean corn grain or biomass yields. Biochar, which was applied from PL and PC:PL 2:1 blend, significantly increased M1 P and M1 K concentrations down to 10-cm deep, while the other biochar and compost treatments showed mixed results when the soil pH was modified. Our results demonstrated that designer biochar additions did not accompany higher corn grain and biomass productivity.
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Novak JM, Johnson MG, Spokas KA. Concentration and Release of Phosphorus and Potassium From Lignocellulosic- and Manure-Based Biochars for Fertilizer Reuse. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2018. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2018.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Dahlawi S, Naeem A, Rengel Z, Naidu R. Biochar application for the remediation of salt-affected soils: Challenges and opportunities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 625:320-335. [PMID: 29289780 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Soil salinization and sodification are two commonly occurring major threats to soil productivity in arable croplands. Salt-affected soils are found in >100 countries, and their distribution is extensive and widespread in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. In order to meet the challenges of global food security, it is imperative to bring barren salt-affected soils under cultivation. Various inorganic and organic amendments are used to reclaim the salt-affected lands. The selection of a sustainable ameliorant is largely determined by the site-specific geographical and soil physicochemical parameters. Recently, biochar (solid carbonaceous residue, produced under oxygen-free or oxygen-limited conditions at temperatures ranging from 300 to 1000°C) has attracted considerable attention as a soil amendment. An emerging pool of knowledge shows that biochar addition is effective in improving physical, chemical and biological properties of salt-affected soils. However, some studies have also found an increase in soil salinity and sodicity with biochar application at high rates. Further, the high cost associated with production of biochar and high application rates remains a significant challenge to its widespread use in areas affected by salinity and sodicity. Moreover, there is relatively limited information on the long-term behavior of salt-affected soils subjected to biochar applications. The main objective of the present paper was to review, analyze and discuss the recent studies investigating a role of biochar in improving soil properties and plant growth in salt-affected soils. This review emphasizes that using biochar as an organic amendment for sustainable and profitable use of salt-affected soils would not be practicable as long as low-cost methods for the production of biochar are not devised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad Dahlawi
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; Institute of Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asif Naeem
- Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and Biology, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Zed Rengel
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment (CRC CARE), The University of Newcastle, Australia
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