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Yasin MU, Haider Z, Munir R, Zulfiqar U, Rehman M, Javaid MH, Ahmad I, Nana C, Saeed MS, Ali B, Gan Y. The synergistic potential of biochar and nanoparticles in phytoremediation and enhancing cadmium tolerance in plants. Chemosphere 2024; 354:141672. [PMID: 38479680 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is classified as a heavy metal (HM) and is found into the environment through both natural processes and intensified anthropogenic activities such as industrial operations, mining, disposal of metal-laden waste like batteries, as well as sludge disposal, excessive fertilizer application, and Cd-related product usage. This rising Cd disposal into the environment carries substantial risks to the food chain and human well-being. Inadequate regulatory measures have led to Cd bio-accumulation in plants, which is increasing in an alarming rate and further jeopardizing higher trophic organisms, including humans. In response, an effective Cd decontamination strategy such as phytoremediation emerges as a potent solution, with innovations in nanotechnology like biochar (BC) and nanoparticles (NPs) further augmenting its effectiveness for Cd phytoremediation. BC, derived from biomass pyrolysis, and a variety of NPs, both natural and less toxic, actively engage in Cd removal during phytoremediation, mitigating plant toxicity and associated hazards. This review scrutinizes the application of BC and NPs in Cd phytoremediation, assessing their synergistic mechanism in influencing plant growth, genetic regulations, structural transformations, and phytohormone dynamics. Additionally, the review also underscores the adoption of this sustainable and environmentally friendly strategies for future research in employing BC-NP microaggregates to ameliorate Cd phytoremediation from soil, thereby curbing ecological damage due to Cd toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Umair Yasin
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zulqarnain Haider
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Raheel Munir
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Usman Zulfiqar
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Rehman
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Muhammad Haseeb Javaid
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Irshan Ahmad
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chen Nana
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Muhammad Sulaman Saeed
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Bahar Ali
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yinbo Gan
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Khan S, Irshad S, Mehmood K, Hasnain Z, Nawaz M, Rais A, Gul S, Wahid MA, Hashem A, Abd_Allah EF, Ibrar D. Biochar Production and Characteristics, Its Impacts on Soil Health, Crop Production, and Yield Enhancement: A Review. Plants (Basel) 2024; 13:166. [PMID: 38256720 PMCID: PMC10821463 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Rapid urban expansion and a booming population are placing immense pressure on our agricultural systems, leading to detrimental impacts on soil fertility and overall health. Due to the extensive use of agrochemicals in agriculture, the necessity to meet the expanding demand for food has also resulted in unsustainable farming practices. Around the world, biochar, a multipurpose carbonaceous material, is being used to concurrently solve issues with enhancing soil fertility, plant growth, and development under both normal and stressful circumstances. It improves water retention, fosters nutrient absorption, and promotes microbial activity, creating a fertile environment that supports sustainable and resilient agriculture. Additionally, biochar acts as a carbon sink, contributing to long-term carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change impacts. The major benefit of biochar is that it helps the adsorption process with its highly porous structures and different functional groups. Understanding the elements involved in biochar formation that determine its characteristics and adsorptive capacity is necessary to assure the viability of biochar in terms of plant productivity and soil health, particularly biological activity in soil. This paper focuses on the development, composition, and effects of biochar on soil fertility and health, and crop productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahbaz Khan
- Colorado Water Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Sohail Irshad
- Department of Agronomy, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan 64200, Pakistan
| | - Kashf Mehmood
- Department of Biological Sciences, Superior University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Zuhair Hasnain
- Department of Agronomy, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Nawaz
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Pakistan
| | - Afroz Rais
- Department of Botany, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, Quetta 87300, Pakistan
| | - Safia Gul
- Department of Botany, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, Quetta 87300, Pakistan
| | | | - Abeer Hashem
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah
- Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Danish Ibrar
- Crop Science Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad 45500, Pakistan
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Nain P, Purakayastha TJ, Sarkar B, Bhowmik A, Biswas S, Kumar S, Shukla L, Biswas DR, Bandyopadhyay KK, Agarwal BK, Saha ND. Nitrogen-enriched biochar co-compost for the amelioration of degraded tropical soil. Environ Technol 2024; 45:246-261. [PMID: 36045480 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2022.2103742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tropical soils are often deeply weathered and vulnerable to degradation having low pH and unfavorable Al/Fe levels, which can constrain crop production. This study aims to examine nitrogen-enriched novel biochar co-composts prepared from rice straw, maize stover, and gram residue in various mixing ratios of the biochar and their feedstock materials for the amelioration of acidic tropical soil. Three pristine biochar and six co-composts were prepared, characterized, and evaluated for improving the chemical and biological quality of the soil against a conventional lime treatment. The pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), calcium carbonate equivalence (CCE) and nitrogen content of co-composts varied between 7.78-8.86, 25.3-30.5 cmol (p+) kg-1, 25.5-30.5%, and 0.81-1.05%, respectively. The co-compost prepared from gram residue biochar mixed with maize stover at a 1:7 dry-weight ratio showed the highest rise in soil pH and CEC, giving an identical performance with the lime treatment and significantly better effect (p < .05) than the unamended control. Agglomerates of calcite and dolomite in biochar co-composts, and surface functional groups contributed to pH neutralization and increased CEC of the amended soil. The co-composts also significantly (p < .05) increased the dehydrogenase (1.87 µg TPF g-1 soil h-1), β-glucosidase (90 µg PNP g-1 soil h-1), and leucine amino peptidase (3.22 µmol MUC g-1 soil h-1) enzyme activities in the soil, thereby improving the soil's biological quality. The results of this study are encouraging for small-scale farmers in tropical developing countries to sustainably reutilize crop residues via biochar-based co-composting technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Nain
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - T J Purakayastha
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Binoy Sarkar
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Arpan Bhowmik
- Division of Design of Experiments, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sunanda Biswas
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sarvendra Kumar
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Livleen Shukla
- Division of Microbiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - D R Biswas
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - K K Bandyopadhyay
- Division of Agricultural Physics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - B K Agarwal
- Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Namita Das Saha
- Division of Environment Science, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Delhi, India
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Hansen DS, Turcios AE, Klamt AM, Wieth C, Reitzel K, Thomsen MH, Papenbrock J. Characterization of biochar produced from sewage sludge and its potential use as a substrate and plant growth improver. J Environ Manage 2023; 348:119271. [PMID: 37827073 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Biochar is a product rich in carbon produced by pyrolysis of different kinds of biomass and it modifies the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. In this study, biochar, produced at different pyrolysis temperatures (590 °C, 665 °C, and 765 °C), was physico-chemically characterized. It was explored whether biochar made from sewage sludge can become an alternative solution for future water and phosphorus management in agricultural production. A pot experiment was conducted using Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) to investigate the effect of applying different biochars to the substrate, taking into account different growth parameters and the biochemical composition of the plants, as well as the physico-chemical properties of the substrate. According to the results, pyrolysis temperature influences the content of elements in biochar and their availability to plants, with total phosphorus contents in biochar ranging from 4.6% to 4.9%. In addition, applying biochar to the substrate significantly increases the volumetric water content up to 4.5 fold more compared to the control, which indicates a promising application in drought stress conditions and, at the same time, is a source of nutrients and can help to reduce the amount of mineral fertilizer application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis S Hansen
- Aalborg University, Energy, Niels Bohrs Vej 8, 6700, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - Ariel E Turcios
- Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuserstr, 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna-Marie Klamt
- University of Southern Denmark, Department of Biology, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | | | - Kasper Reitzel
- University of Southern Denmark, Department of Biology, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Mette H Thomsen
- Aalborg University, Energy, Niels Bohrs Vej 8, 6700, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - Jutta Papenbrock
- Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuserstr, 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany.
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Kumar A, Kumari M, Azim U, Vithanage M, Bhattacharya T. Garbage to Gains: The role of biochar in sustainable soil quality improvement, arsenic remediation, and crop yield enhancement. Chemosphere 2023; 344:140417. [PMID: 37827468 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Threats of soil quality deterioration and metal pollution have inflicted several parts of the world, apart from the need for surplus crop production. The investigation used biochar prepared from waste biomasses such as wheat and rice straw, kitchen waste, leaf litter, Lantana camara, orange peel, and walnut shell to improve soil quality, reduce As pollution, and enhance plant growth. Biochars were amended at doses of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% and conditioned for 3 months. At a 7.5% dose, the maximum improvements in cation exchange capacity (a 62% increase), anion exchange capacity (a two-fold increase), bulk density (a 31% decrease), porosity (a 32% increase), water holding capacity (an 86% increase), soil respiration (a 32% increase), total carbon (a two-and-a-half-fold increase), total nitrogen (an eleven-fold increase), total phosphorus (3 times rise), total potassium (a two-and-a-half-fold increase), mobile As (a 38% decrease), leachable As (a 53% decrease), and bio-available As (a 56% decrease) were observed. Further, pot experiments revealed augmented biomass growth (61% and 177%), increased length (71% and 209%), and decreased As accumulation (56% and 55%) in the above-ground parts of Bengal gram and coriander plants, respectively. Therefore, the application of biochar was found to enhance the physico-chemical properties of soil, reduce As contamination levels, and improve crop growth. The study recommends using waste biomasses to prepare eco-friendly biochars, which could contribute to advancing sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Kumar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835215, India
| | - Mala Kumari
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835215, India
| | - Uzma Azim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835215, India
| | - Meththika Vithanage
- Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
| | - Tanushree Bhattacharya
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835215, India.
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Koné S, Galiegue X. Potential Development of Biochar in Africa as an Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change Impact on Agriculture. Environ Manage 2023; 72:1189-1203. [PMID: 37115236 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-023-01821-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
One of the most important obstacles to increasing agricultural production yields worldwide, especially in developing economies such as those in Africa is the continued degradation of soils due to climate change. In response to this threat, one of the strategies advocated is biochar technology, which is one of the emerging sustainable and climate-friendly soil amendments. This article reviews a brief description of biochar, the advantages and disadvantages of its use, and the prospects for developing its potential impact on agricultural productivity in African countries with a case study in Burkina Faso. Biochar is mainly useful for soil carbon sequestration, increasing and maintaining soil fertility, environmental management, and as a renewable energy source. However, it can have secondary effects including negative impacts on human health, pollution, and water quality. Furthermore, the positive results of biochar use in Africa suggest a prospect for ensuring the feasibility of biochar technology in policy decisions as a sustainable alternative to agricultural land management in the combat against climate change. As recommendations, a combination of improved seed varieties, and SWC (Soil and Water Conservation) techniques with the application of Biochar will be a perfect innovation for an intelligent adaptation practice to the destructive action of climate change in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sita Koné
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, 35100, Izmir, Bornova, Turkey.
| | - Xavier Galiegue
- Laboratoire d'Economie d'Orléans, Université d'Orléans, UMR7322 Faculté de Droit d'Economie et de Gestion Rue de Blois - BP 26739 45067 ORLEANS Cedex 2, Orléans, France
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Wang H, Shao T, Zhou Y, Long X, Rengel Z. The effect of biochar prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures on microbially driven conversion and retention of nitrogen during composting. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13698. [PMID: 36873514 PMCID: PMC9976328 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Aerobic composting is one of the most economical ways to produce organic fertilizer from agricultural wastes. In this research, we independently developed a simple composting simulation reactor. The effects of biochar pyrolysised at different pyrolysis temperatures (B1-450 °C; B2-550 °C; and B3-650 °C) on nitrogen conversion (Total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3 --N), cumulative amount of ammonia (CEA) and nitrous oxide (CEN) emission, nitrogen loss rate (NLR), etc.) and functional microbial community (cbbL, cbbM and nifH) structure in the composting system were studied. Results showed that the addition of biochar significantly improved the efficiency of composting, increased the NO3 --N concentration and reduced the NLR (%) in the composting system (B3 (31.4 ± 2.73)<B2=B1 (41.7 ± 3.29)<B0 (54.5 ± 3.34), p ≤ 0.05), while the loss rate of nitrogen positively correlated with compost pH. Denitrifying bacterial genera such as Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Paracoccus, Bacillus, Citrobacter, Mesorhizobium, Thiobacillus and Rhodococcus in this study was an important reason for nitrogen loss during composting, and the abundance of autotrophic microorganisms (such as Sulfuritalea, Hydrogenophaga, Thiobacillus, Thiomonas and Candidatus_Thioglobus) in treatments with biochar (B1, B2 and B3) were higher than that in B0. Besides, the community structure in the treatments B2 and B3 was similar at the end of composting and clearly distinguished from that in B1. Moreover, the five functions predicted by OTUs in this study with the highest proportions were chemoheterotrophy, nitrate reduction, fermentation, aerobic chemoheterotrophy and nitrogen respiration. The study provided a theoretical basis for the application of biochar to improve the compost-related processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihou Wang
- Suzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institution of Agricultural Sciences Taihu Lake District, Suzhou, 215155, China.,National Soil Quality Observation and Experimental Station in Xiangcheng, Suzhou, 215131, China
| | - Tianyun Shao
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yujie Zhou
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaohua Long
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Zed Rengel
- Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.,Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, Split, Croatia
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Libutti A, Russo D, Lela L, Ponticelli M, Milella L, Rivelli AR. Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable ( Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizer. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:569. [PMID: 36771653 PMCID: PMC9921681 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluates the effect of a chemical fertilizer (ammonium nitrate), a compost (vermicompost from cattle manure) and two biochars (from vine prunings and wood chips, respectively), applied to the soil alone or in mixture, on the yield, phytochemical content and biological activity of Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla (Swiss chard). The respective treatments, each replicated four times, were arranged according to a completely randomized block design. Results showed that vermicompost, both alone and in mixture with vine pruning biochar, significantly increased yield parameters (plant height and leaf area) and yield over the untreated soil and the biochars alone, similar to ammonium nitrate. Moreover, vermicompost, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, determined lower total N and NO3- contents than ammonium nitrate, both alone and in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars. In particular, NO3- content was within the safe thresholds fixed for leafy vegetables by the European Commission to prevent any adverse implication on human health from dietary NO3- exposure. The biochars alone resulted in very low yield and leaf total N content, likely due to a limited release of N for plant uptake, also evidenced by the undetectable NO3- leaf content, similarly shown by plants grown in untreated soil. Vermicompost, alone or in mixture, respectively, with the two biochars, increased the content of specialized metabolites, with a positive effect on antioxidant activity. The organic amendments, particularly compost, could be an alternative to chemical fertilizers to reach a trade-off between yield, nutritional and health qualities in Swiss chard, meeting the needs of farmers and consumers as well as the targets for sustainable food production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Libutti
- Department of Science of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia, Via Napoli, 25, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Daniela Russo
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Spinoff BioActiPlant s.r.l., Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Ludovica Lela
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Maria Ponticelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Luigi Milella
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Rivelli
- School of Agricultural, Forest, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
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Freitas AM, Nair VD, Harris WG, Mosquera-Losada MR, Ferreiro-Domínguez N. Pyrolysis-induced phosphorus transformations for biosolids from diverse sources. J Environ Qual 2023; 52:13-25. [PMID: 36353947 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Biosolids have been long used as a soil amendment to promote nutrient recovery. The readily releasable forms of nutrients present in this biowaste, such as phosphorus (P), along with their over application, can be detrimental to the environment, causing eutrophication. Pyrolysis, the thermal decomposition of organic materials at elevated temperature and low oxygen, seems to be a promising strategy to lower P release from biowastes such as biosolids. We pyrolyzed biosolids from various treatments and locations (Florida and Illinois; Galicia, Spain; and São Paulo, Brazil) to convert to biochar. Our objectives were (a) to use solid-state assessments, such as X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and chemical assessments, such as water-soluble P (WSP), pH, Mehlich 3-extractable P (M3-P), total P (TP), and total Kjeldahl nitrogen, to evaluate changes caused by the conversion and (b) to compare P leaching potentials of biosolids and their corresponding biochars on two soils with varying P retention capacities. Pairwise comparisons indicated that biochar conversion significantly increased TP in the final material, but the absolute WSP decreased. However, M3-P remained the same after conversion to biochar. Cumulative P leached as a fraction of TP was greater for biosolids than their corresponding biochars. Two soils with contrasting P retention capacities predictably differed in P leaching behaviors as amended with biosolids and biochars. Differences suggest that future research could evaluate the efficacy of using mixtures of biosolids and biochar for a given soil to maintain soil fertility while reducing environmental P loss risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa Morato Freitas
- Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Dep., Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Vimala D Nair
- Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Dep., Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Willie G Harris
- Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Dep., Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Asibor JO, Clough PT, Nabavi SA, Manovic V. A country-level assessment of the deployment potential of greenhouse gas removal technologies. J Environ Manage 2022; 323:116211. [PMID: 36113294 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The deployment of greenhouse gas removal (GGR) technologies has been identified as an indispensable option in limiting global warming to 1.5 °C by the end of the century. Despite this, many countries are yet to include and promote this option in their long-term plans owing to factors such as uncertainty in technical potential, deployment feasibility and economic impact. This work presents a country-level assessment of the deployment potential of five GGR technologies, including forestation, enhanced weathering (EW), direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and biochar. Using a multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach consisting of bio-geophysical and techno-economic factors, priority regions for the deployment of these GGR technologies were identified. The extent of carbon dioxide removable by 2100 via these technologies was also estimated for each of the 182 countries considered. While the obtained results indicate the need for regional cooperation among countries, it also provides useful evidence on the need for countries to include and prioritise GGR technologies in their revised nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jude O Asibor
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Peter T Clough
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK.
| | - Seyed Ali Nabavi
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Vasilije Manovic
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
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Arregui AG. Activating dark earths: somatosoils and the carbonic loops of Amazonian ecologies. Royal Anthropological Inst 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1467-9655.13770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Abstract
Biochar (BC) has attracted attention due to its impacts on soil quality by enhancing soil fertility, carbon storage and contaminants immobilization. BC also induces changes in microbial community structure and enhances crop productivity in long term scenarios compared to many other organic amendments. However, information related to the role of modified BCs in altering the soil quality is still scarce. BC can be modified by using physical, chemical and microbial methods. Modified BC can change the functional groups, pore size, pore structure, surface area and chemical properties of soil, which plays a key role in changing the soil quality. The addition of modified BCs as soil amendment increased soil CEC (cation exchange capacity), EC (electron conductivity), pH, organic matter, hydraulic conductivity, soil porosity, infiltration rate, microbial activities (enzymes and community), nutrient profile and gas exchange properties, but it varies according to the soil structure and pervading environmental conditions. This study provides a basis for effective practical approaches to modifying BCs for improving soil quality.
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Asibor JO, Clough PT, Nabavi SA, Manovic V. Assessment of optimal conditions for the performance of greenhouse gas removal methods. J Environ Manage 2021; 294:113039. [PMID: 34153633 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a comparative literature-based assessment of the impact of operational factors such as climatic condition, vegetation type, availability of land, water, energy and biomass, management practices, cost and soil characteristics was carried out on six greenhouse gas removal (GGR) methods. These methods which include forestation, enhanced weathering (EW), soil carbon sequestration (SCS), biochar, direct air capture with carbon storage (DACCS) and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) were accessed with the aim of identifying the conditions and requirements necessary for their optimum performance. The extent of influence of these factors on the performance of the various GGR methods was discussed and quantified on a scale of 0-5. The key conditions necessary for optimum performance were identified with forestation, EW, SCS and biochar found to be best deployed within the tropical and temperate climatic zones. The CCS technologies (BECCS and DACCS) which have been largely projected as major contributors to the attainment of the emission mitigation targets were found to have a larger locational flexibility. However, the need for cost optimal siting of the CCS plant is necessary and dependent on the presence of appropriate storage facilities, preferably geological. The need for global and regional cooperation as well as some current efforts at accelerating the development and deployment of these GGR methods were also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jude O Asibor
- Energy and Power Theme, School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Peter T Clough
- Energy and Power Theme, School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK.
| | - Seyed Ali Nabavi
- Energy and Power Theme, School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Vasilije Manovic
- Energy and Power Theme, School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
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14
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Raza ST, Wu J, Ali Z, Anjum R, Bazai NA, Feyissa A, Chen Z. Differential Effects of Organic Amendments on Maize Biomass and Nutrient Availability in Upland Calcareous Soil. Atmosphere 2021; 12:1034. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12081034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The current study is focuses on a sustainable agricultural ecosystem for soil fertility and human health improvement. To estimate the effects of applying organic amendments (compost, vermicompost, biochar, organic manure and rapeseed cake) on crop growth of maize and nutrient uptake in calcareous soil, eleven treatments were studied, which included compost (CM), cow manure vermicompost (CMV), pig manure vermicompost (PMV), biochar vermicompost (BCV), biochar (BC), conventional synthetic fertilizers (NPK), CMV in addition to NPK (CMV + NPK), and PMV in addition to NPK (PMV + NPK), organic manure (OM), rapeseed cake (RC) and control without any fertilization (CK). Maize above and belowground biomass were analyzed in glass greenhouse experiments. The results showed that nitrogen and carbon contents showed significant differences among treatments. Vermicompost significantly showed higher biomass as compared to inorganic fertilizers except for RC. All vermicompost treatments also showed better nutrient availability as compared to NPK and CK. In conclusion, vermicompost with all substrates are recommended for application as organic fertilizers. Our study will help promote the application of organic fertilizers alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers rather than only inorganic fertilizers for environmental health and sustainability.
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15
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Szewczak K, Jednoróg S, Wołoszczuk K, Gluba Ł, Rafalska-Przysucha A, Łukowski M. Radon emission fluctuation as a result of biochar application into the soil. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13810. [PMID: 34226596 PMCID: PMC8257686 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93277-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The presented research was focused on the analysis of the impact of biochar application into the soil on the radon exhalation process as a new issue of radiation protection in agriculture. Field measurements of the radon exhalation rate utilizing two methods-active and passive as well as laboratory measurements of the radon emanation coefficient were performed. In laboratory a soil samples with sunflower husk biochar were analysed using the accumulation chamber technique. At the final step the assessment of the effective dose for humans coming from radon exhalation from soil depending on biochar dose applied were evaluated. The doses of biochar applied in the analysed experimental fields were 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 Mg ha-1. The results show that biochar application into the soil contribute to a decrease in the emanation coefficient from a value around 7% to less than 2% with a simultaneous decrease in the radon exhalation rate from 4.4 to 14.8 mBq m-2 s-1 when the biochar dose increase from 0 to 100 Mg ha-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Szewczak
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Sławomir Jednoróg
- Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection, Konwaliowa 7, 01-194, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Wołoszczuk
- Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection, Konwaliowa 7, 01-194, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Łukasz Gluba
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290, Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Rafalska-Przysucha
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290, Lublin, Poland
| | - Mateusz Łukowski
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290, Lublin, Poland
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16
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Azzi ES, Karltun E, Sundberg C. Assessing the diverse environmental effects of biochar systems: An evaluation framework. J Environ Manage 2021; 286:112154. [PMID: 33609929 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biochar has been recognised as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology. Unlike other CDR technologies, biochar is expected to deliver various valuable effects in e.g. agriculture, animal husbandry, industrial processes, remediation activities and waste management. The diversity of biochar side effects to CDR makes the systematic environmental assessment of biochar projects challenging, and to date, there is no common framework for evaluating them. Our aim is to bridge the methodology gap for evaluating biochar systems from a life-cycle perspective. Using life cycle theory, actual biochar projects, and reviews of biochar research, we propose a general description of biochar systems, an overview of biochar effects, and an evaluation framework for biochar effects. The evaluation framework was applied to a case study, the Stockholm Biochar Project. In the framework, biochar effects are classified according to life cycle stage and life cycle effect type; and the biochar's end-of-life and the reference situations are made explicit. Three types of effects are easily included in life cycle theory: changes in biosphere exchanges, technosphere inputs, and technosphere outputs. For other effects, analysing the cause-effect chain may be helpful. Several biochar effects in agroecosystems can be modelled as future productivity increases against a reference situation. In practice, the complexity of agroecosystems can be bypassed by using empirical models. Existing biochar life cycle studies are often limited to carbon footprint calculations and quantify a limited amount of biochar effects, mainly carbon sequestration, energy displacements and fertiliser-related emissions. The methodological development in this study can be of benefit to the biochar and CDR research communities, as well as decision-makers in biochar practice and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias S Azzi
- Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Engineering, and Sciences (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.
| | - Erik Karltun
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Sundberg
- Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Engineering, and Sciences (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
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17
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Conte P, Bertani R, Sgarbossa P, Bambina P, Schmidt H, Raga R, Lo Papa G, Chillura Martino DF, Lo Meo P. Recent Developments in Understanding Biochar’s Physical–Chemistry. Agronomy 2021; 11:615. [DOI: 10.3390/agronomy11040615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Biochar is a porous material obtained by biomass thermal degradation in oxygen-starved conditions. It is nowadays applied in many fields. For instance, it is used to synthesize new materials for environmental remediation, catalysis, animal feeding, adsorbent for smells, etc. In the last decades, biochar has been applied also to soils due to its beneficial effects on soil structure, pH, soil organic carbon content, and stability, and, therefore, soil fertility. In addition, this carbonaceous material shows high chemical stability. Once applied to soil it maintains its nature for centuries. Consequently, it can be considered a sink to store atmospheric carbon dioxide in soils, thereby mitigating the effects of global climatic changes. The literature contains plenty of papers dealing with biochar’s environmental effects. However, a discrepancy exists between studies dealing with biochar applications and those dealing with the physical-chemistry behind biochar behavior. On the one hand, the impression is that most of the papers where biochar is tested in soils are based on trial-and-error procedures. Sometimes these give positive results, sometimes not. Consequently, it appears that the scientific world is divided into two factions: either supporters or detractors. On the other hand, studies dealing with biochar’s physical-chemistry do not appear helpful in settling the factions’ problem. This review paper aims at collecting all the information on physical-chemistry of biochar and to use it to explain biochar’s role in different fields of application.
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Ayaz M, Feizienė D, Tilvikienė V, Akhtar K, Stulpinaitė U, Iqbal R. Biochar Role in the Sustainability of Agriculture and Environment. Sustainability 2021; 13:1330. [DOI: 10.3390/su13031330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The exercise of biochar in agribusiness has increased proportionally in recent years. It has been indicated that biochar application could strengthen soil fertility benefits, such as improvement in soil microbial activity, abatement of bulk density, amelioration of nutrient and water-holding capacity and immutability of soil organic matter. Additionally, biochar amendment could also improve nutrient availability such as phosphorus and nitrogen in different types of soil. Most interestingly, the locally available wastes are pyrolyzed to biochar to improve the relationship among plants, soil and the environment. This can also be of higher importance to small-scale farming, and the biochar produced can be utilized in farms for the improvement of crop productivity. Thus, biochar could be a potential amendment to a soil that could help in achieving sustainable agriculture and environment. However, before mainstream formulation and renowned biochar use, several challenges must be taken into consideration, as the beneficial impacts and potential use of biochar seem highly appealing. This review is based on confined knowledge taken from different field-, laboratory- and greenhouse-based studies. It is well known that the properties of biochar vary with feedstock, pyrolysis temperature (300, 350, 400, 500, and 600 °C) and methodology of preparation. It is of high concern to further investigate the negative consequences: hydrophobicity; large scale application in farmland; production cost, primarily energy demand; and environmental threat, as well as affordability of feedstock. Nonetheless, the current literature reflects that biochar could be a significant amendment to the agroecosystem in order to tackle the challenges and threats observed in sustainable agriculture (crop production and soil fertility) and the environment (reducing greenhouse gas emission).
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Jackowski M, Niedźwiecki Ł, Jagiełło K, Uchańska O, Trusek A. Brewer's Spent Grains-Valuable Beer Industry By-Product. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1669. [PMID: 33322175 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The brewing sector is a significant part of the global food industry. Breweries produce large quantities of wastes, including wastewater and brewer’s spent grains. Currently, upcycling of food industry by-products is one of the principles of the circular economy. The aim of this review is to present possible ways to utilize common solid by-product from the brewing sector. Brewer’s spent grains (BSG) is a good material for sorption and processing into activated carbon. Another way to utilize spent grains is to use them as a fuel in raw form, after hydrothermal carbonization or as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion. The mentioned by-products may also be utilized in animal and human nutrition. Moreover, BSG is a waste rich in various substances that may be extracted for further utilization. It is likely that, in upcoming years, brewer’s spent grains will not be considered as a by-product, but as a desirable raw material for various branches of industry.
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20
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Freitas AM, Nair VD, Harris WG. Biochar as Influenced by Feedstock Variability: Implications and Opportunities for Phosphorus Management. Front Sustain Food Syst 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2020.510982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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21
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Wang G, Ma Y, Chenia HY, Govinden R, Luo J, Ren G. Biochar-Mediated Control of Phytophthora Blight of Pepper Is Closely Related to the Improvement of the Rhizosphere Fungal Community. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1427. [PMID: 32733402 PMCID: PMC7360685 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Biochar is a new eco-material with the potential to control soilborne diseases. This study explored the relationship between the rhizosphere fungal community and the suppression of Phytophthora blight of pepper in the context of time after biochar application. A pot experiment was conducted and rhizosphere soils were sampled to determine the biochar-induced soil chemical properties, fungal community composition, and abundance of biocontrol fungi. The biochar-enriched fungal strains were screened by the selective isolation method, and their control effects against Phytophthora blight of pepper were determined using a pot experiment. Biochar treatments effectively inhibited pathogen growth and controlled the disease, with biochar applied immediately before planting (BC0) having greater effects than that applied 20 days before planting (BC20). Compared to the control, biochar-amended rhizosphere soils had a higher pH, available nutrient content, and fungal richness and diversity. Moreover, biochar treatments significantly increased the abundance of potential biocontrol fungi. The proliferation in BC0 was stronger as compared to that in BC20. Several strains belonging to Aspergillus, Chaetomium, and Trichoderma, which were enriched by biochar amendment, demonstrated effective control of Phytophthora blight of pepper. Canonical correspondence and Pearson's correlation analysis showed that a high content of soil-available nutrients in biochar treatments was favorable to the proliferation of beneficial fungi, which was negatively correlated with both the abundance of Phytophthora capsici and disease severity. In conclusion, biochar-mediated improvement in the fungal community suppressed the Phytophthora blight of pepper. The biochar application time had a great impact on the control effect, possibly due to the short-term proliferative effect of the biochar on biocontrol fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangfei Wang
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environments, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Ma
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environments, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing, China
| | - Hafizah Yousuf Chenia
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Roshini Govinden
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Jia Luo
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environments, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing, China
| | - Gaidi Ren
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environments, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing, China
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22
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Libutti A, Trotta V, Rivelli A. Biochar, Vermicompost, and Compost as Soil Organic Amendments: Influence on Growth Parameters, Nitrate and Chlorophyll Content of Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla). Agronomy 2020; 10:346. [DOI: 10.3390/agronomy10030346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Soil addition with organic amendments is an issue that receives growing attention in the agricultural sector. However, the effects of such materials on plant growth and crop yield are highly variable in the literature. This study aims to evaluate the influence of soil addition with biochar (from vine pruning residues), vermicompost (from cattle manure), and three different composts (from olive pomace or cattle anaerobic digestate), on the quali-quantitative response of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla) grown in pots. The organic amendments were applied to the soil in two doses to provide 140 and 280 kg N ha−1, respectively. Two growth cycles were considered, and, at each leaf cut, plants were analyzed for growth parameters (height, fresh weight, leaf number, and leaf area) and qualitative characteristics (nitrogen, nitrate, and pigment leaf content). Swiss chard responded positively to organic amendment and, particularly when the soil was treated with compost from animal wastes, higher plant growth and pigment leaf content were observed. Nitrate leaf content was always well below the NO3− thresholds established by the European Commission Regulations. Biochar application did not show a positive effect on the quali-quantitative characteristics of Swiss chard, likely due to benefits that may be achieved over time.
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Munera-Echeverri JL, Martinsen V, Strand LT, Cornelissen G, Mulder J. Effect of conservation farming and biochar addition on soil organic carbon quality, nitrogen mineralization, and crop productivity in a light textured Acrisol in the sub-humid tropics. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228717. [PMID: 32027704 PMCID: PMC7004324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation farming (CF), involving basin tillage, residue retention and crop rotation, combined with biochar may help to mitigate negative impacts of conventional agriculture. In this study, the effects of CF on the amount and quality of soil organic matter (SOM) and potential nitrogen (N) mineralization were investigated in a maize-soya-maize rotation in an Acrisol in Zambia. A large field was run under CF for 7 years and in the subsequent three growing seasons (2015–2018), four management practices were introduced to study effects on soil characteristics and crop yield. We tested i) a continuation of regular CF (CF-NORM) ii) CF without residue retention (CF-NO-RES); iii) Conventional (CONV), with full tillage and removal of residues; and iv) CF with 4 ton ha-1 pigeon pea biochar inside basins and residue retention (CF-BC). The experiment involved the addition of fertilizer only to maize, while soya received none. Soya yield was significantly higher in CF systems than in CONV. Maize yields were not affected by the different management practices probably due to the ample fertilizer addition. CF-NORM had a higher stock of soil organic carbon (SOC), higher N mineralization rates, more hot-water extractable carbon (HWEC; labile SOC) and particulate organic matter (POM) inside basins compared to the surrounding soil (outside basins). Our results suggest that the input of roots inside basins are more effective increasing SOM and N mineralization, than the crop residues that are placed outside basins. CONV reduced both quality and quantity of SOM and N mineralization as compared to CF inside basins. CF-BC increased the amount of SOC as compared with CF-NORM, whereas N mineralization rate and HWEC remained unaffected. The results suggest benefits on yield of CF and none of biochar; larger impact of root biomass on the build-up of SOM than crop residues; and high stability of biochar in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Luis Munera-Echeverri
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Akershus, Ås, Norway
- * E-mail: (JM); (VM)
| | - Vegard Martinsen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Akershus, Ås, Norway
- * E-mail: (JM); (VM)
| | - Line Tau Strand
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Akershus, Ås, Norway
| | - Gerard Cornelissen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Akershus, Ås, Norway
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Ullevål Stadion, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Mulder
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Akershus, Ås, Norway
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Abstract
The Cu(II) adsorption from aqueous solutions by magnetic biochar obtained from pine needles has been studied by means of batch-type experiments. The biochar fibers have been magnetized prior (pncm: carbonized-magnetized pine needles) and after oxidation (pncom: carbonized-oxidized-magnetized pine needles) and have been used as adsorbents to study the presence of carboxylic moieties on the magnetization and following adsorption process. The effect of pH (2–10), initial metal concentration (10−5–9·10−3 mol·L−1) and contact time (0–60 min) has been studied by varying the respective parameter, and the adsorbents have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements prior and after Cu(II)-adsorption. FTIR measurements were performed to investigate the formation of surface species and XRD measurements to record possible solid phase formation and characterize formed solids, including the evaluation of their average crystal size. The data obtained from the batch-type studies show that the oxidized magnetic biochar (pncom) presents significantly higher adsorption capacity (1.0 mmol g−1) compared to pncm (0.4 mmol g−1), which is ascribed to the synergistic effect of the carboxylic moieties present on the pncom surface, and the adsorption process follows the pseudo-second order kinetics. On the other hand, the FTIR spectra prove the formation of inner-sphere complexes and XRD diffractograms indicate Cu(II) solid phase formation at pH 6 and increased metal ion concentrations.
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Gonçalves F, Carlos C, Crespi A, Villemant C, Trivellone V, Goula M, Canovai R, Zina V, Crespo L, Pinheiro L, Lucchi A, Bagnoli B, Oliveira I, Pinto R, Torres L. The functional agrobiodiversity in the Douro demarcated region viticulture: utopia or reality? Arthropods as a case-study – A review. Ciência Téc Vitiv 2019. [DOI: 10.1051/ctv/201934010102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Aiming to reduce the losses of biodiversity and the degradation of associated ecosystem services, the United Nations established the 2011-2020 period as the UN Decade on Biodiversity. During this period, the countries involved compromised on implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The argument is that biological diversity underpins the functioning of ecosystems and the provision of services essential to human well-being, further contributing to economic development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The purpose of this review is to present results of research and academic works carried out over several years in the Douro Demarcated Region in the field of functional agrobiodiversity, understood as the part of ecosystem biodiversity that provides ecosystem services, which support sustainable agricultural production and can also bring benefits to the regional and global environment and to society as a whole. Such studies specifically aimed to contribute knowledge about the diversity of arthropods in the vineyard ecosystem and about practices that can increase their abundance, diversity and services provided. In this context, a general characterization of the arthropod community identified in the vineyard ecosystem is conducted, complemented by information on the role played, by the taxonomic groups identified. The importance of increasing arthropod populations, the vegetation of vineyard slopes, and the existence of shrubs, forests and hedgerows next to the vineyards is discussed. The fundamental role of soil management practices is also referred, namely that of ground cover and the application of compost from winery wastes in the abundance and diversity of these organisms populations. Finally, bearing in mind the importance of the use of this information by vine growers, the measures taken for its dissemination are also presented.
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Tisserant A, Cherubini F. Potentials, Limitations, Co-Benefits, and Trade-Offs of Biochar Applications to Soils for Climate Change Mitigation. Land 2019; 8:179. [DOI: 10.3390/land8120179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Biochar is one of the most affordable negative emission technologies (NET) at hand for future large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which is typically found essential to stabilizing global temperature rise at relatively low levels. Biochar has also attracted attention as a soil amendment capable of improving yield and soil quality and of reducing soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this work, we review the literature on biochar production potential and its effects on climate, food security, ecosystems, and toxicity. We identify three key factors that are largely affecting the environmental performance of biochar application to agricultural soils: (1) production condition during pyrolysis, (2) soil conditions and background climate, and (3) field management of biochar. Biochar production using only forest or crop residues can achieve up to 10% of the required CDR for 1.5 ∘ C pathways and about 25% for 2 ∘ C pathways; the consideration of dedicated crops as biochar feedstocks increases the CDR potential up to 15–35% and 35–50%, respectively. A quantitative review of life-cycle assessment (LCA) studies of biochar systems shows that the total climate change assessment of biochar ranges between a net emission of 0.04 tCO 2 eq and a net reduction of 1.67 tCO 2 eq per tonnes feedstock. The wide range of values is due to different assumptions in the LCA studies, such as type of feedstock, biochar stability in soils, soil emissions, substitution effects, and methodological issues. Potential trade-offs between climate mitigation and other environmental impact categories include particulate matter, acidification, and eutrophication and mostly depend on the background energy system considered and on whether residues or dedicated feedstocks are used for biochar production. Overall, our review finds that biochar in soils presents relatively low risks in terms of negative environmental impacts and can improve soil quality and that decisions regarding feedstock mix and pyrolysis conditions can be optimized to maximize climate benefits and to reduce trade-offs under different soil conditions. However, more knowledge on the fate of biochar in freshwater systems and as black carbon emissions is required, as they represent potential negative consequences for climate and toxicity. Biochar systems also interact with the climate through many complex mechanisms (i.e., surface albedo, black carbon emissions from soils, etc.) or with water bodies through leaching of nutrients. These effects are complex and the lack of simplified metrics and approaches prevents their routine inclusion in environmental assessment studies. Specific emission factors produced from more sophisticated climate and ecosystem models are instrumental to increasing the resolution and accuracy of environmental sustainability analysis of biochar systems and can ultimately improve the characterization of the heterogeneities of varying local conditions and combinations of type feedstock, conversion process, soil conditions, and application practice.
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Zhang, Tayyab, Abubakar, Yang, Pang, Islam, Lin, Li, Luo, Fan, Fallah, Zhang. Bacteria with Different Assemblages in the Soil Profile Drive the Diverse Nutrient Cycles in the Sugarcane Straw Retention Ecosystem. Diversity 2019; 11:194. [DOI: 10.3390/d11100194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Straw retention, an alternative to artificial fertilization, commonly mitigates soil degradation and positively affects soil fertility. In this study, we investigated the succession of soil bacteria during two sugarcane straw retention treatments (control (CK) and sugarcane straw retention (SR)) and at four depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–40 cm) in fallow soil in a sugarcane cropping system. Using an Illumina MiSeq (16S rRNA) and soil enzyme activity, we explored the SR influence on soil bacterial communities and enzyme activities and its inclusive impact on soil fertility, with an emphasis on topsoil (0–10 cm) and subsoil (10–40 cm). Our results show that SR effectively improved soil fertility indicators (C, N, and P), including enzyme activities (C and N cycling), throughout the soil profile: these soil parameters greatly improved in the topsoil compared to the control. Sugarcane straw retention and soil depth (0–10 cm vs. 10–40 cm) were associated with little variation in bacterial species richness and alpha diversity throughout the soil profile. Subsoil and topsoil bacterial communities differed in composition. Compared to the CK treatment, SR enriched the topsoil with Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Nitrospirae, while the subsoil was depleted in Nitrospirae and Acidobacteria. Similarly, SR enriched the subsoil with Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Bacteroidetes, while the topsoil was depleted in Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Planctomycetes compared to the CK. At the genus level, SR enriched the topsoil with Gp1, Gp2, Gp5, Gp7, Gemmatimonas, Kofleria, Sphingomonas, and Gaiella, which decompose lignocellulose and contribute to nutrient cycling. In summary, SR not only improved soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities but also enriched bacterial taxa involved in lignocellulosic decomposition and nutrient cycling (C and N) throughout the soil profile. However, these effects were stronger in topsoil than in subsoil, suggesting that SR enhanced fertility more in topsoil than in subsoil in fallow land.
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Dai Y, Zhang N, Xing C, Cui Q, Sun Q. The adsorption, regeneration and engineering applications of biochar for removal organic pollutants: A review. Chemosphere 2019; 223:12-27. [PMID: 30763912 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.01.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, with the continuous development of industry and agriculture, the content of organic pollutants in the environment has been increasing, which has caused serious pollution to the environment. Adsorption has proven to be an effective and economically viable method of removing organic contaminants. Since biochar has many advantages such as various types of raw materials, low cost, and recyclability, it can achieve the effect of turning waste into treasure when used for environmental treatment. This paper summarizes the source and production of biochar, points out its research status in the removal of organic pollutants, expounds its adsorption mechanism on organic pollutants, introduces the relevant adsorption parameters, summarizes its regeneration methods, studies its application of engineering, and finally analyses of benefits and describes the development prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Dai
- Laboratory of Environmental Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, No.600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China.
| | - Naixin Zhang
- Laboratory of Environmental Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, No.600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Chuanming Xing
- Laboratory of Environmental Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, No.600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Qingxia Cui
- Laboratory of Environmental Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, No.600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Qiya Sun
- Laboratory of Environmental Remediation, College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, No.600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China
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Fischer BMC, Manzoni S, Morillas L, Garcia M, Johnson MS, Lyon SW. Improving agricultural water use efficiency with biochar - A synthesis of biochar effects on water storage and fluxes across scales. Sci Total Environ 2019; 657:853-862. [PMID: 30677950 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop agricultural methods that balance water supply and demand while at the same time improve resilience to climate variability. A promising instrument to address this need is biochar - a charcoal made from pyrolyzed organic material. However, it is often unclear how, if at all, biochar improves soil water availability, plant water consumption rates and crop yields. To address this question, we synthesized literature-derived observational data and evaluated the effects of biochar on evapotranspiration using a minimal soil water balance model. Results from the model were interpreted in the Budyko framework to assess how climatic conditions mediate the impacts of biochar on water fluxes. Our analysis of literature-derived observational data showed that while biochar addition generally increases the soil water holding capacity, it can have variable impacts on soil water retention relative to control conditions. Our modelling demonstrated that biochar increases long-term evapotranspiration rates, and therefore plant water availability, by increasing soil water retention capacity - especially in water-limited regions. Biochar amendments generally increased crop yields (75% of the compiled studies) and, in several cases (35% of the compiled studies), biochar amendments simultaneously increased crop yield and water use efficiencies. Hence, while biochar amendments are promising, the potential for variable impact highlights the need for targeted research on how biochar affects the soil-plant-water cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M C Fischer
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Stefano Manzoni
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura Morillas
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Monica Garcia
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; International Research Institute for Climate and Society, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, USA
| | - Mark S Johnson
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Steve W Lyon
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm, Sweden; The Nature Conservancy, Delmont, NJ, USA
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