Assessment of Hydrophilic Biochar Effect on Sandy Soil Water Retention

Rattanakam, Ramida; Pituya, Pinitpon; Suwan, Mantana; Supothina, Sitthisuntorn

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.751.790

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Biochar could have hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics depending on the source materials and types. Hydrophilic biochar is usually providing superior wettability to soil [8]. Hydrophobic biochar surfaces may obstruct the uptake of water into biochar pores without considering pore size, distribution pattern, and structure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may have a huge impact on WR (as WR depends on both biochar rates and soil particle size) that subsequently affects water infiltration in soil, SWR capacity as well as plant growth [16]. Rattanakam et al [8] mentioned that hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity is not the most important governing factor of the SWR ability of soil.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where θ(ψ) is the VSMC (cm 3 cm −3 ) at a given matric potential ψ(kPa); θ s is the saturated water content (cm 3 cm −3 ) when ψ the 0 kPa; θ r is the residual water content (cm 3 cm −3 ). At ψ ≥ −1500 kPa (0.05-0.07) and ∝, n, and m shape parameters of the VG equation (Equation (8)). We adopted the Mualem constant (m = 1 − 1/n) to increase model parsimony [28,61,63,64].…”

Section: Plant Available Water (Paw)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This increase is primarily driven by potential applications for biochar in agricultural practices [2][3][4][5][6]. Biochar refers to the solid carbonaceous product [7] produced naturally and commercially [8] via pyrolysis and gasification [9] from organic biomass. Biochar production process temperature range between 300 and 1000 • C under minimum or no oxygen conditions [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biochar application may have a positive or negative impact on soil texture and soil hydrological properties such as field capacity (FC) and plant available water (PAW) [8,29] depending on whether the biochar applied is hydrophilic or hydrophobic. If biochar has hydrophobic characteristics, then soil nutrient distribution and retention capacity could be negatively affected, whereas hydrophilic biochar could increase interactions with soil solution [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating the Influence of Biochar Amendment on the Physicochemical Properties of Podzolic Soil

et al. 2020

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Research into biochar, as an amendment to soil, has increased over the last decade. However, there is still much to understand regarding the effects of biochar type and rates on the physicochemical properties of different soil types. This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar application on the physicochemical properties of podzolic soils. Soil samples were collected from the research site in Pasadena, Newfoundland, Canada. Experimental treatments consisted of three types of soils (topsoil, E-horizon soil and mixed soil (topsoil 2: E-horizon soil 1)), two biochar types (granular and powder) and four biochar application rates (0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% on a weight basis). Ten physicochemical parameters (bulk density (BD), porosity, field capacity (FC), plant available water (PAW), water repellency (WR), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total carbon (TC), and nitrogen (N)) were investigated through a total of 72 experimental units. Biochar morphological structure and pore size distribution were examined using a scanning electron microscope, whereas specific surface area was assessed by the Brunauer−Emmett−Teller method. The result indicated that the E-horizon soil was highly acidic compared to control (topsoil) and mixed soils. A significant difference was observed between the control and 2% biochar amendment in all three soil mixtures tested in this experiment. Biochar amendments significantly reduced the soil BD (E-horizon: 1.40–1.25 > mixed soil: 1.34–1.21 > topsoil: 1.31–1.18 g cm−3), increased the CEC (mixed soil: 2.83–3.61 > topsoil: 2.61–2.70 > E-horizon: 1.40–1.25 cmol kg−1) and total C (topsoil: 2.40–2.41 > mixed soil: 1.74–1.75 > E-horizon: 0.43–0.44%). Water drop penetration tests showed increased WR with increasing biochar doses from 0 to 2% (topsoil: 2.33–4.00 > mixed soil: 2.33–3.33 > E-horizon: 4.00–4.67 s), and all the biochar–soil combinations were classified as slightly-repellent. We found significant effects of biochar application on soil water retention. Porosity increased by 2.8%, FC by 10%, and PAW by 12.9% when the soil was treated with powdered biochar. Additionally, we examined the temporal effect of biochar (0 to 2% doses) on pH and EC and observed an increase in pH (4.3–5.5) and EC (0.0–0.20 dS/m) every day from day 1–day 7. Collectively the study findings suggest 2% powder biochar application rate is the best combination to improve the physicochemical properties of the tested mixed podzolic soil. Granular and powdered biochar was found to be hydrophobic and hydrophilic, respectively. These findings could be helpful to better understand the use of biochar for improving the physicochemical properties of podzolic soils when used for agricultural practices in boreal ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Plant Available Water (Paw)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating the Influence of Biochar Amendment on the Physicochemical Properties of Podzolic Soil

et al. 2020

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Design of Experiments Study on Scottish Wood Biochars and Process Parameter Influence on Final Biochar Characteristics

Jamal

Fletcher

2023

Bioenerg. Res.

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Native Scottish wood samples were investigated as potential, locally sourced, raw materials for biochar production. Screening experiments identified pure softwood as the preferable feedstock. Influence of operational parameters, i.e. activating gas flow rate (CO2), heating ramp rate and contact time on final biochar characteristics, was investigated using design of experiments. Surface area and biochar yield were selected as response variables. Minitab was used to define experimental run conditions and suggested an optimal output at 60 min contact time and 15 °C/min ramp rate for maximum responses. The highest surface area (764 m2/g) was achieved at 850 °C from softwood, albeit with a low yield of 15%. Under optimised conditions, the observed surface area was 613 m2/g with ~ 18% yield. Pareto charts suggested no influence of gas flow rate on chosen responses, which correlated well with experimental data. Pore structure was a combination of micro- and mesopores with average pore widths of 3–5 nm and an average point of zero charge of 7.40 ± 0.02. Proximate analysis showed an increase in fixed carbon content from 20%, in the feedstock, to 80%, in the optimised biochar. Morphological analysis showed a layered carbon structure in the biochars. The results show the significance of the selected feedstock as a potential source of biochar material and the relevance of interplay of operational variables in biochar development and their final characteristics.

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Biochar applications to boreal podzol improve soil hydraulic properties and control nitrogen dynamics

et al. 2022

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The study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar (BC) application on hydraulic properties and resulting nitrogen (N) transport in a podzolic soil profile. Soil samples were collected from an agricultural research field in Pasadena, Newfoundland, Canada. Three types of leaching columns were prepared: (1) topsoil, (2) top and E-horizon soil, and (3) mixed soil (2:1 ratio of topsoil and E-horizon soil). Granular biochar (GBC) and powder biochar (PBC) were mixed with soils at the rate of 0%, 1% and 2% (w/w). BC's morphological structure and pore size distribution were examined using a scanning electron microscope, and the specific surface area was assessed by the Brunauer−Emmett−Teller method. Soil physical and hydraulic properties (bulk density, porosity, field capacity (FC), permanent wilting point (PWP), plant available water (PAW)), leaching concentration of nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+), and volume of leachate were measured through a total of 378 experiments under laboratory conditions. GBC and PBC showed hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics, respectively. With the 2% PBC amendment, porosity increased by 2.8%, FC by 10%, and PAW by 12.9% in the mixed soil and reduced NO3- leaching by 36% in top & E-horizon soil and NH4+ leaching by 72% in mixed soil. On the other hand, NO3- and NH4+ leaching was reduced by 26% and 33% in mixed soil when treated with 2% GBC. A 2% application rate of both BC (GBC and PBC) showed the best performance to enhance soil hydraulic properties and retain significant amounts of NO3- and NH4+ in the boreal podzol.

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Assessment of Hydrophilic Biochar Effect on Sandy Soil Water Retention

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Investigating the Influence of Biochar Amendment on the Physicochemical Properties of Podzolic Soil

Investigating the Influence of Biochar Amendment on the Physicochemical Properties of Podzolic Soil

Design of Experiments Study on Scottish Wood Biochars and Process Parameter Influence on Final Biochar Characteristics

Biochar applications to boreal podzol improve soil hydraulic properties and control nitrogen dynamics

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