Biochar additions can enhance soil structure and the physical stabilization of C in aggregates

Wang, Daoyuan; Fonte, Steven J.; Parikh, Sanjai J.; Six, Johan; Scow, Kate M.

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.05.027

Cited by 196 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(57 reference statements)

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“…Higher soil aggregation was also observed for fine-textured soil where wood and animal derived biochar was added [5], improving soil physical structure, aeration and moisture ratio, consequently an improved environment for root development. These mechanisms are often related to increased agricultural production; however, results vary due to biochar properties and its interaction with different environmental conditions [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…This supports the use of such biochar as a C sequestration strategy rather than a nutrient source. Biochar can contribute to the greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation not only due to its C sequestration potential [5] but also displacing the use of fossil fuel, producing alternative energy source through pyrolysis process [6]. As a global warming mitigation strategy, application of biochar in soil also showed decreasing N 2 O emissions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Feedstock Type on Agricultural Properties and Stability of Biochars

Conz¹,

Abbruzzini²,

Andrade³

et al. 2017

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Pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type used to produce biochar influence the physicochemical properties of the obtained product, which in turn display a range of results when used as soil amendment. From soil carbon (C) sequestration strategy to nutrient source, biochar is used to enhance soil properties and to improve agricultural production. However, contrasting effects are observed from biochar application to soil results from a wide range of biochar's properties in combination with specific environmental conditions. Therefore, elucidation on the effect of pyrolysis conditions and feedstock type on biochar properties may provide basic information to the understanding of soil and biochar interactions. In this study, biochar was produced from four different agricultural organic residues: Poultry litter, sugarcane straw, rice hull and sawdust pyrolysed at final temperatures of 350˚C, 450˚C, 550˚C and 650˚C. The effect of temperature and feedstock type on the variability of physicochemical properties of biochars was evaluated through measurements of pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, macronutrient content, proximate and elemental analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analyses. Additionally, an incubation trial was carried under controlled conditions to determine the effect of biochar stability on CO 2 -eq emissions. Results showed that increasing pyrolysis temperature supported biochar stability regardless of feedstock, however, agricultural properties varied widely both as an effect of temperature and feedstock. Animal manure biochar showed higher potential as nutrient source rather than a 915 Agricultural Sciences C sequestration strategy. Improving the knowledge on the influence of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type on the final properties of biochar will enable the use of better tailored materials that correspond to the expected results while considering its interactions with environmental conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Feedstock Type on Agricultural Properties and Stability of Biochars

Conz¹,

Abbruzzini²,

Andrade³

et al. 2017

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“…For example, regions of higher productivity, thus higher soil C, also have more biomass to burn and are therefore likely to have greater pyC in soils and drainage waters (Alexis et al, 2007;van Leeuwen et al, 2014). Soils with greater amounts of clay or metal oxide mineral or even charcoals, are likely to sorb and therefore protect both pyOM and non-pyOM from microbial mineralization through sorptive protection (Kasozi et al, 2010;Zimmerman et al, 2011) or aggregate stabilization (Wang et al, 2017). And soil translocation, erosion, leaching, and other hydrologic/climatic-related processes of a region are likely to act to mobilize both pyOM and non-pyOM in similar ways (Hilscher and Knicker, 2011;Jien and Wang, 2013), though not necessarily to equal extents (Rumpel et al, 2009).…”

Section: Methodology/conceptual Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trial by Fire: On the Terminology and Methods Used in Pyrogenic Organic Carbon Research

Zimmerman

Mitra

2017

Front. Earth Sci.

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Our understanding of the cycling of fire-derived, i.e., pyrogenic organic matter (pyOM), as well as the goals of the community of researchers who study it, may be inhibited by the many terms and methods currently used in its quantification and characterization. Terms currently used for pyOM have evolved by convention, but are often poorly defined. Further, each of the different methods now used to quantify solid and dissolved pyrogenic carbon (pyC) comes with its own biases and artifacts. That is, each detects only a fraction of the total pyrogenic products produced by fire, while, at the same time, include some fraction of non-pyrogenic OM. This may be evident in the commonly observed correlations between pyC and total organic C reported for both soils and dissolved OM in many different systems. We suggest that our research area can be placed on a stronger footing by: (1) agreement upon a common set of terms tied to the method used for detection (e.g., of the form pyC method ), (2) implementation of another "ring trial" study with a wider set of natural soil and water samples that cross-compare more recently developed methods, and (3) further investigation of the processes which preserve/degrade/transport pyOM in the environment.

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“…The inconsistent effects of biochar can be attributed to differences in the intrinsic attributes of different biochars (Castellini et al ., ; Burrell et al ., ; Wang et al ., ) or to the soil properties it is mixed with (Castellini et al ., ). For example, Suliman et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar enhances soil hydraulic function but not soil aggregation in a sandy loam

Zhou

Fang

Zhang

et al. 2018

European J Soil Science

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Summary Biochar has the potential to modify soil structure and soil hydraulic properties because of its small particle density, highly porous structure, grain size distribution and surface chemistry. However, knowledge of the long‐term effects of biochar on soil physical properties under field conditions is limited. Using an 8‐year field trial, we investigated the effects of successive additions of high‐dose maize‐cob‐derived biochar (9.0 t ha−1 year−1, HB), low‐dose maize‐cob‐derived biochar (4.5 t ha−1 year−1, LB), straw return (SR) and control (no biochar or straw, CK) on soil aggregate distribution, three‐dimensional (3‐D) pore structure, hydraulic conductivity and water retention in the upper 10 cm of a sandy loam soil from the North China Plain. Results showed that LB and HB treatments increased soil organic C content by 61.0–116.3% relative to CK. Interestingly, biochar amendment did not enhance the proportion of macroaggregates (> 2 and 0.25–2 mm) or aggregate stability, indicating limited positive effects on soil aggregation. The HB treatment decreased soil bulk density, and increased total porosity and macroporosity (> 30 μm). The retention of soil water, including gravitational water (0–33 kPa), capillary water (33–3100 kPa) and hygroscopic water (> 3100 kPa), was improved under HB soil. The HB and LB treatments increased plant‐available water content by 17.8 and 10.1%, respectively, compared with CK. In contrast, SR showed no significant increase in soil porosity and water retention capacity but improved the water stability of macroaggregates. We concluded that biochar used in the coarse‐textured soil enhanced saturated hydraulic conductivity and water‐holding capacity, but did not improve soil aggregation. Highlights Pore structure and hydraulic properties were studied in an 8‐year biochar‐amended sandy loam. HB (high‐dose biochar) increased total soil porosity and CT‐identified macroporosity (> 30 μm). Water retention improved under HB soil. Biochar addition had no effect on the formation of macroaggregates.

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Biochar additions can enhance soil structure and the physical stabilization of C in aggregates

Cited by 196 publications

References 54 publications

Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Feedstock Type on Agricultural Properties and Stability of Biochars

Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Feedstock Type on Agricultural Properties and Stability of Biochars

Trial by Fire: On the Terminology and Methods Used in Pyrogenic Organic Carbon Research

Biochar enhances soil hydraulic function but not soil aggregation in a sandy loam

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