Biochar from sawmill residues: characterization and evaluation for its potential use in the horticultural growing media

Rathnayake, Dilani; Creber, Hamish; Poucke, Reinhart Van; Sohi, Saran; Meers, Erik; Mašek, Ondřej; Ronsse, Frederik

doi:10.1007/s42773-021-00092-4

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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Section: Morphological and Spatial Root Responses To Sources Of Phosp...mentioning

confidence: 84%

“…The feedstock for VCZ biochar was the product of ring debarking of Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) (Rathnayake et al 2021). This is a sawmill process that removes the outer 5 mm of timber logs, yielding 40% wood and 60% bark by volume, incorporating the vascular cambium.…”

Section: Biochar Production and Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Relatively low concentrations of P could limit the agronomic value of woodderived biochar, particularly when compared with mineral P fertilisers where concentrated P is rapidly disseminated in the soil. Biochar derived from ring debarking residues exhibits higher P concentration compared to other wood-derived biochars due to the relatively high nutrient concentration in the vicinity of the vascular cambium (Rathnayake et al 2021). Generally, this particular feedstock may provide biochar with higher agronomic value than wood-derived biochars.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Preferences of Pinus sylvestris seedling roots for different phosphorus sources under phosphorus-deficient conditions

et al. 2022

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Purpose Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient in many managed forests. To further understand the risks and benefits of biochars as sustainable P source in forest management, an improved mechanistic understanding of its interactions in root systems is required. Methods A rhizobox experiment was conducted to observe root response of P. sylvestris (Scots pine) seedlings to different biochars in comparison to triple superphosphate (TSP) fertiliser as a P source. Three types of wood-derived biochar were compared: biochar from mixed softwood pellets (“Reference biochar”); from the vascular cambium zone of Picea sitchensis (“VCZ biochar”) and from mixed softwood pellets infused with TSP (“Processed biochar”). These biochars presented a range of available P from low to high. Seedling root development was spatially analysed using GIS software. Results The total length of P. sylvestris roots did not significantly differ between treatments. However, seedling roots showed strong preference for soil proximal to VCZ biochar and strong avoidance to TSP fertiliser. There was a milder avoidance effect for Processed biochar. Differences in root responses could be explained by available P: roots favored a moderate, sustained P source and avoided high available P sources. The avoidance effect can be attributed partially to lower soil pH around TSP fertiliser. Conclusion The extent concentration and duration of P availability affects the root response of P. sylverstris to P sources. Under P-deficient conditions, P. sylvestris root growth was markedly improved by introducing biochar with a certain P concentration, and VCZ biochar has potential as an effective source of P in forest establishment.

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Section: Morphological and Spatial Root Responses To Sources Of Phosp...mentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Biochar Production and Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Preferences of Pinus sylvestris seedling roots for different phosphorus sources under phosphorus-deficient conditions

et al. 2022

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“…In addition to the chemical mobilization of P that occurs along a pH gradient, physical changes could be relevant. VCZ biochar is friable, has a low bulk density, high porosity and a large internal surface area (Rathnayake et al 2021), This supports relatively easy access by roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi that facilitate P acquisition. The folding and compression that occurs in the pelleting of biomass used to make Reference biochar and Processed biochar creates structures that are less conducive to such interactions.…”

Section: Morphological and Spatial Root Responses To Sources Of Phosphorusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Feedstock for VCZ biochar comprised 40% wood and 60% bark by volume, incorporating the vascular cambium zone of Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) and naturally enriched in P (Rathnayake et al 2021). It is a co-product of debarking during sawmill processing of timber logs and was obtained from the Petersmuir sawmill in south-east Scotland (BSW Ltd, Scotland).…”

Section: Biochar Production and Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preferences of Pinus Sylvestris Seedling Roots for Different Phosphorus Sources under Phosphorus-Deficient Conditions

Lei

Creber

Bol

et al. 2022

Preprint

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PurposePhosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient in many managed forests. To further understand the risks and benefits of biochar as a sustainable P source in forest management, an improved mechanistic understanding of its interactions in root systems is required.MethodsA rhizobox experiment was conducted to observe root response of P. sylvestris (Scots pine) seedlings to different biochars in comparison to triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilizer as a P source. Three types of wood-derived biochar were compared: biochar from mixed softwood pellets (“Reference biochar”); from the vascular cambium zone of Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) (“VCZ biochar”) and from mixed softwood pellets infused with TSP (“Processed biochar”). These alternative types of biochar presented a range of available P from low to high. The activity of roots in the rhizoboxes was monitored and analyzed using spatial GIS software.ResultsThe total length of P. sylvestris roots did not significantly differ between treatments. However, roots showed strong preference for soil proximal to VCZ biochar and strong avoidance to TSP fertilizer. There was a milder avoidance effect for Processed biochar. Different preferences were mainly explained by available P: roots favored a moderate, sustained P source and avoided sources of high available P. The avoidance effect can be attributed partially to a considerable drop in soil pH around TSP fertilizer. ConclusionThe concentration and duration of P availability affects the root response of P. sylvestris to sources of P. In P-deficient conditions, the development of P. sylvestris roots can be markedly improved by introducing biochar with a certain native P content.

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Effects of chicken manure‐modified biochar on the adsorption capacity of tetracycline and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in soil

Hu,

Gao,

Wang

et al. 2023

Land Degrad Dev

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Large quantities of livestock manure not only occupy farmland but also serve as the primary source of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural soil. To enhance the resource utilization of animal manure and mitigate ecological risks associated with antibiotics in agroecosystems, chicken manure was used as a raw material for biochar production. The manure derived biochar (MB) was modified with an alkali–acid two‐step modification process. The results showed that the total pore volume and surface area of alkali–acid modified MB (AMMB) was significantly increased about three and five times, respectively after modification. The SEM images showed that the surface of AMMB had a more regular and clearer structure with fewer impurities. The improvement of surface properties of AMMB significantly increased its adsorbing capacity of tetracycline in the soil. The adsorption kinetics of tetracycline by AMMB were better fitted by the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model, suggesting that the adsorption of tetracycline on biochar followed the process of chemisorption. The adsorption mechanisms mainly involved the pore filling, hydrophobic effect, and π–π EDA interaction. Moreover, after a 60 days amendment of AMMB, the total relative abundances (RAs) of tested tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs) in soil decreased significantly, which suggested that AMMB can be a potential material to reduce risks of antibiotics and its resistance genes.

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Biochar from sawmill residues: characterization and evaluation for its potential use in the horticultural growing media

Cited by 9 publications

References 57 publications

Preferences of Pinus sylvestris seedling roots for different phosphorus sources under phosphorus-deficient conditions

Preferences of Pinus sylvestris seedling roots for different phosphorus sources under phosphorus-deficient conditions

Preferences of Pinus Sylvestris Seedling Roots for Different Phosphorus Sources under Phosphorus-Deficient Conditions

Effects of chicken manure‐modified biochar on the adsorption capacity of tetracycline and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in soil

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