Effects of biochar on soil microbial community composition and activity in drip-irrigated desert soil

Liao, Na; Qi, Li; Zhang, Wen; Zhou, Guangwei; Ma, Lijuan; Wei, Min; Ye, Jun; Hou, Zhenan

doi:10.1016/j.ejsobi.2015.12.008

Cited by 94 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Additional biochar-induced positive effects are the enhancement of water retention (Baronti et al 2014), reduction of toxin-induced stress to microorganisms and plants, and chemisorption of soil pollutants (Liao et al 2016). Nevertheless, further unintended changes in soil properties that may follow biochar application are of concern when considering soil function and its ecosystem services as part of the energy/matter links in the soil food chain (Castracani et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar improves the fertility of a Mediterranean vineyard without toxic impact on the microbial community

Maienza

Baronti

Cincinelli

et al. 2017

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Incorporation of biochar into agricultural soils has been repeatedly proposed as an effective strategy to mitigate climate change with beneficial effects on soil properties and crop production. Results from previous field experiments showed that, when applied to vineyards, biochar amendment increased yield without a negative impact on grape quality, decreasing water stress during droughts and improving soil physical and chemical properties. Despite those positive impacts, the long-term effects of biochar treatment on soil fertility and ecological toxicity have seldom been studied at a real farm scale. We investigated the effects of biochar amendment on vineyard soil subjected to a single and a repeated biochar application focusing on total heavy metal concentration and availability, concentration and persistence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), soil toxicity, and soil microbial community structure over a 5-year period. Our results showed that a longer term biochar application in a vineyard has no impact on soil microorganisms and does not retain toxic compounds (PAH and heavy metals). For the first time in biochar research, we investigate the biochar effect on a perennial crop and correlate the PAH retention with soil microbiota. Our research demonstrates that biochar application in a Mediterranean vineyard does not have a negative impact on soil ecology, reinforcing the perception that biochar is a sustainable option at farm scale, meeting the needs of agronomy and climate change mitigation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar improves the fertility of a Mediterranean vineyard without toxic impact on the microbial community

Maienza

Baronti

Cincinelli

et al. 2017

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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“…In the present study, basal soil respiration increased significantly in the soil that was amended with biochar at a higher application rate. A R 10 increase was found for heterotrophic respiration in different environments such as apple orchards [26] and the desert [47] after the application of biochar produced from wood and cotton straw, respectively. A significant increase in R 10 for total soil respiration was also observed in soils amended with poultry litter biochar [48].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effect of Woodchips Biochar on Sensitivity to Temperature of Soil Greenhouse Gases Emissions

Criscuoli

Ventura

Sperotto

et al. 2019

Forests

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Research Highlights: Biochar is the carbonaceous product of pyrolysis or the gasification of biomass that is used as soil amendment to improve soil fertility and increase soil carbon stock. Biochar has been shown to increase, decrease, or have no effect on the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from soil, depending on the specific soil and biochar characteristics. However, the temperature sensitivity of these gas emissions in biochar-amended soils is still poorly investigated. Background and Objectives: A pot experiment was set up to investigate the impact of woodchips biochar on the temperature sensitivity of the main GHG (CO2, CH4, and N2O) emissions from soil. Materials and Methods: Nine pots (14 L volume) were filled with soil mixed with biochar at two application rates (0.021 kg of biochar/kg of soil and 0.042 kg of biochar/kg of soil) or with soil alone as the control (three pots per treatment). Pots were incubated in a growth chamber and the emissions of CO2, CH4, and N2O were monitored for two weeks with a cavity ring-down gas analyzer connected to three closed dynamic chambers. The temperature in the chamber increased from 10 °C to 30 °C during the first week and decreased back to 10 °C during the second week, with a daily change of 5 °C. Soil water content was kept at 20% (w/w). Results: Biochar application did not significantly affect the temperature sensitivity of CO2 and N2O emissions. However, the sensitivity of CH4 uptake from soil significantly decreased by the application of biochar, reducing the CH4 soil consumption compared to the un-amended soil, especially at high soil temperatures. Basal CO2 respiration at 10 °C was significantly higher in the highest biochar application rate compared to the control soil. Conclusions: These results confirmed that the magnitude and direction of the influence of biochar on temperature sensitivity of GHG emissions depend on the specific GHG considered. The biochar tested in this study did not affect soil N2O emission and only marginally affected CO2 emission in a wide range of soil temperatures. However, it showed a negative impact on soil CH4 uptake, particularly at a high temperature, having important implications in a future warmer climate scenario and at higher application rates.

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“…Depending on the pyrolysis technique and the feedstock, the properties of biochars may vary as well as their effect on the soil's biological activity. Biochar application as soil ameliorant can shift the structure of the soil's microbial community (Lehmann et al, 2011;Liao et al, 2016). The different alterations in the abundance or the diversity of the soil-living microbes might be the result of other advantageous changes of soil properties (pH, WHC, nutrient contents, etc.)…”

Section: Influence Of Treatments On Soil Living Aerobic Bacteria and mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microcosm incubation study for monitoring the mid-term effects of different biochars on acidic sandy soil applying a multiparameter approach

Farkas

Feigl

Gruiz

et al. 2018

Process Safety and Environmental Protection

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Biochar is produced from organic materials by pyrolysis specifically for soil improvement. Interactions with beneficial outcomes between biochar and soil can arise within a short time but it is uncertain whether the effects are similar in all soil types and at different time-scale. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term and mid-term effects of biochars from different feedstocks (grain husks and paper fibre sludge, post-treated grain husks and paper fibre sludge, woodscreenings) on the soil physico-chemical, biological and ecotoxicological properties. As part of a complete scale-up technology, aiming improvement of an acidic sandy soil, a 12-month microcosm experiment was conducted with combined application of biochars, compost and fertilizer. The applied multiparameter approach made possible the selection of the most optimal treatment. All the three biochars had favourable influence on the soil, but the effects were different in terms of extent and time. Although the biochar from woodscreenings had not the most promising short-term effects, but combined with fertilizer at 0.5 w /w% biochar rate it was the most favourable treatment after 12 months. The grain husk and the paper fibre sludge biochar at 1 w /w% rate could also efficiently improve soil parameters and functions.

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Effects of biochar on soil microbial community composition and activity in drip-irrigated desert soil

Cited by 94 publications

References 49 publications

Biochar improves the fertility of a Mediterranean vineyard without toxic impact on the microbial community

Biochar improves the fertility of a Mediterranean vineyard without toxic impact on the microbial community

Effect of Woodchips Biochar on Sensitivity to Temperature of Soil Greenhouse Gases Emissions

Microcosm incubation study for monitoring the mid-term effects of different biochars on acidic sandy soil applying a multiparameter approach

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