Nutrient Dynamics in Soil Solution and Wheat Response after Biomass Ash Amendments

Abstract

Among the possible methods for biomass ash (BA) utilization, land application represents an important nutrient‐saving approach of BA management. The land application of BA results in an increase of soil pH, but in contrast to conventional liming, ash application on agricultural land can supply additional nutrients to soil, such as K, Mg, or P. However, due to the complex mineral phase composition of ashes, release of nutrients from the ash matrix into soil solution is not well understood. In the presented pot experiment, two agricultural soils were amended using two common types of BA (wood and straw ash) at rate 1% (w/w). During the vegetation period of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soil solution was sampled and monitored for the concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, and P. Subsequently, yield and nutrient uptake of wheat were determined. The effect of ash application on the investigated parameters differed substantially between the tested soils. Positive yield responses were found in soil with higher N content. Straw ash application increased concentrations of all monitored nutrients in soil solution but simultaneously increased plant uptake of K and P only. Wood ash increased concentrations of Ca and Mg in solution, while its effect on nutrient uptake strongly differed between soils. Generally, higher relative increases of nutrients in soil solution were surprisingly found in soil with higher pH and higher cation exchange capacity (CEC). Factors influencing dynamics of ash‐contained nutrients in soil solution are discussed. Nutrient leaching from straw and wood ash matrix in soil‐plant conditions is investigated. The influence of ashes on yield and nutrient uptake differed substantially depending on types of ash and soil. Highly soluble K‐compounds in straw ash revealed by X‐ray powder diffraction. Straw ash is a much more efficient P source than wood ash.

Fertilization efficiency of wood ash pellets amended by gypsum and superphosphate in the ryegrass growth

“…During the vegetation period, plants in the amended treatments, except the treatment IV, took up significantly more Ca than in the control treatment. It corresponds to the results of Mercl et al (2016) . Phosphorus (P) uptake by r yegrass during four harvests.…”

Effects of Soil Amendment With Wood Ash on Transpiration, Growth, and Metal Uptake in Two Contrasting Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids to Drought Tolerance

“…Furthermore, wood ash application may strongly influence the soil texture, aeration, and water holding capacity, consequently having an impact on root growth dynamics leading to a range of possible effects on plant growth. However, there is mounting evidence for wood ash application to improve plant growth and yield ( Demeyer et al, 2001 ; Mercl et al, 2016 ; Jagodzinski et al, 2018 ).…”

Oxygen Isotope Signatures of Phosphate in Wildfire Ash

“…High Phosphorus Concentrations in Ash. The resin P concentrations found in this study (average ± SE, 1 ± 0.1 mg g −1 ) were similar to the water-soluble P concentrations reported by previous studies 13,19 (0.9 and 0.7 mg g −1 , respectively) for ash from wood, bark, and cereal straw, from an industrial plant (Table 2). The HCl-P concentrations found in this study ranged from 1.4 to 6.7 mg g −1 .…”

“…The main P bearing aerosols in the atmosphere are dust particles, yet there are other important P sources, such as primary biogenic aerosols, which include pollen, and particles emitted from wildfires (hereafter, ash). − Particles emitted from forests during wildfires can fertilize and contribute to soil P concentrations in plant-available P pools. , However, the Amazon forest is losing P to the ocean as a result of wildfires. , Much effort is invested estimating the magnitude of the atmospheric P flux to ecosystems, ,− but there are still significant uncertainties regarding the contribution of wildfires to the global P budget. For example, the P concentration in ash reported by various studies varies widely. − In addition, the annual global P emissions were estimated by an earlier study as 0.025 Tg of P, while a later study gave a higher estimate of 0.78 Tg of P . Moreover, there is no accepted method for the identification and differentiation between the atmospheric-P sources in atmospheric samples.…”