Soil carbon storage in upland soils by biochar application in East Asia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Biochar is a solid material converted from agricultural biomass such as crop residues and pruning branch through pyrolysis under limited oxygen supply. Biochar consists of non-degradable carbon (C) double bonds and aromatic ring that are not readily broken down by microbial degradation in the soils. Due to the recalcitrancy of C in biochar, biochar application to the soils is of help in enhancing soil carbon sequestration in arable lands that might be a strategy of agricultural sector to mitigate climate change. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were collected from studies on the effect of biochar application on soil C content conducted in East Asian countries including China, Japan and Korea under different experimental conditions (incubation, column, pot, and field). The magnitude of soil C storage was positively correlated (p < 0.001) with biochar application rate under field conditions, reflecting accumulation of recalcitrant black C in the biochar. However, The changes in soil C contents per C input from biochar (% per t/ha) were 6.80 in field condition, and 12.58 in laboratory condition. The magnitude of increment of soil C was lower in field than in laboratory conditions due to potential loss of C through weathering of biochar under field conditions. Biochar production condition also affected soil C increment; more C increment was found with biochar produced at a high temperature (over 450℃). CONCLUSION: This review suggests that biochar application is a potential measures of C sequestration in agricultural soils. However, as the increment of soil C biochar was affected by biochar types, further studies are necessary to find better biochar types for enhanced soil C storage.

Effect of Continuous Biochar Use on Soil Chemical Properties and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Greenhouse Cultivation

“…바이오차는 바이오매스(Biomass)와 숯(charcoal)의 합성 어로 바이오매스를 혐기적 조건에서 열분해시킨 물질로써 탄 소함량이 높으며, 안정된 방향족 구조로 배열되어 분해가 어려 운 탄소형태로 구성된다 [7]. 바이오매스를 안정한 탄소형태로 고정하는 것 외에 바이오차를 토양에 처리할 경우, 바이오차의 넓은 비표면적에 의한 양분보유능력의 증가와 이에 따른 농경 지 질소 손실 감소로 무기질 비료의 사용량을 절감시킬 수 있 다.…”

Short-Term Effect of Biochar on Soil Organic Carbon Improvement and Nitrous Oxide Emission Reduction According to Different Soil Characteristics in Agricultural Land: A Laboratory Experiment

“…This is because biochar applications are more effective in poor soil than in fertile soil [27]. Lee et al [63] reported that when the initial carbon content of the test soil was low, the increase rate of soil carbon compared with the amount of carbon input from biochar was high. This is similar to the results from this study.…”

Systematic Characterization of Cow Manure Biochar and Its Effect on Salicornia herbacea L. Growth

“…Biochar generally uses wood with a high lignin content as biomass. Therefore, studies exploring the utilization of livestock manure for biochar production are still limited [31]. This study aims to address this gap by specifically characterizing livestock manure before its conversion into biochar.…”