Sunflower Husk Biochar as a Key Agrotechnical Factor Enhancing Sustainable Soybean Production

Abstract

Climate change has a decisive impact on the physical parameters of soil. To counteract this phenomenon, the ongoing search for more effective agri-technical solutions aims at the improvement of the physical properties of soil over a short time. The study aimed to assess the effect of biochar produced from sunflower husks on soil respiration (SR), soil water flux (SWF), and soil temperature (ST), depending on its dose and different soil cover (with and without vegetation). Moreover, the seed yield was assessed depending on the biochar fertilization. Field experiments were conducted on Calcaric/Dolomitic Leptosols (Ochric soil). SR, ST, and SWT were evaluated seven times in three-week intervals during two seasons, over 2018 and 2019. It was found that the time of biochar application had a significant effect on the evaluated parameters. In the second year, the authors observed significantly (p < 0.005) higher soil respiration (4.38 µmol s−1 m−2), soil temperature (21.2 °C), and the level of water net transfer in the soil (0.38 m mol s−1 m−2), compared to the first year. The most effective biochar dose regarding SR and soybean yield was 60 t ha−1. These are promising results, but a more comprehensive cost-benefit analysis is needed to recommend large-scale biochar use at this dose.

Impact of Biochar Addition and Air-Flow Rate on Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide Concentration in the Emitted Gases from Aerobic Biostabilization of Waste

“…65 ± 5 m 2 ∙g −1 , which is a value similar to the results obtained by Aselkand et al [ 54 ] and Tomczyk et al [ 55 ] for the biochar from woodchips. This surface area is much larger than that of the biochar used by Klimek-Kopyra et al [ 46 ] for water retention and nitrogen retention in soils (approx. 19 m 2 ∙g −1 ) but significantly lower than that of the biochar applied in the sorption of heavy metals [ 56 , 57 ].…”

“…The biochar used in the research is a material available commercially on the market and was obtained from coniferous woodchips as a result of pyrolysis in the thermalization energy recovery module at 550 °C for 30 min [ 29 , 42 ]. As Lehmann [ 43 ] and Jin et al [ 44 ] have reported, this temperature allows for obtaining biochar with the most favorable properties, i.e., high carbon content, cation exchange capacity, and a specific surface area, which are important in the biological methods of waste treatment and biochar application to soils [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ].…”

Economic Analysis of Biochar Use in Soybean Production in Poland

“…The seed yield was determined based on the structure of the soybean yield and the degree of pod pinching as a parameter of plant adaptation to habitat conditions. A detailed description of the experiment, methodology, chemical composition of biochar used in the experiment and data on soil properties can be found in Klimek-Kopyra (2021) [38] and Kubo ń et al [39].…”

Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Soybean Cultivation Fertilized with Biochar from Various Utility Plants

“…Mona et al [3] and Klimek-Kopyra et al [35] note significant differences in the quality of biochar in terms of plant cultivation suitability. These authors stated that microalgae biochar was characterized by a higher sorption capacity, increasing the use of elements applied with fertilizers.…”