The effects and underlying mechanisms of crop residue-derived biochars on the pH buffering capacity (pHbuff) of an acidic Ultisol, with low pHbuff, were investigated through indoor incubation and simulated acidification experiments. The incorporation of biochars significantly increased soil pHbuff with the magnitude of the increase dependent on acid buffering capacity of the biochar incorporated to the soil. Cation release, resulting from the protonation of carboxyl groups on biochar surfaces and the dissolution of carbonates, was the predominant mechanism responsible for the increase in soil pHbuff at pH 4.0-7.0 and accounted for >67% of the increased pHbuff. The reaction of protons with soluble silica (Si) in biochars derived from rice straw and corn stover also accounted for ∼20% of the pHbuff increase due to HSiO precipitation. In conclusion, the incorporation of crop residue-derived biochars into acidic soils increased soil pHbuff with peanut stover biochar being the most effective biochar tested.

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Abstract. Soil acidity has become a principal constraint in dry land crop production systems of acidic Ultisols in tropical and subtropical regions of southern China, where winter wheat and canola are cultivated as important rotational crops.