Biochar amendment mitigates greenhouse gases emission and global warming potential in dairy manure based silage corn in boreal climate

Ashiq, Waqar; Nadeem, Muhammad; Ali, Waqas; Zaeem, Muhammad; Wu, Jianghua; Galagedara, Lakshman; Thomas, Raymond; Kavanagh, Vanessa; Cheema, Mumtaz

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114869

Cited by 38 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Cumulative N 2 O emissions over the growing season were moderate as compared to previous multi year trials [47,[97][98][99], though, three times smaller than dairy manure based annual corn production [26,100]. Cumulative N 2 O emissions during the early growing season were higher at both farms followed by the mid and late growing season.…”

Section: Nitrous Oxide Fluxes and Cumulative Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…It was assumed that N 2 O emissions between 0900 and 1200 h on each sampling date were the average of the daily N 2 O flux [62,64]. Cumulative N 2 O emissions were calculated by multiplying the average fluxes of two successive determinations by the length of the period between samplings and adding that amount to the previous cumulative total [26,66] using following Equation (2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As land-use variations impact N 2 O emissions, so actual estimation of the role of topography could not be evaluated if all sampling locations or topographical positions are not located within the same land use. Temporal variations in N 2 O emissions as crops grow have been widely studied [26][27][28] however, the impact of topography during different crop growth periods has not been considered though it might impact water and nutrient translocation along with slope positions and might trigger a divergent spatial and temporal response in N 2 O emissions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Topography Controls N2O Emissions Differently during Early and Late Corn Growing Season

et al. 2021

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Topography affects soil hydrological, pedological, and biochemical processes and may influence nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions into the atmosphere. While N2O emissions from agricultural fields are mainly measured at plot scale and on flat topography, intrafield topographical and crop growth variability alter soil processes and might impact N2O emissions. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of topographical variations on crop growth period dependent soil N2O emissions at the field scale. A field experiment was conducted at two agricultural farms (Baggs farm; BF and Research North; RN) with undulating topography. Dominant slope positions (upper, middle, lower and toeslope) were identified based on elevation difference. Soil and gas samples were collected from four replicated locations within each slope position over the whole corn growing season (May–October 2019) to measure soil physio-chemical properties and N2O emissions. The N2O emissions at BF ranged from −0.27 ± 0.42 to 255 ± 105 g ha−1 d−1. Higher cumulative emissions were observed from the upper slope (1040 ± 487 g ha−1) during early growing season and from the toeslope (371 ± 157 g ha−1) during the late growing season with limited variations during the mid growing season. Similarly, at RN farm, (emissions ranged from −0.50 ± 0.83 to 70 ± 15 g ha−1 d−1), the upper slope had higher cumulative emissions during early (576 ± 132 g ha−1) and mid (271 ± 51 g ha−1) growing season, whereas no impact of slope positions was observed during late growing season. Topography controlled soil and environmental properties differently at different crop growth periods; thus, intrafield variability must be considered in estimating N2O emissions and emission factor calculation from agricultural fields. However, due to large spatial variations in N2O emissions, further explorations into site-specific analysis of individual soil properties and their impact on N2O emissions using multiyear data might help to understand and identify hotspots of N2O emissions.

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Section: Nitrous Oxide Fluxes and Cumulative Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 59%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Topography Controls N2O Emissions Differently during Early and Late Corn Growing Season

et al. 2021

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“…Furthermore, biochar has also been reported to influence soil health by enhancing microbial abundance and diversity in the rhizosphere, as well as modifying the favorable microbial environments by adjusting nutrients, increasing soil pH [18][19][20] and modifying plant growth performance through improved fertility, and direct supply of carbon (C) rich substrates [21,22]. Biochar application or amendment is also well recognized as a useful potential climate change mitigation strategy [23,24]. Specifically, this mitigation strategy includes decreased erosion potential [13], remediation of contaminated water or soil [25][26][27], and improved agricultural production and ecosystem sustainability [10,28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Modern scientific literature is replete with examples of biochar's ability to improve soil physicochemical properties and agricultural conditions. However, only a small number of studies have been conducted on the biochar amendment to improve the soil performance including physicochemical properties of podzolic soil in boreal climates or ecosystems [23,[49][50][51]. This is important to note considering the boreal ecosystem is facing an increase in agricultural production and covers approximately 11% of the terrestrial land surface on Earth [48].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Influence of Biochar Amendment on the Physicochemical Properties of Podzolic Soil

et al. 2020

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Research into biochar, as an amendment to soil, has increased over the last decade. However, there is still much to understand regarding the effects of biochar type and rates on the physicochemical properties of different soil types. This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar application on the physicochemical properties of podzolic soils. Soil samples were collected from the research site in Pasadena, Newfoundland, Canada. Experimental treatments consisted of three types of soils (topsoil, E-horizon soil and mixed soil (topsoil 2: E-horizon soil 1)), two biochar types (granular and powder) and four biochar application rates (0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% on a weight basis). Ten physicochemical parameters (bulk density (BD), porosity, field capacity (FC), plant available water (PAW), water repellency (WR), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total carbon (TC), and nitrogen (N)) were investigated through a total of 72 experimental units. Biochar morphological structure and pore size distribution were examined using a scanning electron microscope, whereas specific surface area was assessed by the Brunauer−Emmett−Teller method. The result indicated that the E-horizon soil was highly acidic compared to control (topsoil) and mixed soils. A significant difference was observed between the control and 2% biochar amendment in all three soil mixtures tested in this experiment. Biochar amendments significantly reduced the soil BD (E-horizon: 1.40–1.25 > mixed soil: 1.34–1.21 > topsoil: 1.31–1.18 g cm−3), increased the CEC (mixed soil: 2.83–3.61 > topsoil: 2.61–2.70 > E-horizon: 1.40–1.25 cmol kg−1) and total C (topsoil: 2.40–2.41 > mixed soil: 1.74–1.75 > E-horizon: 0.43–0.44%). Water drop penetration tests showed increased WR with increasing biochar doses from 0 to 2% (topsoil: 2.33–4.00 > mixed soil: 2.33–3.33 > E-horizon: 4.00–4.67 s), and all the biochar–soil combinations were classified as slightly-repellent. We found significant effects of biochar application on soil water retention. Porosity increased by 2.8%, FC by 10%, and PAW by 12.9% when the soil was treated with powdered biochar. Additionally, we examined the temporal effect of biochar (0 to 2% doses) on pH and EC and observed an increase in pH (4.3–5.5) and EC (0.0–0.20 dS/m) every day from day 1–day 7. Collectively the study findings suggest 2% powder biochar application rate is the best combination to improve the physicochemical properties of the tested mixed podzolic soil. Granular and powdered biochar was found to be hydrophobic and hydrophilic, respectively. These findings could be helpful to better understand the use of biochar for improving the physicochemical properties of podzolic soils when used for agricultural practices in boreal ecosystems.

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Biochar as a negative emission technology: A synthesis of field research on greenhouse gas emissions

et al. 2023

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Biochar is one of the few nature‐based technologies with potential to help achieve net‐zero emissions agriculture. Such an outcome would involve the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from agroecosystems and optimization of soil organic carbon sequestration. Interest in biochar application is heightened by its several co‐benefits. Several reviews summarized past investigations on biochar, but these reviews mostly included laboratory, greenhouse, and mesocosm experiments. A synthesis of field studies is lacking, especially from a climate change mitigation standpoint. Our objectives are to (1) synthesize advances in field‐based studies that have examined the GHG mitigation capacity of soil application of biochar and (2) identify limitations of the technology and research priorities. Field studies, published before 2022, were reviewed. Biochar has variable effects on GHG emissions, ranging from decrease, increase, to no change. Across studies, biochar reduced emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) by 18% and methane (CH4) by 3% but increased carbon dioxide (CO2) by 1.9%. When biochar was combined with N‐fertilizer, it reduced CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions in 61%, 64%, and 84% of the observations, and biochar plus other amendments reduced emissions in 78%, 92%, and 85% of the observations, respectively. Biochar has shown potential to reduce GHG emissions from soils, but long‐term studies are needed to address discrepancies in emissions and identify best practices (rate, depth, and frequency) of biochar application to agricultural soils.

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Biochar amendment mitigates greenhouse gases emission and global warming potential in dairy manure based silage corn in boreal climate

Cited by 38 publications

References 78 publications

Topography Controls N2O Emissions Differently during Early and Late Corn Growing Season

Topography Controls N2O Emissions Differently during Early and Late Corn Growing Season

Investigating the Influence of Biochar Amendment on the Physicochemical Properties of Podzolic Soil

Biochar as a negative emission technology: A synthesis of field research on greenhouse gas emissions

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