Biochar-induced N2O emission reductions after field incorporation in a loam soil

Ameloot, Nele; Maenhout, Peter; Neve, Stefaan De; Sleutel, Steven

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.12.016

Cited by 93 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 38 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, the calculation of cumulative NO 3 − -derived N 2 O emissions showed that soil biochar amendment significantly decreased N 2 O emissions by 54%. These results confirmed what has been shown in several lab and field studies before11646566676869, that biochar amendment can mitigate soil N 2 O emission. In addition to N 2 O emission reduction, Cayuela and colleagues showed that soil biochar amendment substantially decreased the N 2 O/(N 2 O + N 2 ) emission ratio64.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Gas entrapment and microbial N2O reduction reduce N2O emissions from a biochar-amended sandy clay loam soil

Harter

Guzman-Bustamante

Kuehfuss

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that is produced during microbial nitrogen transformation processes such as nitrification and denitrification. Soils represent the largest sources of N2O emissions with nitrogen fertilizer application being the main driver of rising atmospheric N2O concentrations. Soil biochar amendment has been proposed as a promising tool to mitigate N2O emissions from soils. However, the underlying processes that cause N2O emission suppression in biochar-amended soils are still poorly understood. We set up microcosm experiments with fertilized, wet soil in which we used 15N tracing techniques and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to investigate the impact of biochar on mineral and gaseous nitrogen dynamics and denitrification-specific functional marker gene abundance and expression. In accordance with previous studies our results showed that biochar addition can lead to a significant decrease in N2O emissions. Furthermore, we determined significantly higher quantities of soil-entrapped N2O and N2 in biochar microcosms and a biochar-induced increase in typical and atypical nosZ transcript copy numbers. Our findings suggest that biochar-induced N2O emission mitigation is based on the entrapment of N2O in water-saturated pores of the soil matrix and concurrent stimulation of microbial N2O reduction resulting in an overall decrease of the N2O/(N2O + N2) ratio.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Gas entrapment and microbial N2O reduction reduce N2O emissions from a biochar-amended sandy clay loam soil

Harter

Guzman-Bustamante

Kuehfuss

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Improved aeration might reduce denitrification activity (Van Zwieten et al, 2010). However, Ameloot et al (2016) found the same rate of biochar-induced N 2 O emission reduction for both undisturbed and disturbed (sieved, grounded) soil cores from a field experiment. Thus, increased soil aggregation or other indirect physical controls could not explain the observed emission reduction as it was the case for our short-term microcosm experiment, too.…”

Section: Long-term Effect Of Biochar On Reduction In Greenhouse Gas Ementioning

confidence: 85%

Does soil aging affect the N₂O mitigation potential of biochar? A combined microcosm and field study

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The application of biochar as a soil amendment to improve soil fertility has been suggested as a tool to reduce soil-borne CO 2 and non-CO 2 greenhouse gas emissions, especially nitrous oxide (N 2 O). Both laboratory and field trials have demonstrated N 2 O emission reduction by biochar amendment, but the long-term effect (>1 year) has been questioned. Here, we present results of a combined microcosm and field study using a powdered beech wood biochar from slow pyrolysis. The field experiment showed that both CO 2 and N 2 O emissions were still effectively reduced by biochar in the third year after application. However, biochar did not influence the biomass yield of sunflower for biogas production (Helianthus annuus L.). Biochar reduced bulk density and increased soil aeration and thus reduced the water-filled pore space (WFPS) in the field, but was also able to suppress N 2 O emission in the microcosms experiment conducted at constant WFPS. For both experiments, biochar had limited impact on soil mineral nitrogen speciation, but it reduced the accumulation of nitrite in the microcosms. Extraction of soil DNA and quantification of functional marker genes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that biochar did not alter the abundance of nitrogen-transforming bacteria and archaea in both field and microcosm experiments. In contradiction to previous experiments, this study demonstrates the long-term N 2 O emission suppression potential of a wood biochar and thus highlights its overall climate change mitigation potential. While a detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms requires further research, we provide evidence for a range of biochar-induced changes to the soil environment and their change with time that might explain the often observed N 2 O emission suppression.

show abstract

“…Biochar, a secondary product of pyrolysis after syngas and bio-oil production for bioenergy (Srinivasan et al, 2015;Jeffery et al, 2015b), is touted for its diverse and positive agricultural roles. Its C sequestration (Lehmann and Joseph, 2015) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction (Cayuela et al, 2014;Ameloot et al, 2013aAmeloot et al, , 2016Smith, 2016) help mitigate climate change and potential adverse impacts to ecosystems from agriculture (Barrow, 2012;Liu et al, 2014). Additionally, it (Jensen 2013a(Jensen , 2013b represents an alternative means by which to contain water and atmospheric pollution ascribed to large volumes of crop and animal wastes (Jeffery et al, 2015b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop response to soils amended with biochar: expected benefits and unintended risks

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biochar (BC) from biomass waste pyrolysis has been widely studied due to its ability to increase carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance both crop growth and soil quality. This review summarises the current knowledge of BC production, characterisation, and types, with a focus on its positive effects on crop yield and soil properties vs the unintended risks associated with these effects. Biochar-amended soils enhance crop growth and yield via several mechanisms: expanded plant nutrient and water availability through increased use efficiencies, improved soil quality, and suppression of soil and plant diseases. Yield response to BC has been shown to be more evident in acidic and sandy soils than in alkaline and fine-textured soils. Biochar composition and properties vary considerably with feedstock and pyrolysis conditions so much that its concentrations of toxic compounds and heavy metals can negatively impact crop and soil health. Consequently, more small-scale and greenhouse-sited studies are in process to investigate the role of BC/soil/crop types on crop growth, and the mechanisms by which they influence crop yield. Similarly, a need exists for long-term, field-scale studies on the effects (beneficial and harmful) of BC amendment on soil health and crop yields, so that production guidelines and quality standards may be developed for BCs derived from a range of feedstocks.

show abstract

Biochar-induced N2O emission reductions after field incorporation in a loam soil

Cited by 93 publications

References 38 publications

Gas entrapment and microbial N2O reduction reduce N2O emissions from a biochar-amended sandy clay loam soil

Gas entrapment and microbial N2O reduction reduce N2O emissions from a biochar-amended sandy clay loam soil

Does soil aging affect the N₂O mitigation potential of biochar? A combined microcosm and field study

Crop response to soils amended with biochar: expected benefits and unintended risks

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Biochar-induced N2O emission reductions after field incorporation in a loam soil

Cited by 93 publications

References 38 publications

Gas entrapment and microbial N2O reduction reduce N2O emissions from a biochar-amended sandy clay loam soil

Gas entrapment and microbial N2O reduction reduce N2O emissions from a biochar-amended sandy clay loam soil

Does soil aging affect the N2O mitigation potential of biochar? A combined microcosm and field study

Crop response to soils amended with biochar: expected benefits and unintended risks

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Does soil aging affect the N₂O mitigation potential of biochar? A combined microcosm and field study