Capacity of Biochar Application to Maintain Energy Crop Productivity: Soil Chemistry, Sorghum Growth, and Runoff Water Quality Effects

Schnell, Ronnie W.; Vietor, D. M.; Provin, Tony; Munster, C. L.; Capareda, Sergio C.

doi:10.2134/jeq2011.0077

Cited by 51 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…As with Zn and Mn, P must have been slightly available in the biochar. This finding supports previous research indicating that biochar-borne P can contribute to plant-available nutrient forms (Schnell et al, 2012;Ippolito et al, 2012b). As with Zn and Mn, the P content decreased over time for the 0%, 1%, and 2% biochar application rates likely due to mineral forms becoming less available.…”

Section: Soil Ph and Plant-available Nutrientssupporting

confidence: 90%

Designer, acidic biochar influences calcareous soil characteristics

et al. 2016

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a b s t r a c tIn a proof-of-concept study, an acidic (pH 5.8) biochar was created using a low pyrolysis temperature (350°C) and steam activation (800°C) to potentially improve the soil physicochemical status of an eroded calcareous soil. Biochar was added at 0%, 1%, 2%, and 10% (by wt.) and soils were destructively sampled at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 month intervals. Soil was analyzed for gravimetric water content, pH, NO 3 -N, plant-available Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and P, organic C, CO 2 respiration, and microbial enumeration via extractable DNA and 16S rRNA gene copies. Gravimetric soil water content increased with biochar application regardless of rate, as compared to the control. Soil pH decreased between 0.2 and 0.4 units, while plant-available Zn, Mn, and P increased with increasing biochar application rate. Micronutrient availability decreased over time likely due to insoluble mineral species precipitation. Increasing biochar application raised the soil organic C content and remained elevated over time. Increasing biochar application rate also increased respired CO 2 , yet the CO 2 released decreased over time. Soil NO 3 -N concentrations significantly decreased with increasing biochar application rate likely due to microbial immobilization or denitrification. Depending on application rate, biochar produced a 1.4 to 2.1-fold increase in soil DNA extracted and 1.4-to 2.4-fold increase in 16S rRNA gene abundance over control soils, suggesting microbial stimulation and a subsequent burst of activity upon biochar addition. Our results showed that there is promise in designing a biochar to improve the quality and water relations of eroded calcareous soils.Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Section: Soil Ph and Plant-available Nutrientssupporting

confidence: 90%

Designer, acidic biochar influences calcareous soil characteristics

et al. 2016

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“…Hass et al (2012) noted that biochar application increased leachate PO 4 concentrations compared to controls, suggesting that chicken manure biochar applications may be limited by environmental P concerns. Similarly, Schnell et al (2012) found that topdressing up to 3 Mg of sorghum‐derived biochar per hectare (with no incorporation) on an eastern Texas Alfisol caused significant surface runoff P losses compared with control soils and that incorporating the biochar into soil reduced runoff P losses by 78%.…”

Section: Biochar Use and Soil Nutrient Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Environmental Benefits of Biochar

Ippolito

Laird

Busscher³

2012

J. Environ. Qual.

316

139

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Understanding and improving environmental quality by reducing soil nutrient leaching losses, reducing bioavailability of environmental contaminants, sequestering C, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing crop productivity in highly weathered or degraded soils, has been the goal of agroecosystem researchers and producers for years. Biochar, produced by pyrolysis of biomass, may help attain these goals. The desire to advance understanding of the environmental and agronomic implication of biochar utilization led to the organization of the 2010 American Society of Agronomy–Soil Science Society of America Environmental Quality Division session titled “Biochar Effects on the Environment and Agricultural Productivity.” This specialized session and sessions from other biochar conferences, such as the 2010 U.S. Biochar Initiative and the Biochar Symposium 2010 are the sources for this special manuscript collection. Individual contributions address improvement of the biochar knowledge base, current information gaps, and future biochar research needs. The prospect of biochar utilization is promising, as biochars may be customized for specific environmental applications.

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“…Surface‐applied biochar without soil incorporation is subject to erosion losses and thus is typically a nutrient source to runoff water. As an example, Schnell et al (2012) found that sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] biochar applied at 1.5 and 3.0 Mg ha −1 , especially when topdressed, increased losses of total P and dissolved P in runoff because P in biochar was soluble. Incorporation of biochar into the soil and selection of biochar with high nutrient adsorption capacity can be strategies to reduce nutrient losses in runoff.…”

Section: Impacts Of Biochar Application On Water Erosionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar and Water Quality

Blanco‐Canqui¹

2019

J of Env Quality

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Biochar application is considered to be an emerging strategy to improve soil ecosystem services. However, implications of such application on water quality parameters have not been widely discussed. This paper synthesizes the state‐of‐the‐art research on biochar effects on water erosion, nitrate leaching, and other sources of water pollution. Literature indicates that in general, biochar application reduces runoff by 5 to 50% and soil loss by 11 to 78%, suggesting that it can be effective at reducing water erosion, but the magnitude of erosion reduction is highly variable. Co‐application of biochar with other organic amendments (i.e., animal manure, compost) appears to be more effective at reducing water erosion than biochar alone. A main mechanism by which biochar can reduce water erosion is by improving soil properties (i.e., organic C, hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability), which affect soil erodibility. This review also indicates that biochar reduces nitrate leaching, in most cases by 2 to 88%, but has mixed effect on phosphate and dissolved C leaching. Additionally, biochar effectively filters urban runoff, adsorbs pollutants, and reduces pesticides losses. Biochar feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, application amount, time after application, and co‐application with other amendments affect biochar impacts on water quality. Biochar erosion and potential reduction in nutrient and pesticide use efficiency due to the strong adsorption are concerns that deserve consideration. Overall, biochar application has the potential to reduce water erosion, nitrate leaching, pesticide losses, and other pollutant losses, but more field‐scale data are needed to better discern the extent to which biochar can improve water quality. Core Ideas Biochar can reduce water erosion, but the magnitude of reduction is variable. Biochar combined with other organic amendments can reduce water erosion more than biochar alone. Biochar can reduce nitrate leaching but has mixed effects on phosphate and dissolved C leaching. Biochar filters urban runoff, adsorbs organic pollutants, and reduces pesticide losses. More field data on the effectiveness of biochar for improving water quality are needed.

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Capacity of Biochar Application to Maintain Energy Crop Productivity: Soil Chemistry, Sorghum Growth, and Runoff Water Quality Effects

Cited by 51 publications

References 34 publications

Designer, acidic biochar influences calcareous soil characteristics

Designer, acidic biochar influences calcareous soil characteristics

Environmental Benefits of Biochar

Biochar and Water Quality

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