Centennial black carbon turnover observed in a Russian steppe soil

Hammes, Karen; Torn, M. S.; Lapenas, Andrei; Schmidt, Michael W.

doi:10.5194/bgd-5-661-2008

Cited by 34 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Nonetheless, the high uncertainty of the fitting curve does not enable predicting the decomposed amounts over periods longer than a few years. This finding is consistent with Hammes et al (2008), who found that the proportions of less-condensed biochar C decreased when compared the quality of BPCA between archived and modern soil samples in a Russian steppe. In contrast to the amounts, the decomposition rate of biochar showed a clear decrease pattern with experimental duration (Fig.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Consequently, the available field observations do not support the standpoint that biochar can persist in soils for several thousands of years. Furthermore, current analyses of forest soils in northern Europe and Russian steppes also indicated a centennial-scale turnover of biochar (Hammes et al, 2008;Ohlson et al, 2009). Serious caution is therefore needed when extrapolating results of biochar decomposition from incubation studies to real field conditions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Improved approaches, such as using benzenepolycarboxylic acids (BPCAs) as molecular markers of biochar, have been successfully used to quantify the amount of biochar and evaluate its sources in soils (Glaser et al, 1998;Brodowski et al, 2005;Hammes et al, 2008;Schneider et al, 2011). Although these approaches help assess potential sources of biochar in soil and the contribution of biochar compounds to SOM, they fail to quantitatively evaluate biochar decomposition rates and dynamics in soils as BPCAs are only part of biochar C. This makes the assessment of biochar stability in soil impossible using these and the above-described approaches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biochar stability in soil: meta‐analysis of decomposition and priming effects

2015

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The stability and decomposition of biochar are fundamental to understand its persistence in soil, its contribution to carbon (C) sequestration, and thus its role in the global C cycle. Our current knowledge about the degradability of biochar, however, is limited. Using 128 observations of biochar-derived CO 2 from 24 studies with stable ( 13 C) and radioactive ( 14 C) carbon isotopes, we meta-analyzed the biochar decomposition in soil and estimated its mean residence time (MRT). The decomposed amount of biochar increased logarithmically with experimental duration, and the decomposition rate decreased with time. The biochar decomposition rate varied significantly with experimental duration, feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, and soil clay content. The MRTs of labile and recalcitrant biochar C pools were estimated to be about 108 days and 556 years with pool sizes of 3% and 97%, respectively. These results show that only a small part of biochar is bioavailable and that the remaining 97% contribute directly to long-term C sequestration in soil. The second database (116 observations from 21 studies) was used to evaluate the priming effects after biochar addition. Biochar slightly retarded the mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM; overall mean: À3.8%, 95% CI = À8.1-0.8%) compared to the soil without biochar addition. Significant negative priming was common for studies with a duration shorter than half a year (À8.6%), crop-derived biochar (À20.3%), fast pyrolysis (À18.9%), the lowest pyrolysis temperature (À18.5%), and small application amounts (À11.9%). In contrast, biochar addition to sandy soils strongly stimulated SOM mineralization by 20.8%. This indicates that biochar stimulates microbial activities especially in soils with low fertility. Furthermore, abiotic and biotic processes, as well as the characteristics of biochar and soils, affecting biochar decomposition are discussed. We conclude that biochar can persist in soils on a centennial scale and that it has a positive effect on SOM dynamics and thus on C sequestration.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biochar stability in soil: meta‐analysis of decomposition and priming effects

2015

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“…Estimated MRTs of pyrogenic materials (including biochar) are very variable, ranging from decades or centuries (e.g. Bird et al, 1999;Hammes et al, 2008;Steinbeiss et al, 2009) to millennia (e.g. Thevenon et al, 2010;.…”

Section: Pyc Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a global assessment of pyrogenic carbon from vegetation fires

Santín

Doerr

Kane

et al. 2015

Global Change Biology

293

281

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The production of pyrogenic carbon (PyC; a continuum of organic carbon (C) ranging from partially charred biomass and charcoal to soot) is a widely acknowledged C sink, with the latest estimates indicating that~50% of the PyC produced by vegetation fires potentially sequesters C over centuries. Nevertheless, the quantitative importance of PyC in the global C balance remains contentious, and therefore, PyC is rarely considered in global C cycle and climate studies. Here we examine the robustness of existing evidence and identify the main research gaps in the production, fluxes and fate of PyC from vegetation fires. Much of the previous work on PyC production has focused on selected components of total PyC generated in vegetation fires, likely leading to underestimates. We suggest that global PyC production could be in the range of 116-385 Tg C yr À1 , that is~0.2-0.6% of the annual terrestrial net primary production.According to our estimations, atmospheric emissions of soot/black C might be a smaller fraction of total PyC (<2%) than previously reported. Research on the fate of PyC in the environment has mainly focused on its degradation pathways, and its accumulation and resilience either in situ (surface soils) or in ultimate sinks (marine sediments). Off-site transport, transformation and PyC storage in intermediate pools are often overlooked, which could explain the fate of a substantial fraction of the PyC mobilized annually. We propose new research directions addressing gaps in the global PyC cycle to fully understand the importance of the products of burning in global C cycle dynamics.

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“…Long-term mean residence time (MRT) of biochar in two different savanna regions were estimated up to 1300 and 2600 years (Lehmann et al, 2008). In contrast, Hammes, Torn, Lapenas, and Schmidt (2008) calculated a turnover time of biochar in a Russian steppe soil of only 293 years and Bird, Moyo, Veenendaal, Lloyd, & Frost, (1999) report a half-life of charcoal in savannah soil of <100 years. A meta-analysis by Wang et al, (2016) revealed that the decomposed amount of biochar increased with experimental duration, but the decomposition rate decreased with time and MRT of biochar was estimated to 556 AE 483 years.…”

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confidence: 99%

Increased CO₂ fluxes from a sandy Cambisol under agricultural use in the Wendland region, Northern Germany, three years after biochar substrates application

2018

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In recent years, biochar has been discussed as an opportunity for carbon sequestration in arable soils. Field experiments under realistic conditions investigating the CO 2 emission from soil after biochar combined with fertilizer additions are scarce. Therefore, we investigated the CO 2 emission and its 13 C signature after addition of compost, biogas digestate (originating from C4 feedstock) and mineral fertilizer with and without biochar (0, 3, 10, 40 Mg biochar/ha) to a sandy Cambisol in Northern Germany. Biomass residues were pyrolized at~650°C to obtain biochar with C3 signature. Gas samples were taken biweekly during the growing season using static chambers three years after biochar substrate addition. The CO 2 concentration and its d 13 C isotope signature were measured using a gas chromatograph coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Results showed increased CO 2 emission (30%-60%) when high biochar amount (40 Mg/ha) was applied three years ago together with mineral fertilizer and biogas digestate. On average, 59% of the emitted CO 2 had a C3 signature (thus, deriving from biochar and/or soil organic matter), independent of the amount of biochar added. In addition, our results clearly demonstrated that only a small amount of released CO 2 derived from biochar. The results of this field experiment suggest that biochar most likely stimulates microbial activity in soil leading to increased CO 2 emissions derived from soil organic matter and fertilizers mineralization rather than from biochar. Nevertheless, compared to the amount of carbon added by biochar, additional CO 2 emission is marginal corroborating the C sequestration potential of biochar.

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Centennial black carbon turnover observed in a Russian steppe soil

Cited by 34 publications

References 41 publications

Biochar stability in soil: meta‐analysis of decomposition and priming effects

Biochar stability in soil: meta‐analysis of decomposition and priming effects

Towards a global assessment of pyrogenic carbon from vegetation fires

Increased CO₂ fluxes from a sandy Cambisol under agricultural use in the Wendland region, Northern Germany, three years after biochar substrates application

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Centennial black carbon turnover observed in a Russian steppe soil

Cited by 34 publications

References 41 publications

Biochar stability in soil: meta‐analysis of decomposition and priming effects

Biochar stability in soil: meta‐analysis of decomposition and priming effects

Towards a global assessment of pyrogenic carbon from vegetation fires

Increased CO2 fluxes from a sandy Cambisol under agricultural use in the Wendland region, Northern Germany, three years after biochar substrates application

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Product

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Increased CO₂ fluxes from a sandy Cambisol under agricultural use in the Wendland region, Northern Germany, three years after biochar substrates application