Impacts of Biochar on Physical Properties and Erosion Potential of a Mudstone Slopeland Soil

Abstract

Food demand and soil sustainability have become urgent issues recently because of the global climate changes. This study aims to evaluate the application of a biochar produced by rice hull, on changes of physiochemical characteristics and erosion potential of a degraded slopeland soil. Rice hull biochar pyrolized at 400°C was incorporated into the soil at rates of 2.5%, 5%, and 10% (w/w) and was incubated for 168 d in this study. The results indicated that biochar application reduced the Bd by 12% to 25% and the PR by 57% to 92% after incubation, compared with the control. Besides, porosity and aggregate size increased by 16% to 22% and by 0.59 to 0.94 mm, respectively. The results presented that available water contents significantly increased in the amended soils by 18% to 89% because of the obvious increase of micropores. The water conductivity of the biochar-amended soils was only found in 10% biochar treatment, which might result from significant increase of macropores and reduction of soil strength (Bd and PR). During a simulated rainfall event, soil loss contents significantly decreased by 35% to 90% in the biochar-amended soils. In conclusion, biochar application could availably raise soil quality and physical properties for tilth increasing in the degraded mudstone soil.

Controllability of runoff and soil loss from small plots treated by vinasse-produced biochar

“…The results of statistical analyses (Table 7) demonstrated a significant effect at p b 0.1 level on soil loss (p-value = 0.057) as well as a significant effect at p b 0.05 level on sediment concentration (p-value = 0.010) due to biochar application, as similarly reported by Jien and Wang (2013) and Hseu et al (2014) for the application of biochar produced from waste wood and rice hull. In addition, Liu et al (2012) reported that the soil aggregate sizes and stability significantly increased due to the addition of 4, 8, and 16 g kg −1 biochar to the soil, especially for a silt loam soil in the Loess Plateau in China.…”

“…Based on these results, a 5% application rate of biochar was considered as suitable for highly weathered soil of southern Taiwan. Meanwhile, Hseu et al (2014) indicated that biochar application could significantly reduce soil loss contents by 35% to 90% under an extreme rainfall event in the degraded mudstone soil. They also reported that the enhancement of soil strength might be the major factor in decreasing the soil loss in the biochar-amended soil.…”

“…Few studies (Smetanová et al, 2012;Jien and Wang, 2013;Hseu et al, 2014) have discussed the influences of biochar on soil erosion potential. However, the potential effects of biochar made from vinasse, as the first attempt, on runoff and soil loss control has not been assessed or documented yet.…”

Stabilization of Organic Matter by Biochar Application in Compost-amended Soils with Contrasting pH Values and Textures

“…From our microstructure observation (Figure 4), a mechanism of SOM stabilization by biochar addition could be deduced as follows: soil structure was changed and some macro-aggregate were formed after biochar incorporation (Figure 4a;4b), which was also provided by our previous studies [38,39]. The formation of the new aggregates wrapped the biochar and compost in the aggregates, and therefore might prevent from rapidly decomposing by microbes (Figure 4c-f).…”

Improvement in the biochemical and chemical properties of badland soils by thorny bamboo

“…Soil crusting is common on the surface of this badland soil, which increases its bulk density and penetration resistance. Previous research4 has indicated that root growth could be inhibited when penetration resistance exceeds 14 kg cm −2 , where the penetration resistance of the bare soil in the badlands of Southern Taiwan has been shown to be high (14.5 ± 1.47 kg cm −2 )5.…”