Influence of feedstocks and pyrolysis on biochar’s capacity to modify soil water retention characteristics

Mollinedo, Javier; Schumacher, Thomas E.; Chintala, Rajesh

doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2015.05.006

Cited by 99 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Hence, integration of natural minerals and organic amendments is suitable for Vertisols with high clay contents and improves physical soil properties. In similar studies, an improvement in the structural state of an inceptisol was observed with the application of organic and organic-mineral treatments, resulting in an increase of water-stable aggregates, degree of soil aggregation and permeability (Diaz et al, 2008, Mollinedo et al, 2015. There was also a proportional relationship between soil quality and sugarcane yield (Diaz et al, 2010;Kumar and Chand 2013;Jeevika et al, 2015).…”

Section: Soil Quality Analysismentioning

confidence: 90%

Effects of zeolite and organic fertilizers on soil quality and yield of sugarcane

Cairo¹,

Armas²,

Artiles³

et al. 2017

Aust J Crop Sci

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Maintaining or improving the soil quality is crucial for agricultural productivity. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of zeolite and its combination with chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizers on soil quality and sugarcane yield in the north coast of Cuba, Villa Clara province. The organic fertilizer (sugarcane filter cake-SFC), and natural mineral (zeolite-Z) and chemical fertilization (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium-NPK) were applied as treatments. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design with nine treatments and four replicates. The soil samples were taken at a depth of 0-20 cm to determine soil properties such as degree of soil aggregation, water-stable aggregates, permeability, lower plastic limit, pH in water, pH in KCl, organic matter, assimilable P 2 O 5 and K 2 O. The sugarcane yield components such as cane yield (t ha -1 ) and sucrose yield (t ha -1 ) were evaluated. Principal components analysis (PCA) and simple regression analysis were also performed. The best results on cane yield were obtained with the treatment Z 7.5 t ha -1 + SFC 22.5 t ha -1 , which represent a relative increase of 200% vs control (without fertilization). Relations between soil properties and principal component analysis confirmed the good response of zeolite application on soil quality and sugarcane yield.

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Section: Soil Quality Analysismentioning

confidence: 90%

Effects of zeolite and organic fertilizers on soil quality and yield of sugarcane

Cairo¹,

Armas²,

Artiles³

et al. 2017

Aust J Crop Sci

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“…-80 kPa, while the C < -80 kPa was determined using a psychrometer [model Dewpoint PotentiaMeter-WP4-T (Decagon Devices, 2007)]. WP4-T measures C with an accuracy of AE100 kPa (Decagon Devices, 2007) then the determinations were done below À500 kPa, according to Ojeda et al (2013) and Mollinedo et al (2015). The parameters of van Genuchten (1980) equation fitted to WRC data were analyzed to know if this strategy was adequate.…”

Section: Soil Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal changes in soil physical properties under long-term no-tillage

Moreira

Karlen

Silva³

et al. 2016

Soil and Tillage Research

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“…Almost 100 years later, Tryon [45] was the first to demonstrate that soil texture was a critical factor controlling the impact of biochar on hydraulic properties. More recently, considerable attention has been given to using biochar to modify soil water hydraulics including water holding capacity and available water content [46][47][48][49][50], as well as soil hydraulic conductivity [51][52][53][54]. Laird et al [47] reported that the addition of 1 to 2 % hardwood biochar to a Midwestern USA Mollisol increased gravity drained water retention by 15 % relative to the untreated control but did not affect soil moisture content measured at soil water potentials of 33 or 1500 kPa (field capacity and wilting point, respectively) [41].…”

Section: Biochar Influence On Soil Water Hydraulicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Health, Crop Productivity, Microbial Transport, and Mine Spoil Response to Biochars

et al. 2016

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Biochars vary widely in pH, surface area, nutrient concentration, porosity, and metal binding capacity due to the assortment of feedstock materials and thermal conversion conditions under which it is formed. The wide variety of chemical and physical characteristics have resulted in biochar being used as an amendment to rebuild soil health, improve crop yields, increase soil water storage, and restore soils/spoils impacted by mining. Meta-analysis of the biochar literature has shown mixed results when using biochar as a soil amendment to improve crop productivity. For example, in one meta-analysis, biochar increased crop yield by approximately 10 %, while in another, approximately 50 % of the studies reported minimal to no crop yield increases. In spite of the mixed crop yield reports, biochars have properties that can improve soil health characteristics, by increasing carbon (C) sequestration and nutrient and water retention. Biochars also have the ability to bind enteric microbes and enhance metal binding in soils impacted by mining. In this review, we present examples of both effective and ineffective uses of biochar to improve soil health for agricultural functions and reclamation of degraded mine spoils. Biochars are expensive to manufacture and cannot be purged from soil after application, so for efficient use, they should be targeted for specific uses in agricultural and environmental sectors. Thus, we introduce the designer biochar concept as an alternate paradigm stating that biochars should be designed with properties that are tailored to specific soil deficiencies or problems. We then demonstrate how careful selection of biochars can increase their effectiveness as a soil amendment.

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Influence of feedstocks and pyrolysis on biochar’s capacity to modify soil water retention characteristics

Cited by 99 publications

References 25 publications

Effects of zeolite and organic fertilizers on soil quality and yield of sugarcane

Effects of zeolite and organic fertilizers on soil quality and yield of sugarcane

Seasonal changes in soil physical properties under long-term no-tillage

Soil Health, Crop Productivity, Microbial Transport, and Mine Spoil Response to Biochars

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