The Application of Biochar from Waste Biomass to Improve Soil Fertility and Soil Enzyme Activity and Increase Carbon Sequestration

Abstract

Biochar (BC) is a material that has many applications in agricultural and environmental activities. The aim of the study was to define the influence of BC produced in low-temperature pyrolysis from various organic waste materials, including one-month-old compost (OMOC), pine bark (PB), pine needle mulch (NM), pine cones (PC) and maple leaves (ML), on soil enzyme activity as well as its relation with organic matter properties. A 60-day incubation pot experiment was set up to investigate the influence of BC amendment on soil (S) characteristics. After incubation, we investigated the activity of soil enzymes, the content of available phosphorus (AP), potassium (AK) and magnesium (AMg), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its fractional composition (content and share of carbon and nitrogen of humic (CHAs, NHAs) and fulvic (CFAs, NFAs) acids and humin fractions). The effect of the amended biochars differed depending on the feedstock material. In general, the use of biochar enriched the soil with AP, AK and AMg increased the soil carbon stock, increased the intensity of nitrogen transformation and influenced the soil enzyme activity. OMOC and ML biochars significantly increased soil fertility, which was expressed by the high value of the CHA/CFA ratio.

Soil Microbial Residual Carbon Accumulation Affected by Reclamation Period and Straw Incorporation in Reclaimed Soil from Coal Mining Area

“…The soil pH, AN, AP, and AK were measured according to methods described previously [22]. TN was digested with concentrated sulfuric acid and measured using a fully automatic Kjeldahl nitrogen analyzer (Sano KT8400) [23], whereas TP was digested with concentrated sulfuric acid and perchloric acid and determined by molybdenum antimony colorimetry [24]. The glucosamine (GluN), galactosamine (GalN), and muramic acid (MurA) levels were determined using gas chromatography (Agilent GC 7890A, New York, NY, USA) with acetonitrile ester derivatives.…”

Changes in Soil Organic Matter and Biological Parameters as a Result of Long-Term Strip-Till Cultivation

“…TEI facilitates a simple comparison of the total enzymatic activity and quality of each soil sample [92]. Soil enzymes are parameters that are sensitive to environmental factors, so they are used to assess soil quality [40,93,94].…”

Response of Cellulose Decomposition and Nodulation in Soils Amended with Biochar for Peri-Urban Agriculture

“…The application of biochar to soil has the potential to sequester carbon in the long range because of its high consistency and largescale production possibility [15,20]. Furthermore, research by Bi et al [21] supported the claim that biochar fertilization enhanced soil organic matter and total nitrogen levels and dissolved organic carbon.…”

“…Biochar has been considered a potential approach for sustainable agricultural systems and improving the long-term sustainable use of soils for the growth of plants and soil microorganisms [8][9][10]. Biochar is a carbon-rich substance produced when biomass is burned without oxygen (pyrolysis), and its potential to improve soil fertility has been documented universally [11][12][13][14][15]. Biochar significantly impacts the soil microbial communities directly and indirectly by altering the soil's physicochemical functions [16][17][18].…”