Heterogeneous global crop yield response to biochar: a meta-regression analysis
TLDR
In this article, the authors employ meta-analytical, missing data, and semiparametric statistical methods to explain heterogeneity in crop yield responses across different soils, biochars, and agricultural management factors, and then estimate potential changes in yield across different soil environments globally.Abstract:
Biochar may contribute to climate change mitigation at negative cost by sequestering photosynthetically fixed carbon in soil while increasing crop yields. The magnitude of biochar's potential in this regard will depend on crop yield benefits, which have not been well-characterized across different soils and biochars. Using data from 84 studies, we employ meta-analytical, missing data, and semiparametric statistical methods to explain heterogeneity in crop yield responses across different soils, biochars, and agricultural management factors, and then estimate potential changes in yield across different soil environments globally. We find that soil cation exchange capacity and organic carbon were strong predictors of yield response, with low cation exchange and low carbon associated with positive response. We also find that yield response increases over time since initial application, compared to non-biochar controls. High reported soil clay content and low soil pH were weaker predictors of higher yield response. No biochar parameters in our dataset—biochar pH, percentage carbon content, or temperature of pyrolysis—were significant predictors of yield impacts. Projecting our fitted model onto a global soil database, we find the largest potential increases in areas with highly weathered soils, such as those characterizing much of the humid tropics. Richer soils characterizing much of the world's important agricultural areas appear to be less likely to benefit from biochar.read more
Citations
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The promise of biochar: From lab experiment to national scale impacts
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the effect of biochar presence on soil and crop in various spatial scales ranging from lab experiments to regional scale simulations, and they used an incubated experiment with three biochar application rates (0, 3% and 6%), two application methods and three replications.
Dissertation
Effects of Biochar Application on Soil Fertility and Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Yield
TL;DR: Evaluated biochars made from peanut shell and mixed pine wood on soil nutrients and pearl millet yields in Blacksburg (VA, USA) for two growing seasons and in Ndoff (Senegal), application of biochar did not reduce salinity nor improve soil fertility.
Journal ArticleDOI
Biochar and Fertilization Effects on Weed Incidence in Winter Wheat
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of biochar and mineral fertilizer on weed infestation and winter wheat yield was investigated in a split-plot where biochar (B) was the main factor and fertilization was the sub factor.
Journal ArticleDOI
The impact of corncob biochar and poultry litter on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) growth and chemical properties of a silty-clay soil
Sairan Majeed M. Ali Jaaf,Yunzhou Li,Elif Günal,Hesham Ali El Enshasy,Saleh H. Salmen,Abdulkadir Sürücü +5 more
TL;DR: In this article , the authors evaluated the effects of biochar derived from corncob and poultry litter on growth of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and some chemical properties of a silty clay soil.
Journal ArticleDOI
Biochar Enhanced Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Growth by Balancing Crop Growth-Related Characteristics of Two Paddy Soils of Contrasting Textures
Binh Thanh Nguyen,Vinh Ngoc Nguyen,Tong Xuan Nguyen,My Hoang Tra Nguyen,Hao Phu Dong,G. D. Dinh,Binh Trung Phan,Tan-Viet Pham,Nam Van Thai,Huong Thu Thi Tran +9 more
References
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