Impacts of adding biochar on nitrogen retention and bioavailability in agricultural soil

doi:10.1016/J.GEODERMA.2013.04.018

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Impacts of adding biochar on nitrogen retention and bioavailability in agricultural soil

Journal Article•DOI•

Impacts of adding biochar on nitrogen retention and bioavailability in agricultural soil

Hao Zheng¹, Hao Zheng², Zhenyu Wang², Xia Deng², Stephen J. Herbert¹, Baoshan Xing¹ - Show less +2 more•Institutions (2)

University of Massachusetts Amherst¹, Ocean University of China²

01 Sep 2013-Geoderma (Elsevier)-Vol. 206, pp 32-39

TL;DR: In this article, Nitrogen loss, retention and bioavailability in biochar-amended soils fertilized with NH 4 + -N and NO 3 − -N were studied using leaching and pot experiments.

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About: This article is published in Geoderma.The article was published on 2013-09-01. It has received 379 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Biochar & Leaching (agriculture).

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Journal Article•DOI•

Biochemical cycling of nitrogen and phosphorus in biochar-amended soils

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Shamim Gul¹, Shamim Gul², Joann K. Whalen¹•Institutions (2)

McGill University¹, University of Balochistan²

01 Dec 2016-Soil Biology & Biochemistry

TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate the soil biochemical cycling of N and P as influenced by biochars with diverse characteristics, and describe the consequences for plant nutrition with respect to the NUE and P use efficiency of crops grown in biochar-amended soils.

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Abstract: There is global interest in understanding the prospects for biochar application to agricultural soils. If biochar enhances the availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to crops, this could be pivotal in reducing N and P fertilizer inputs to agricultural soils. This review evaluates the soil biochemical cycling of N and P as influenced by biochars with diverse characteristics, and describes the consequences for plant nutrition with respect to the N use efficiency (NUE) and P use efficiency (PUE) of crops grown in biochar-amended soils. Fundamentally, biochar can alter microbial-mediated reactions in the soil N and P cycles, i.e. N2 fixation, mineralization of N and P, nitrification, ammonia volatilization and denitrification. As well, biochar provides reactive surfaces where N and P ions are retained in soil microbial biomass and in exchange sites, both of which modulate N and P availability to crops. Distinctions must be made between biochars derived from manure- and crop residue-based feedstocks versus biochars derived from ligno-cellulosic feedstock, as well as biochars produced at a lower production temperature (

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330 citations

Cites background from "Impacts of adding biochar on nitrog..."

...…no N fertilizer was added and soil had a low SOM content (12e28 g organic C kg 1 soil; Angst et al., 2014; Ippolito et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2015; Zheng et al., 2013), although this does not always occur in unfertilized soil with low C content (e.g., Angst et al., 2014; Kelly et al., 2015;…...
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...Biochar application negatively influenced NH4þ oxidation when no N fertilizer was added and soil had a low SOM content (12e28 g organic C kg 1 soil; Angst et al., 2014; Ippolito et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2015; Zheng et al., 2013), although this does not always occur in unfertilized soil with low C content (e....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Investigating the mechanisms of biochar’s removal of lead from solution

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Zhenyu Wang¹, Guocheng Liu¹, Hao Zheng¹, Fengmin Li¹, Huu Hao Ngo², Wenshan Guo², Cui Liu³, Lei Chen¹, Baoshan Xing⁴ - Show less +5 more•Institutions (4)

Ocean University of China¹, University of Technology, Sydney², Texas Tech University³, University of Massachusetts Amherst⁴

01 Feb 2015-Bioresource Technology

TL;DR: Investigation of the relationship between Pb(2+) adsorption and physicochemical properties of biochars produced at different pyrolytic temperatures indicated the dominant role of minerals, and results are useful for screening effective biochar as engineered sorbents to remove or immobilize Pb (2+) in polluted water and soil.

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314 citations

Cites background or methods from "Impacts of adding biochar on nitrog..."

...S3a-b), implying the reduction of surface polar functional groups (Zheng et al., 2013b)....
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...S6), which was supported by the result of Zheng et al. (2013c) that PO4 3- was easier and faster to release from the low-temperature biochars from giant reed....
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...S4) (Keiluweit et al., 2010; Zheng et al., 2013c)....
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...Afterwards, the biochars were produced at 300, 350, 400, 500 or 600 °C as described by Zheng et al. (2013b)....
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...…has been applied in sequestrating carbon (Lehmann, 2007), reducing greenhouse-gas emissions (Wang et al., 2013), improving soil quality and crop yields (Zheng et al., 2013a) and controlling environmental pollution (Beesley et al., 2011; Jiang et al., 2012; Zheng et al., 2013b; Mohan et al., 2014)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Effect of bamboo and rice straw biochars on the bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn to Sedum plumbizincicola

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Kouping Lu¹, Xing Yang¹, Jiajia Shen¹, Brett Robinson², Huagang Huang, Dan Liu¹, Nanthi Bolan³, Jianchuan Pei¹, Hailong Wang¹ - Show less +5 more•Institutions (3)

Zhejiang A & F University¹, Lincoln University (New Zealand)², University of South Australia³

15 Jun 2014-Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

TL;DR: In this paper, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of biochars derived from bamboo and rice straw on bioavailability and plant growth in a sandy loam paddy soil naturally co-contaminated with Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn.

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303 citations

Cites background from "Impacts of adding biochar on nitrog..."

...It is unlikely that the higher N uptake in the 5% fine bamboo biochar treatment would be from the additional N supply from the biochar, because N in biochars produced at a temperature higher than 500 ◦C would not be bioavailable (Wang et al., 2012; Zheng et al., 2013)....
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...Enhancement of the shoot N uptake in the 5% fine bamboo biochar treatment may be due to increased efficiency in plant use of soil N in the presence of biochar application (Zheng et al., 2013)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Applications of biochar in redox-mediated reactions.

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Yong Yuan¹, Nanthi Bolan², Antonin Prévoteau³, Meththika Vithanage⁴, Jayanta Kumar Biswas⁵, Yong Sik Ok⁶, Hailong Wang⁷ - Show less +3 more•Institutions (7)

Guangdong University of Technology¹, University of Newcastle², Ghent University³, University of Sri Jayewardenepura⁴, Kalyani Government Engineering College⁵, Korea University⁶, Zhejiang A & F University⁷

30 Jun 2017-Bioresource Technology

TL;DR: The abiotic and microbial applications of biochars as electron donors, electron acceptors, or electron shuttles for pollutant degradation, metal(loid)s (im)mobilization, nutrient transformation, and discuss the underlying mechanisms are reviewed.

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303 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Review of biochar for the management of contaminated soil: Preparation, application and prospect.

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Peng Yuan¹, Jianqiao Wang¹, Yijun Pan¹, Boxiong Shen¹, Chunfei Wu² - Show less +1 more•Institutions (2)

Hebei University of Technology¹, Queen's University Belfast²

01 Apr 2019-Science of The Total Environment

TL;DR: To determine the effect of feedstock and preparation conditions such as pyrolysis temperature, retention time, gas flow rate, additives on the biochar characteristics and application potentials, the relevant mechanisms should be adequately considered for maximizing the all-around efficiency of biochar amendments.

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267 citations

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References

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Journal Article•DOI•

Significant Acidification in Major Chinese Croplands

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J.H. Guo¹, Xuejun Liu¹, Y. Zhang¹, Jianlin Shen¹, Wenxuan Han¹, W.F. Zhang¹, Peter Christie, Keith Goulding², Peter M. Vitousek³, Fusuo Zhang¹ - Show less +6 more•Institutions (3)

China Agricultural University¹, Rothamsted Research², Stanford University³

19 Feb 2010-Science

TL;DR: A meta-analysis of a regional acidification phenomenon in Chinese arable soils that is largely associated with higher N fertilization and higher crop production is presented, likely to threaten the sustainability of agriculture and affect the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients and also toxic elements in soils.

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Abstract: Soil acidification is a major problem in soils of intensive Chinese agricultural systems. We used two nationwide surveys, paired comparisons in numerous individual sites, and several long-term monitoring-field data sets to evaluate changes in soil acidity. Soil pH declined significantly ( P + ) per hectare per year, and base cations uptake contributed a further 15 to 20 kilomoles of H + per hectare per year to soil acidification in four widespread cropping systems. In comparison, acid deposition (0.4 to 2.0 kilomoles of H + per hectare per year) made a small contribution to the acidification of agricultural soils across China.

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2,736 citations

Book•DOI•

Biochar for Environmental Management: Science and Technology

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Johannes Lehmann, Stephen Joseph¹•Institutions (1)

Cornell University¹

01 Jan 2009

TL;DR: In this article, Flannery presented a Biochar Classification and Test Methods for determining the quantity of Biochar within Soils and its effect on Nutrient Transformations and Nutrient Leaching.

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Abstract: Preface Foreword by Tim Flannery 1. Biochar for Environmental Management: An Introduction 2. Physical Properties of Biochar 3. Characteristics of Biochar: Microchemical Properties 4. Characteristics of Biochar: Organo-chemical Properties 5. Biochar: Nutrient Properties and Their Enhancement 6. Characteristics of Biochar: Biological Properties 7. Developing a Biochar Classification and Test Methods 8. Biochar Production Technology 9. Biochar Systems 10. Changes of Biochar in Soil 11. Stability of Biochar in Soil 12. Biochar Application to Soil 13. Biochar and Emissions of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases from Soil 14. Biochar Effects on Soil Nutrient Transformations 15. Biochar Effects on Nutrient Leaching 16. Biochar and Sorption of Organic Compounds 17. Test Procedures for Determining the Quantity of Biochar within Soils 18. Biochar, Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Emissions Trading 19. Economics of Biochar Production, Utilization and Greenhouse Gas Offsets 20. Socio-economic Assessment and Implementation of Small-scale Biochar Projects 21. Taking Biochar to Market: Some Essential Concepts for Commercial Success 22. Policy to Address the Threat of Dangerous Climate Change: A Leading Role for Biochar Index

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1,967 citations

Additional excerpts

...Biochar is produced from biomass under partial or complete exclusion of oxygen, and is distinguished from charcoal by its use as a soil amendment for improving soil quality and carbon sequestration (Lehmann and Joseph, 2009)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Nutrient availability and leaching in an archaeological Anthrosol and a Ferralsol of the Central Amazon basin: fertilizer, manure and charcoal amendments

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Johannes Lehmann¹, Jose Pereira da Silva², Christoph Steiner³, Thomas Nehls³, Wolfgang Zech³, Bruno Glaser³ - Show less +2 more•Institutions (3)

Cornell University¹, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária², University of Bayreuth³

01 Feb 2003-Plant and Soil

TL;DR: In the first experiment, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) was planted in pots, while in the second experiment lysimeters were used to quantify water and nutrient leaching from soil cropped to rice (Oryza sativa L) as discussed by the authors.

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Abstract: Soil fertility and leaching losses of nutrients were compared between a Fimic Anthrosol and a Xanthic Ferralsol from Central Amazonia The Anthrosol was a relict soil from pre-Columbian settlements with high organic C containing large proportions of black carbon It was further tested whether charcoal additions among other organic and inorganic applications could produce similarly fertile soils as these archaeological Anthrosols In the first experiment, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) was planted in pots, while in the second experiment lysimeters were used to quantify water and nutrient leaching from soil cropped to rice (Oryza sativa L) The Anthrosol showed significantly higher P, Ca, Mn, and Zn availability than the Ferralsol increasing biomass production of both cowpea and rice by 38–45% without fertilization (P<005) The soil N contents were also higher in the Anthrosol but the wide C-to-N ratios due to high soil C contents led to immobilization of N Despite the generally high nutrient availability, nutrient leaching was minimal in the Anthrosol, providing an explanation for their sustainable fertility However, when inorganic nutrients were applied to the Anthrosol, nutrient leaching exceeded the one found in the fertilized Ferralsol Charcoal additions significantly increased plant growth and nutrition While N availability in the Ferralsol decreased similar to the Anthrosol, uptake of P, K, Ca, Zn, and Cu by the plants increased with higher charcoal additions Leaching of applied fertilizer N was significantly reduced by charcoal, and Ca and Mg leaching was delayed In both the Ferralsol with added charcoal and the Anthrosol, nutrient availability was elevated with the exception of N while nutrient leaching was comparatively low

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1,848 citations

Additional excerpts

...This has provided the incentive to study the effects of biochar application on soil N cycling (Lehmann et al., 2003; Ding et al., 2010; Steiner et al., 2010; Taghizadeh-Toosi et al., 2012)....
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...This enhanced N immobilization process could create a temporary reservoir of organic N, which would reduce the potential for inorganic N leaching in highly leached soils (Lehmann et al., 2003)....
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...Research has suggested that biochar applications to soils may increase seed germination, plant growth, and crop yields (Lehmann et al., 2003; Rondon et al., 2007; Graber et al., 2010)....
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..., 2010) and alter N availability for crops (Lehmann et al., 2003; Steiner et al., 2008)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Potential mechanisms for achieving agricultural benefits from biochar application to temperate soils: a review

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Christopher J. Atkinson¹, J. D. Fitzgerald¹, Neil A. Hipps¹•Institutions (1)

East Malling Research Station¹

30 Jun 2010-Plant and Soil

TL;DR: In this paper, a review aims to determine the extent to which inferences of experience mostly from tropical regions could be extrapolated to temperate soils and to suggest areas requiring study.

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Abstract: Natural organic biomass burning creates black carbon which forms a considerable proportion of the soil’s organic carbon. Due to black carbon’s aromatic structure it is recalcitrant and has the potential for long-term carbon sequestration in soil. Soils within the Amazon-basin contain numerous sites where the ‘dark earth of the Indians’ (Terra preta de Indio, or Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE)) exist and are composed of variable quantities of highly stable organic black carbon waste (‘biochar’). The apparent high agronomic fertility of these sites, relative to tropical soils in general, has attracted interest. Biochars can be produced by ‘baking’ organic matter under low oxygen (‘pyrolysis’). The quantities of key mineral elements within these biochars can be directly related to the levels of these components in the feedstock prior to burning. Their incorporation in soils influences soil structure, texture, porosity, particle size distribution and density. The molecular structure of biochars shows a high degree of chemical and microbial stability. A key physical feature of most biochars is their highly porous structure and large surface area. This structure can provide refugia for beneficial soil micro-organisms such as mycorrhizae and bacteria, and influences the binding of important nutritive cations and anions. This binding can enhance the availability of macro-nutrients such as N and P. Other biochar soil changes include alkalisation of soil pH and increases in electrical conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Ammonium leaching has been shown to be reduced, along with N2O soil emissions. There may also be reductions in soil mechanical impedance. Terra preta soils contain a higher number of ‘operational taxonomic units’ and have highly distinctive microbial communities relative to neighbouring soils. The potential importance of biochar soil incorporation on mycorrhizal fungi has also been noted with biochar providing a physical niche devoid of fungal grazers. Improvements in soil field capacity have been recorded upon biochar additions. Evidence shows that bioavailability and plant uptake of key nutrients increases in response to biochar application, particularly when in the presence of added nutrients. Depending on the quantity of biochar added to soil significant improvements in plant productivity have been achieved, but these reports derive predominantly from studies in the tropics. As yet there is limited critical analysis of possible agricultural impacts of biochar application in temperate regions, nor on the likelihood of utilising such soils as long-term sites for carbon sequestration. This review aims to determine the extent to which inferences of experience mostly from tropical regions could be extrapolated to temperate soils and to suggest areas requiring study.

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1,787 citations

Additional excerpts

...Biochar, applied to soils has currently generated considerable interest for scientists and policy makers (Atkinson et al., 2010), and may be a potential solution....
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...retention and acquisition (Atkinson et al., 2010)....
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...retention and acquisition (Atkinson et al., 2010). Lehmann et al. (2003) attributed the increase of rice and cowpea biomass to K, P and, possibly, Cu nutrition provided by their biochar....
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...Atkinson et al. (2010) also suggested that if biochar contained sufficient amounts of humic substances, soil WHC could be largely increased....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Origins of root-mediated pH changes in the rhizosphere and their responses to environmental constraints: A review

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Philippe Hinsinger¹, Claude Plassard¹, Caixian Tang², Benoît Jaillard¹•Institutions (2)

Institut national de la recherche agronomique¹, University of Western Australia²

01 Jan 2003-Plant and Soil

TL;DR: The aim of the present review is to define the various origins of root-mediated changes of pH in the rhizosphere, i.e., the volume of soil around roots that is influenced by root activities and the response of plant roots to deficiencies of P and Fe and to Al toxicity.

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Abstract: The aim of the present review is to define the various origins of root-mediated changes of pH in the rhizosphere, i.e., the volume of soil around roots that is influenced by root activities. Root-mediated pH changes are of major relevance in an ecological perspective as soil pH is a critical parameter that influences the bioavailability of many nutrients and toxic elements and the physiology of the roots and rhizosphere microorganisms. A major process that contributes root-induced pH changes in the rhizosphere is the release of charges carried by H+ or OH− to compensate for an unbalanced cation–anion uptake at the soil–root interface. In addition to the ions taken up by the plant, all the ions crossing the plasma membrane of root cells (e.g., organic anions exuded by plant roots) should be taken into account, since they all need to be balanced by an exchange of charges, i.e., by a release of either H+ or OH−. Although poorly documented, root exudation and respiration can contribute some proportion of rhizosphere pH decrease as a result of a build-up of the CO2 concentration. This will form carbonic acid in the rhizosphere that may dissociate in neutral to alkaline soils, and result in some pH decrease. Ultimately, plant roots and associated microorganisms can also alter rhizosphere pH via redox-coupled reactions. These various processes involved in root-mediated pH changes in the rhizosphere also depend on environmental constraints, especially nutritional constraints to which plants can respond. This is briefly addressed, with a special emphasis on the response of plant roots to deficiencies of P and Fe and to Al toxicity. Finally, soil pH itself and pH buffering capacity also have a dramatic influence on root-mediated pH changes.

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1,194 citations

Additional excerpts

...Rhizosphere is the interactive interface between plant and soil, and thus any change in root morphology is a key mechanism for the plants to adapt to soil changes such as pHalteration and nutrient improvement (Hinsinger et al., 2003)....
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