BIOCHAR IN TEMPERATE SOILS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicky Lévesque ◽  
Maren Oelbermann ◽  
Noura Ziadi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Plant Stress ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Temperate Soils ◽  
The Impact

Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by the pyrolysis of organic residues, is frequently used as a soil amendment to enhance soil fertility and improve soil properties in tropical climates. However, in temperate agriculture, the impact of biochar on soil and plant productivity remains uncertain. The objective of this review is to give an overview of the challenges and opportunities of using biochar as an amendment in temperate soils. Among the various challenges, the type of feedstock and the conditions during pyrolysis produces biochars with different chemical and physical properties, resulting in contrasting effects on soils and crops. Furthermore, biochar aging, biochar application rates and its co-application with mineral fertilizer and/or organic amendments add further complexity to our understanding of the soil-amendment-plant continuum. Although its benefits on crop yield are not yet well demonstrated under field studies, other agronomic benefits of biochar in temperate agriculture have been documented. In this review, we proposed a broader view of biochar as a temperate soil amendment, moving beyond our current focus on crop productivity, and instead target its capacity to improve soil properties. We explored biochar’s benefits in remediating low productive agricultural lands, and its environmental benefits through long-term carbon sequestration and reduced nutrient leaching while curtailing our reliance on fertilizer input. We also discussed the persistence of beneficial impacts of biochar in temperate field conditions. We concluded biochar displays great prospective to improve soil health and its productivity, enhance plant stress resilience, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and restore degraded soils in temperate agriculture.

scholarly journals Effect of Organic Amendment Addition on Soil Properties, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Grape Yield in Semi-Arid Vineyard Agroecosystems

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1477
Author(s):  
Antonio Marín-Martínez ◽  
Alberto Sanz-Cobeña ◽  
Mª Angeles Bustamante ◽  
Enrique Agulló ◽  
Concepción Paredes
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Grape Yield

In semi-arid vineyard agroecosystems, highly vulnerable in the context of climate change, the soil organic matter (OM) content is crucial to the improvement of soil fertility and grape productivity. The impact of OM, from compost and animal manure, on soil properties (e.g., pH, oxidisable organic C, organic N, NH4+-N and NO3−-N), grape yield and direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in vineyards was assessed. For this purpose, two wine grape varieties were chosen and managed differently: with a rain-fed non-trellising vineyard of Monastrell, a drip-irrigated trellising vineyard of Monastrell and a drip-irrigated trellising vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon. The studied fertiliser treatments were without organic amendments (C), sheep/goat manure (SGM) and distillery organic waste compost (DC). The SGM and DC treatments were applied at a rate of 4600 kg ha−1 (fresh weight, FW) and 5000 kg ha−1 FW, respectively. The use of organic amendments improved soil fertility and grape yield, especially in the drip-irrigated trellising vineyards. Increased CO2 emissions were coincident with higher grape yields and manure application (maximum CO2 emissions = 1518 mg C-CO2 m−2 d−1). In contrast, N2O emissions, mainly produced through nitrification, were decreased in the plots showing higher grape production (minimum N2O emissions = −0.090 mg N2O-N m−2 d−1). In all plots, the CH4 fluxes were negative during most of the experiment (−1.073−0.403 mg CH4-C m−2 d−1), indicating that these ecosystems can represent a significant sink for atmospheric CH4. According to our results, the optimal vineyard management, considering soil properties, yield and GHG mitigation together, was the use of compost in a drip-irrigated trellising vineyard with the grape variety Monastrell.

scholarly journals Biochar—A Panacea for Agriculture or Just Carbon?

Horticulturae ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Elvir Tenic ◽  
Rishikesh Ghogare ◽  
Amit Dhingra
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Marginal Soils ◽  
Decomposition Of Organic Matter

The sustainable production of food faces formidable challenges. Foremost is the availability of arable soils, which have been ravaged by the overuse of fertilizers and detrimental soil management techniques. The maintenance of soil quality and reclamation of marginal soils are urgent priorities. The use of biochar, a carbon-rich, porous material thought to improve various soil properties, is gaining interest. Biochar (BC) is produced through the thermochemical decomposition of organic matter in a process known as pyrolysis. Importantly, the source of organic material, or ‘feedstock’, used in this process and different parameters of pyrolysis determine the chemical and physical properties of biochar. The incorporation of BC impacts soil–water relations and soil health, and it has been shown to have an overall positive impact on crop yield; however, pre-existing physical, chemical, and biological soil properties influence the outcome. The effects of long-term field application of BC and how it influences the soil microcosm also need to be understood. This literature review, including a focused meta-analysis, summarizes the key outcomes of BC studies and identifies critical research areas for future investigations. This knowledge will facilitate the predictable enhancement of crop productivity and meaningful carbon sequestration.

scholarly journals The 3R Principles for Applying Biochar to Improve Soil Health

Soil Systems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingxin Guo
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
High Water ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Erosion Risk ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Biochar Amendment

Amending soil with biochar is a promising approach to persistently improve soil health and promote crop growth. The efficacy of soil biochar amendment, however, is soil specific, biochar dependent, and influenced by the biochar application programs. To maximize the benefits of biochar application, this paper proposes the 3R principles for applying biochar to soils: right biochar source, right application rate, and right placement in soil. The quality of biochar as a soil amendment varies significantly with the feedstock and the production conditions. Biochar products capable of everlastingly sustaining soil health are those with high stable organic carbon (OC) content and high water- and nutrient-holding capacities that are manufactured from uncontaminated biomass materials. Acidic, coarse-textured, highly leached soils respond remarkably more to biochar amendment than other types of soils. Soil amendment with particular biochars at as low as 0.1 mass% (equivalent to 2 Mg ha−1) may enhance the seasonal crop productivity. To achieve the evident, long-term soil health improvement effects, wood- and crop residue-derived biochars should be applied to soil at one time or cumulatively 2–5 mass% and manure-derived biochars at 1–3 mass% soil. Optimal amendment rates of particular biochar soil systems should be prescreened to ensure the pH of newly treated soils is less than 7.5 and the electrical conductivity (EC) below 2.7 dS m−1 (in 1:1 soil/water slurry). To maximize the soil health benefits while minimizing the erosion risk, biochar amendment should be implemented through broadcasting granular biochar in moistened conditions or in compost mixtures to cropland under low-wind weather followed by thorough and uniform incorporation into the 0–15 cm soil layer. Biochars are generally low in plant macronutrients and cannot serve as a major nutrient source (especially N) to plants. Combined chemical fertilization is necessary to realize the synergic beneficial effects of biochar amendment.

scholarly journals Biochar Effects on Soil Properties and Wheat Biomass vary with Fertility Management

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakriti Bista ◽  
Rajan Ghimire ◽  
Stephen Machado ◽  
Larry Pritchett
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Nitrate Uptake ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Wheat Growth ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

Biochar can improve soil health and crop productivity. We studied the response of soil properties and wheat growth to four rates of wood biochar (0, 11.2, 22.4, and 44.8 Mg ha−1) and two fertilizer rates [no fertilizer and fertilizer (90 kg N ha−1, 45 kg P ha−1, and 20 kg S ha−1)]. Biochar application increased soil organic matter (SOM), soil pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S) contents, and the shoot and root biomass of wheat. However, these responses were observed at biochar rates below 22.4 Mg ha−1, particularly in treatments without fertilizer. In fertilizer-applied treatments, soil nitrate levels decreased with an increase in biochar rates, mainly due to better crop growth and high nitrate uptake. However, without N addition, the high C:N ratio (500:1) possibly increased nutrient tie-up, reduced plant biomass, and SOM buildup at the highest biochar rate. Based on these results, we recommend biochar rates of about 22.4 Mg ha−1 and below for Walla Walla silt loams.

scholarly journals Acidified Biochar as a Soil Amendment to Drought Stressed (Vicia faba L.) Plants: Influences on Growth and Productivity, Nutrient Status, and Water Use Efficiency

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1290
Author(s):  
Taia A. Abd El-Mageed ◽  
Eman E. Belal ◽  
Mohamed O. A. Rady ◽  
Shimaa A. Abd El-Mageed ◽  
Elsayed Mansour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Use Efficiency

Drought is one of the major threats to global food security. Biochar use in agriculture has received much attention and improving it through chemical modification offers a potential approach for enhancing crop productivity. There is still limited knowledge on how acidified biochar influences soil properties, and consequently its influences on the agricultural productivity of drought stressed plants. The water use efficiency (I-WUE) of drought stressed faba beans was investigated through the effects of acidified biochar (ACBio) (a 3:100 (w:w) combination of citric acid and biochar) on soil properties, growth, productivity, nutrient uptake, water productivity (WP), and irrigation. Two field experiments (2016/2017 and 2017/2018) were conducted in saline soil (ECe, 7.2 dS m−1) on faba been plants grown under three irrigation regimes (i.e., 100, 80, and 60% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)) combined with three levels of ACBio (0, 5, and 10 t ha−1). Plants exposed to water stress presented a significant decrease in plant height, dry matter, leave area, chlorophyll content (SPAD), the quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm, Fv/F0, and PI), water status (membrane stability index and relative water content), and seed yield. Acidified biochar soil incorporation improved soil properties (chemical and physical), plant growth, physiological responses, WP, I-WUE, and contents of N, P, K, and Ca. Results revealed that the application of ACBio at 10 t ha−1 and 5 t ha−1 significantly increased seed yield by 38.7 and 25.8%, respectively, compared to the control. Therefore, ACBio incorporation may find application in the future as a potential soil amendment for improving growth and productivity of faba bean plants under deficit irrigation.

scholarly journals Variability in Fruit Yield and Quality of Genetically Diverse Tomato Cultivars in Response to Different Biochars

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvir Tenic ◽  
Daylen Isaac ◽  
Rishikesh Ghogare ◽  
Amit Dhingra
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Genetic Background ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Tomato Cultivars ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundIntensive agricultural practices have reduced soil health thereby negatively impacting crop yields. There is a need to maintain healthy soils and restore marginal lands to ensure efficient food production. Biochar, a porous carbon-rich material generated from pyrolysis of various feedstock sources is receiving attention as a soil amendment that has the potential to restore soil organic carbon content and also enhance crop yields. However, the physical and chemical properties of biochar are influenced by pyrolysis parameters. These in turn determine its interaction with the soil, thereby influencing its biological properties in terms of impact on soil microcosm and plant productivity. While most studies report the evaluation of one biochar and a single plant cultivar, the role of the plant’s genetic background in responding to biochar as a soil amendment remains unanswered. The impact of six distinct biochars on agronomic performance and fruit quality of three genetically diverse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars was evaluated to test the hypotheses that 1) biochars derived from different feedstock sources would produce unique phenotypes in a single cultivar of tomato, and 2) single feedstock-derived BC would produce different phenotypes in each of the three tomato cultivars.ResultsDifferent biochars impacted shoot dry weight, total fruit weight, and yield per plant in each cultivar differently. Both positive and negative effects were observed depending on the biochar-cultivar combination. In ‘Oregon Spring’, Ryegrass straw and CoolTerra biochar enhanced yield. In ‘Heinz’, an increase in fruit weight and citric acid was observed with several of the biochars. In ‘Cobra’, improved yields were accompanied by reduction in fruit quality parameters. Both hypotheses were supported by the data.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that the genetic background of a plant is an important variable in determining the outcome of using biochar as a soil amendment. Strategies for application of biochar in agricultural production should consider the variables of soil type, feedstock source, pyrolysis parameters and plant genetic background for enhancing crop productivity and carbon sequestration.

Improvement of plant microbiome using inoculants for agricultural production: a sustainable approach for reducing fertilizer application

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Clement Kyei Sarpong ◽  
Xiaofeng Zhang ◽  
Qili Wang ◽  
Wenjing Wang ◽  
Zameer Hussain Jamali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Productivity ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Microbial Inoculants ◽  
Environmental Threat ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Plant Microbiome

The overuse of agrochemicals for agricultural productivity to meet the global food demand of the rapidly growing human population is a great environmental threat, particularly for aquatic ecosystems. Being associated intimately with plant health, growth, and productivity, the plant microbiome is emerging as a promising environmentally friendly and sustainable resource for agricultural productivity. For the past decades, our understanding of the interactions between plants and microorganisms and our knowledge of how to improve the plant microbiome by using microbial inoculants has increased significantly. A better understanding of the impact of the plant microbiome on mineral resources will benefit plant and soil health. In this review, we highlight the importance of microbial inoculants and their interactions with mineral fertilizers in enhancing crop productivity, as well as current challenges.

scholarly journals Changes of soil-rhizosphere microbiota after organic amendment application in a Hordeum vulgare L. short-term greenhouse experiment

2020 ◽  
Vol 455 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 489-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael M. Obermeier ◽  
Eva-Maria L. Minarsch ◽  
Abilash C. Durai Raj ◽  
Francois Rineau ◽  
Peter Schröder
Keyword(s):  
Hordeum Vulgare ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Greenhouse Experiment ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Soil Rhizosphere

Abstract Aims In order to counteract the enduring decreases in the quality of agricultural land, mechanistic studies for a more sustainable agricultural crop production were performed. They aimed to assess the effects of organic amendments in combination with mineral fertilizer on soil-rhizosphere microbiota and their influence on soil health and plant performance. Methods In a short-term greenhouse experiment, the effects of pelletized spent mushroom substrate, with different combinations of biochar and mineral fertilizer, on agricultural soil and performance of Hordeum vulgare L were scrutinized. To evaluate improved soil quality, different soil biological and chemical properties, microbial activity, bacterial diversity and plant performance were assessed. Results Plant performance increased across all fertilizer combinations. Bacterial β-diversity changed from the initial to the final sampling, pointing at a strong influence of plant development on the rhizosphere with increasing abundances of Acidobacteria and decreasing abundances of Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidetes. Microbial activity (FDA), potential enzyme activity and metabolic diversity of the microbial community (BIOLOG) were not affected by the amendments, whereas bacterial community structure changed on family level, indicating functional redundancy. Treatments containing biochar and the highest amount of mineral fertilizer (B_MF140) caused the strongest changes, which were most pronounced for the families Xanthobacteraceae, Mycobacteriaceae, and Haliangiaceae. Conclusion Applying organic amendments improved plant performance and maintained soil health, contributing to more sustainable crop production. Nevertheless, long-term field studies are recommended to verify the findings of this short-term experiment.

scholarly journals Microbiota Management for Effective Disease Suppression: A Systematic Comparison between Soil and Mammals Gut

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7608
Author(s):  
Giuliano Bonanomi ◽  
Mohamed Idbella ◽  
Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organic Amendment ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Disease Suppression ◽  
Functional Link ◽  
Harmful Organisms ◽  
Ecological Mechanisms

Both soil and the human gut support vast microbial biodiversity, in which the microbiota plays critical roles in regulating harmful organisms. However, the functional link between microbiota taxonomic compositions and disease suppression has not been explained yet. Here, we provide an overview of pathogen regulation in soil and mammals gut, highlighting the differences and the similarities between the two systems. First, we provide a review of the ecological mechanisms underlying the regulation of soil and pathogens, as well as the link between disease suppression and soil health. Particular emphasis is thus given to clarifying how soil and the gut microbiota are associated with organic amendment and the human diet, respectively. Moreover, we provide several insights into the importance of organic amendment and diet composition in shaping beneficial microbiota as an efficient way to support crop productivity and human health. This review also discusses novel ways to functionally characterize organic amendments and the proper operational combining of such materials with beneficial microbes for stirring suppressive microbiota against pathogens. Furthermore, specific examples are given to describe how agricultural management practices, including the use of antibiotics and fumigants, hinder disease suppression by disrupting microbiota structure, and the potentiality of entire microbiome transplant. We conclude by discussing general strategies to promote soil microbiota biodiversity, the connection with plant yield and health, and their possible integration through a “One Health” framework.

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