Use of Biochar in agriculture.

The objective of this review is to show in a general way how biochar (BC) can be obtained and its effects on the physicochemical properties of soils and physiological behavior of cultivated plants. BC is a product rich in carbon that comes from the pyrolysis of biomass, generally of vegetable origin. BC is obtained by the decomposition of organic matter exposed to temperatures between 200-900 ºC in an atmosphere with low oxygen availability (pyrolysis), which can be slow, intermediate or fast. Depending on the biomass and the temperature used in its production, BC can contain high levels of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur, among others. The main sources to produce biochar are forest, agroindustrial and manure residues. BC quality and physical-chemical characteristics will depend not only on the type of waste or plant material for production, but also on the plant photosynthetic apparatus. The high carbon contents present in organic matter, which are more resistant to biological and chemical decomposition, are stabilized by the pyrolysis process. When incorporated into the soil, BC remains stable for longer periods of time and is not volatilized into the atmosphere; this allows BC to be considered as an important compound for the mitigation of the impacts of polluting substances. Additionally, it has been found that BC application improves the physicochemical characteristics of the soil, including fertility. This improvement generates positive responses in the physiological behavior of cultivated plants such as the increase of germination, accumulation of dry matter, photosynthetic rate, yield and quality of the harvested organ. BC use opens important doors for the sustainable management of agriculture in Colombia. It can be considered in production systems exposed to heavy metals such as vegetables and perennial species, in order to reduce the impact of these substances on human health.

Download Full-text

The impact of porosity on organic matter cycling in a two-dimensional porous medium

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-9432 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hanbang Zou ◽

Pelle Ohlsson ◽

Edith Hammer

Keyword(s):

Porous Medium ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Pore Network ◽

Pore Scale ◽

Decomposition Of Organic Matter ◽

Organic Matter Cycling ◽

The Impact

Carbon sequestration has been a popular research topic in recent years as the rapid elevation of carbon emission has significantly impacted our climate. Apart from carbon capture and storage in e.g. oil reservoirs, soil carbon sequestration offers a long term and safe solution for the environment and human beings. The net soil carbon budget is determined by the balance between terrestrial ecosystem sink and sources of respiration to atmospheric carbon dioxide. Carbon can be long term stored as organic matters in the soil whereas it can be released from the decomposition of organic matter. The complex pore networks in the soil are believed to be able to "protect" microbial-derived organic matter from decomposition. Therefore, it is important to understand how soil structure impacts organic matter cycling at the pore scale. However, there are limited experimental studies on understanding the mechanism of physical stabilization of organic matter. Hence, my project plan is to create a heterogeneous microfluidic porous microenvironment to mimic the complex soil pore network which allows us to investigate the ability of organisms to access spaces starting from an initial ecophysiological precondition to changes of spatial accessibility mediated by interactions with the microbial community.Microfluidics is a powerful tool that enables studies of fundamental physics, rapid measurements and real-time visualisation in a complex spatial microstructure that can be designed and controlled. Many complex processes can now be visualized enabled by the development of microfluidics and photolithography, such as microbial dynamics in pore-scale soil systems and pore network modification mimicking different soil environments &#8211; earlier considered impossible to achieve experimentally. The microfluidic channel used in this project contains a random distribution of cylindrical pillars of different sizes so as to mimic the variations found in real soil. The randomness in the design creates various spatial availability for microbes (preferential flow paths with dead-end or continuous flow) as an invasion of liquids proceeds into the pore with the lowest capillary entry pressure. In order to study the impact of different porosity in isolation of varying heterogeneity of the porous medium, different pore size chips that use the same randomly generated pore network is created. Those chips have the same location of the pillars, but the relative size of each pillar is scaled. The experiments will be carried out using sterile cultures of fluorescent bacteria, fungi and protists, synthetic communities of combinations of these, or a whole soil community inoculum. We will quantify the consumption of organic matter from the different areas via fluorescent substrates, and the bio-/necromass produced. We hypothesise that lower porosity will reduce the net decomposition of organic matter as the narrower pore throat limits the access, and that net decomposition rate at the main preferential path will be higher than inside branches

Download Full-text

EXAMINING THE PROCESS OF DECOMPOSITION AND CARBON CYCLING IN 'FADAMA' COASTAL WETLANDS: A CASE STUDY OF HEAPING WETLANDS ECOSYSTEM

FUDMA Journal of Sciences ◽

10.33003/fjs-2020-0403-344 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 10-16

Author(s):

George Dasat Shwamyil ◽

G. Danjuma ◽

E. S. Chundusu

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Carbon Cycling ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

Wetland Soil ◽

Low Oxygen ◽

Decomposition Of Organic Matter ◽

Plateau State

Wetlands provide several ecosystem services including carbon capture and storage, water filtration, nutrient cycling, and support agriculture among others. The biogeochemical process and decomposition parameters in ‘Fadama' wetland soils comprising of Gada biyu, Pwomol and Kpang referred to as sites A, B, and C respectively all of Heipang District in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State was investigated using standard operating procedures (SOP). Results of investigations revealed that soils from Kpang had slightly higher water content (34.52%) than those from Pwomol (33.48%) and Gada biyu (32.03%). While soils from Gada biyu had the highest solid organic matter (SOM) (10.79%) followed by Pwomol (8.15%) as Kpang had the least (7.85%). Gada biyu soils had the lowest Phenol oxidases activity (1536.56 nmol dicq g-1 h-1) while those from Pwomol (5340.44 nmol dicq g-1 h-1) was highest. All sites had similar concentrations of soil phenolics (76.58 µg g-1, 79.98µg g-1, and 83.25µg g-1). The activity of hydrolyses (β-glucosidase) in Gada biyu soil (2.93 nmol g-1 min-1) was lower than those from Pwomol (6.13 nmol g-1 min-1). These parameters indicate the level of biogeochemical processes in the soil at each site. Gada biyu had the highest rate of CH4 (0.84 ug g-1h-1) flux. Decomposition of organic matter, carbon cycling and greenhouse gas storage in wetland soil, is due to the anoxic condition comprising of low oxygen availability, cool temperatures, anaerobic conditions, reduced microbial activity, and the quality of organic matter substrates in such soils. Anthropogenic disturbances affecting wetlands must be discouraged to promote vital ecosystem services.

Download Full-text

Douglas fir impact on the dynamics and composition of humus in the soil of indigenous beech forest in western Serbia

Zbornik Matice srpske za prirodne nauke ◽

10.2298/zmspn2038083k ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 83-95

Author(s):

Olga Kostic ◽

Miroslava Mitrovic ◽

Pavle Pavlovic

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Chemical Composition ◽

Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽

Beech Forest ◽

Control Site ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Brown Soil ◽

Decomposition Of Organic Matter ◽

One Year ◽

The Impact

This study investigates the impact of organic matter from Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) on the amount and composition of humus in acid brown soil in a climatoregional beech forest (Fagetum moesiacae montanum B. Jov. 1967 s.l.) on Mt. Maljen. To accomplish this objective, we performed a one-year litterbag decomposition experiment with litterfall from Fagus moesiaca and Pseudotsuga menziesii. The quantitative and qualitative content of humus and the intensity of the decomposition process of organic mat?ter from beech and Douglas fir were analysed. Less humus was found during the experiment under Douglas fir than under autochthonous beech at the control site, as well as a decreasing trend for humus levels and quality (unfavourable chemical composition). It was concluded that these changes, caused by the effects of the clearcutting of beech and, in the future, of Douglas fir, and the slower decomposition of organic matter from Douglas fir will contribute to further degradation of the beech habitat on Mt. Maljen in terms of productivity.

Download Full-text

A Study of the Impact of Municipal Solid Waste on Some Soil Physicochemical Properties: The Case of the Landfill of Ain-El-Hammam Municipality, Algeria

Applied and Environmental Soil Science ◽

10.1155/2019/3560456 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Saïda Mouhoun-Chouaki ◽

Arezki Derridj ◽

Djaber Tazdaït ◽

Rym Salah-Tazdaït

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Harmful Effect ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Heavy Metal Concentration ◽

Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Matter Content ◽

Solid Wastes ◽

Municipal Solid Wastes ◽

The Impact

Discharging of untreated municipal solid wastes (MSWs) onto land is very widespread in developing countries. The compounds contained in MSW cause a harmful effect to human and environment. Hence, an assessment of the extent of their local impact is of great interest to figure out the pollution they cause. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the effects of discharge of solid wastes on soil quality within the landfill of Ain-El-Hammam municipality (Algeria). To achieve this, different soil physicochemical parameters were considered: granulometry, electrical conductivity, pH, organic matter content, and heavy metal concentration. The results indicated the influence of the MSW on the physicochemical characteristics of the soil by enhancing the organic matter content of soil (4.53%) and increasing heavy metal content (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr), which is a clear indication of the level of pollution they are generating.

Download Full-text

Biogeochemical characterization of soils affected by more than 100 years of lead mining activity.

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21474 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

José María Esbrí ◽

Sara Gallego ◽

JuanAntonio Campos ◽

Fabrice Martin-Laurent ◽

Jesus Peco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

16S Rrna ◽

Soil Microorganisms ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Mining Activity ◽

Sequencing Analysis ◽

Mill Residues ◽

The Impact ◽

Olive Mill

Mining has an adverse effect on soil quality as it is a source of heavy metal environmental pollution with direct consequences on its ecosystem services, especially those related to microbial activity. The magnitude and diversity of the impact produced by pollution is linked to the complexity and diversity of mining processes that share the same mining area. The soil will be modified, not only in the physicochemical characteristics but also physical alterations of varied typology will occur. All these changes and alterations related to mining activity are accompanied by changes in the composition, diversity and activity of soil microorganisms.. A study was carried out on a mine site showing variable degrees of contaminations with metals, to estimate the impact of mining works on the geochemistry of soils, and the activity and diversity of soil microorganisms. &#160;The aim is to characterize the level of disturbance on the &#8220;soil health&#8221; due to the presence of different metals, related physicochemical factors, and typology of the wastes affecting the soil. Besides, the process of bacterial colonization of the wastes has been also subject of interest to our work. The selected study area was originally a lead-silver mine. Later, a mineral treatment plant was established in the area in order to recover Zn from the primary gangue dumps. In addition spills of olive mill residues were later deposited in the area. Four composite samples from the five distinct sites differing in their characteristics were selected: tailings, dumps, olive mill residues, contaminated soil and reference soil. A range of various analyses was done on these samples including pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, multi-elemental contents, enzymatic activity and bacterial biodiversity (16S rRNA amplicon sequencing). Selected sampling sites have contrasted physicochemical characteristics: acidic pH was observed in dumps (3.8 in average) and neutral in tailings and soils (~6); highest conductivity was recorded in dumps (2282 microS cm-1 in average) and lowest in soils (62 microS cm-1 in average); the highest organic matter value was measured in soils amended with olive mill residues (60% in average). Heavy metals were detected in higher concentrations in dumps and olive mill residues than in tailings or soils. It is noteworthy in dump samples the maximum concentrations of metals reach 6.8% with significant amounts of Zn, Cu, Sb, Hg, Ni, Co and Mn. Highest enzymatic activities were measured in contaminated and non-contaminated soils, while lowest values were obtained in dumps and tailings soils, in accordance with the concentration of metal measured in the matrix. Next generation sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA amplicon lead to the discrimination on the different sites sampled according to bacterial composition and diversity. Most abundant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Bacteriodetes, TM7, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. As a conclusion, we have found evidences of the intense affection of the metal pollution to the microbiological biodiversity, particularly that related with the presence of high Pb concentrations.

Download Full-text

BPOP-v1 model: exploring the impact of changes in the biological pump on the shelf sea and ocean nutrient and redox state

Geoscientific Model Development ◽

10.5194/gmd-13-1865-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1865-1883 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elisa Lovecchio ◽

Timothy M. Lenton

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Deep Ocean ◽

Biological Pump ◽

Low Oxygen ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Structure Changes ◽

Large Particles ◽

Shelf Sea ◽

Slope Sediment ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The biological pump of the ocean has changed over Earth's history, from one dominated by prokaryotes to one involving a mixture of prokaryotes and eukaryotes with trophic structure. Changes in the biological pump are in turn hypothesized to have caused important changes in the nutrient and redox properties of the ocean. To explore these hypotheses, we present here a new box model including oxygen (O), phosphorus (P) and a dynamical biological pump. Our Biological Pump, Oxygen and Phosphorus (BPOP) model accounts for two – small and large – organic matter species generated by production and coagulation, respectively. Export and burial of these particles are regulated by a remineralization length (zrem) scheme. We independently vary zrem of small and large particles in order to study how changes in sinking speeds and remineralization rates affect the major biogeochemical fluxes and O and P ocean concentrations. Modeled O and P budgets and fluxes lie reasonably close to present estimates for zrem in the range of currently measured values. Our results highlight that relatively small changes in zrem of the large particles can have important impacts on the O and P ocean availability and support the idea that an early ocean dominated by small particles was nutrient rich due to the inefficient removal of P to sediments. The results also suggest that extremely low oxygen concentrations in the shelf can coexist with an oxygenated deep open ocean for realistic values of zrem, especially for large values of the small-particle zrem. This could challenge conventional interpretations that the Proterozoic deep ocean was anoxic, which are derived from shelf and slope sediment redox data. This simple and computationally inexpensive model is a promising tool to investigate the impact of changes in the organic matter sinking and remineralization rates as well as changes in physical processes coupled with the biological pump in a variety of case studies.

Download Full-text

Агрономическая эффективность промышленной (голландской) технологии возделывания картофеля

Kartofel` i ovoshi ◽

10.25630/pav.2018.1.17458 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

C. Coy ◽

A.V. Shuravilin ◽

O.A. Zakharova

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Positive Response ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Correlation And Regression Analysis ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Quality Of Products ◽

High Degree ◽

The Impact

Приведены результаты исследований по изучению влияния промышленной технологии возделывания картофеля на развитие, урожайность и качество продукции. Выявлена положительная реакция растений на подкормку K2SO4 в период посадки. Корреляционно-регрессионный анализ урожайности и качества клубней выявил высокую степень достоверности результатов опыта. Содержание нитратов и тяжелых металлов в клубнях было ниже допустимых величин.The results of studies on the impact of industrial technology of potato cultivation on growth, yield and quality of products. There was a positive response of plants to fertilizer K2SO4 in the period of planting. Correlation and regression analysis of yield and quality of tubers revealed a high degree of reliability of the results of experience. The contents of nitrates and heavy metals in tubers was below the permissible values.

Download Full-text

The impact of urban effluents on the coastal marine environment of Mediterranean islands

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0673 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 32 (9-10) ◽

pp. 85-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael O. Angelidis

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Marine Environment ◽

Suspended Particle ◽

Pollution Source ◽

Mediterranean Islands ◽

Coastal Marine Environment ◽

Coastal Marine ◽

The Impact ◽

The City

The impact of the urban effluents of Mytilene (Lesvos island, Greece) on the receiving coastal marine environment, was evaluated by studying the quality of the city effluents (BOD5, COD, SS, heavy metals) and the marine sediments (grain size, organic matter, heavy metals). It was found that the urban effluents of Mytilene contain high organic matter and suspended particle load because of septage discharge into the sewerage network. Furthermore, although the city does not host important industrial activity, its effluents contain appreciable metal load, which is mainly associated with the particulate phase. The city effluents are discharged into the coastal marine environment and their colloidal and particulate matter after flocculation settles to the bottom, where is incorporated into the sediments. Over the years, the accumulation of organic matter and metals into the harbour mud has created a non-point pollution source in the relatively non-polluted coastal marine environment of the island. Copper and Zn were the metals which presented the higher enrichment in the sediments of the inner harbour of Mytilene.

Download Full-text

Fish farming in Denmark: environmental impact of regulative legislation

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0365 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 31 (10) ◽

pp. 73-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

T. M. Iversen

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Freshwater Fish ◽

Aquatic Environment ◽

Action Plan ◽

Fish Farming ◽

Fish Farms ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Local Impact ◽

The Impact

The main environmental problems associated with fish farming in Denmark are attributable to the dam, the “dead reach” and nutrient and organic matter discharge. The environmental regulation of fish farming in Denmark started with the Environmental Protection Act of 1974, the Statutory Order of 1985 forbidding wet feed, and the Action Plan on the Aquatic Environment of 1987. In the case of freshwater fish farms, the latter was implemented through the measures stipulated in the 1989 Statutory Order on Fish Farms. The impact of Danish legislative measures to reduce and regulate the environmental effects of freshwater fish farms can be summarized as follows: - the number of fish farms has been reduced from about 800 in 1974 to about 500 at present; - production has tripled since 1974 and has been stable since 1989; - a change from wet to dry feed has reduced the environmental impact of the farms; - the national goals of the Action Plan on the Aquatic Environment of 1987 for reducing fish farm discharges of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus have been fulfilled. The main remaining problems are that: - the local impact of fish farms on downstream stream quality is still much too high in about 15% of cases; - the problem of the passage of migrating invertebrates and fish is still unsolved at some farms; - the problems posed by “dead reaches” are still unsolved. It is concluded that sustainable fish farming is possible in Denmark, but with the present technology production will have to be significantly reduced.

Download Full-text

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Yield and Quality of Garlic cv. Yamuna Safed-3

Journal of AgriSearch ◽

10.21921/jas.v7i04.19399 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (04) ◽

Author(s):

A B Priyanshu ◽

M K Singh ◽

Mukesh Kumar ◽

Vipin Kumar ◽

Sunil Malik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Management ◽

Block Design ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Research Centre ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

The Impact ◽

Horticultural Research

An experiment was conducted at Horticultural Research Centre, SVP University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (UP) during Rabi season of 2018-19 to assess the impact of different INM doses on yield and quality parameters of garlic. A total of ten treatments consisting of combinations of inorganic fertilizers, organic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers like T1- (Control), T2RDF (100:50:50 kg NPK ha-1), T3-RDF + 20 kg sulphur + FYM 20 ton ha-1, T4- RDF + 20 kg sulphur + VC 4 ton ha-1, T5- 75% RDF + 40 kg sulphur + 5 ton FYM ha-1+ PSB 5 kg ha-1, T6-75% RDF + 40 kg sulphur + 2 ton VC + Azotobacter 5 kg ha-1, T7- 75% RDF + 40 kg sulphur + FYM 3 ton + VC 1 ton+ PSB 5 kg + Azotobacter 5kg ha-1, T8- 50% RDF + 40 kg sulphur + FYM 5 ton + VC2 ton + PSB 5 kg ha-1, T9- 50% RDF + 40 kg sulphur + FYM5 ton + VC 2 ton+ Azotobacter 5 kg ha-1and T10- 50% RDF + 40 kg sulphur + FYM 5 ton + VC2 ton + PSB 5 kg + Azotobacter 5 kg ha-1 were used in Randomized Block Design and replicated thrice. Out of these an application of T7 (75% RDF + 40 kg sulphur + FYM3 ton + VC 1 ton ha-1 + PSB 5 kg + Azotobacter 5 kg ha-1) was found to be significantly superior in term of yield and attributing parameters of garlic.

Download Full-text