scholarly journals Effect of Fine Size-Fractionated Sunflower Husk Biochar on Water Retention Properties of Arable Sandy Soil

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1335
Author(s):  
Łukasz Gluba ◽  
Anna Rafalska-Przysucha ◽  
Kamil Szewczak ◽  
Mateusz Łukowski ◽  
Radosław Szlązak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Available Water Content ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Retention Characteristics ◽  
Fine Size ◽  
Water Retention Properties ◽  
Properties Of Soil

Biochar application has been reported to improve the physical, chemical, and hydrological properties of soil. However, the information about the size fraction composition of the applied biochar as a factor that may have an impact on the properties of soil-biochar mixtures is often underappreciated. Our research shows how sunflower husk biochar (pyrolyzed at 650 °C) can modify the water retention characteristics of arable sandy soil depending on the biochar dose (up to 9.52 wt.%) and particle size (<50 µm, 50–100 µm, 100–250 µm). For comparison, we used soil samples mixed with biochar passed through 2 mm sieve and an unamended reference. The addition of sieved biochar to the soil caused a 30% increase in the available water content (AWC) in comparing to the soil without biochar. However, the most notable improvement (doubling the reference AWC value from 0.078 m3 m−3 to 0.157 m3 m−3) was observed at the lowest doses of biochar (0.95 and 2.24 wt.%) and for the finest size fractions (below 100 µm). The water retention effects on sandy soil are explained as the interplay between the dose, the size of biochar particles, and the porous properties of biochar fractions.

Effects of Sugar Foam Liming on the Water-Retention Properties of Soil

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 1299-1308 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Pérez-de-los-Reyes ◽  
J. A. Amorós Ortíz-Villajos ◽  
F. J. García Navarro ◽  
S. Bravo Martín-Consuegra ◽  
R. Jiménez Ballesta
Keyword(s):  
Water Retention ◽  
Water Retention Properties ◽  
Properties Of Soil

scholarly journals Changes in soil properties due to the application of activators in conditions of very heavy soils

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. S40-S45
Author(s):  
Šařec Petr ◽  
Novák Petr
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Soil Infiltration ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Decomposition Of Organic Matter ◽  
Biological Transformation ◽  
Changes In Soil Properties ◽  
Properties Of Soil

This paper deals with verification of the effect of fermented manure (with and without Z'fix activators) and soil activators (PRP Sol) on a soil properties change. Their application should lead to a change in physical, physical-chemical and biological properties of soil, along with ecological material fixation, improved water retention and infiltration, reduction of soil susceptibility to water erosion and decreased soil tillage energy requirements. Field trial was established in Sloveč in Central Bohemia in the year 2014. The experiment was divided into several variants and was designed as multiannual. Z›fix activator was used as a biological transformation activator of manure. PRP Sol was used as a soil activator. In order to verify the effect, soil infiltration, cone index, bulk density and draft of tillage implement were measured. Measurements have shown a beneficial effect of the activators with regard to the decomposition of organic matter. Consequently, changes in soil properties and a reduction of draft at tillage operations developed. Finally, the effect should evolve gradually with a prolonged activator treatment.

scholarly journals Effect of Biochar Particle Size on Physical, Hydrological and Chemical Properties of Loamy and Sandy Tropical Soils

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara de Jesus Duarte ◽  
Bruno Glaser ◽  
Carlos Pellegrino Cerri
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Pore Size Distribution ◽  
Pore Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Tropical Soils ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Loamy Soil ◽  
Physical Chemical

The application of biochar is promising for improving the physical, chemical and hydrological properties of soil. However, there are few studies regarding the influence of biochar particle size. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar size on the physical, chemical and hydrological properties in sandy and loamy tropical soils. For this purpose, an incubation experiment was conducted in the laboratory with eight treatments (control (only soil), two soils (loamy and sandy soil), and three biochar sizes (<0.15 mm; 0.15–2 mm and >2 mm)). Analyses of water content, bulk density, total porosity, pore size distribution, total carbon (TC) and total N (TN) were performed after 1 year of soil–biochar-interactions in the laboratory. The smaller particle size <0.15 mm increased water retention in both soils, particularly in the loamy soil. Bulk density slightly decreased, especially in the loamy soil when biochar > 2 mm and in the sandy soil with the addition of 0.15–2 mm biochar. Porosity increased in both soils with the addition of biochar in the range of 0.15–2 mm. Smaller biochar particles shifted pore size distribution to increased macro and mesoporosity in both soils. Total carbon content increased mainly in sandy soil compared to control treatment; the highest carbon amount was obtained in the biochar size 0.15–2 mm in loamy soil and <0.15 mm in sandy soil, while the TN content and C:N ratio increased slightly with a reduction of the biochar particle size in both soils. These results demonstrate that biochar particle size is crucial for water retention, water availability, pore size distribution, and C sequestration.

How do grain size and dose of sunflower husk biochar influence the water retention of sandy soil?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Rafalska-Przysucha ◽  
Radosław Szlązak ◽  
Justina Vitková ◽  
Łukasz Gluba ◽  
Mateusz Lukowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Satellite Monitoring ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Plant Available Water

&lt;p&gt;Biochar is a carbon-rich material obtained from the process of biomass pyrolysis. Due to its desirable properties, it is discussed as a soil amendment to improve soil quality; for example, adding biochar can change soil water retention by modifying soil textural and structural properties. However, the optimal fabrication conditions and proportions of biochar particles sizes, that would improve soil properties are still not precisely known. In our research, we investigated the influence of grain size and a dose of biochar on water retention of sandy soil. For this purpose, water retention curves (pF) were measured, as it indicates such important properties as plant available water, field water capacity, wilting point. The studies were carried out on podzol soil samples taken from meadow located in Sekow, Poland, mixed with different percentage mass content of sunflower husk biochar produced in 650-750&amp;#176;C (0.95, 2.36, 4.76 and 9.52% of sample weight). Samples contain one of biochar granulometric fraction: 250-100, 100-50 or less than 50 &amp;#181;m. The control included soil samples with the addition of mixed fractions of biochar and soil without biochar. The research method we used allows obtaining information about plant available water content by comparing differences in water content between 0.06 and 5 bar pressure points which corresponding to a 1.85-3.7 pF. In this range, most plants can use water for their growth and development. Our results revealed that, surprisingly, soil with all fractions of biochar reduces the amount of available water for plants compared to the control (soil without biochar), regardless of the biochar dose applied. However, fractionated biochar can both increase or decrease the soil water content, depending on the particle size and dose. Small doses of sunflower husk biochar (0.95 and 2.36%) and the finest fraction (&lt;50&amp;#956;m) have the most beneficial effects for water retention of investigated soil. Our research may strongly suggest the biochar producers that the production of biochar with the right fraction may be more favourable for increasing soil water retention.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Research was partially conducted under the project &amp;#8220;Water in soil - satellite monitoring and improving the retention using biochar&amp;#8221; no. BIOSTRATEG3/345940/7/NCBR/2017 which was financed by Polish National Centre for Research and Development in the framework of &amp;#8220;Environment, agriculture and forestry&amp;#8221; &amp;#8211; BIOSTRATEG strategic R&amp;D programme.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Lustosa Carvalho ◽  
Moacir Tuzzin de Moraes ◽  
Carlos Eduardo P. Cerri ◽  
Maurício Roberto Cherubin
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Micropore Volume ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Available Water Content ◽  
Biochar Amendment

The use of biochar, which is the solid product of biomass pyrolysis, in agricultural soils, has been shown as a strategic solution for building soil carbon stocks and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. However, biochar amendment might also benefit other key soil processes and services, such as those that are related to water retention, particularly in sandy soils. Here, we conducted an experiment to investigate the potential of biochar to enhance pore size distribution and water retention properties in a tropical sandy soil. Three biochar rates were incorporated (equivalent to 6.25, 12.5, and 25 Mg ha−1) into plastic pots containing a sandy Oxisol sampled from a sugarcane field in Brazil. Undisturbed samples of the mixture were collected at two evaluation times (50 and 150 days) and used to determine water retention curves and other soil physical properties. The results showed that biochar amendment decreased soil bulk density and increased water retention capacity, micropore volume, and available water content. Higher soil water retention in amended soil is associated with the inherent characteristics of biochar (e.g., internal porosity) and potential improvements in soil structure. Microporosity and water retention were enhanced with intermediate biochar rate (12.5 Mg ha−1), instead of the highest rate (25 Mg ha−1) tested. Further studies are needed to validate these results under field conditions.

scholarly journals Effects of Superabsorbent Polymers on the Hydraulic Parameters and Water Retention Properties of Soil

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renkuan Liao ◽  
Wenyong Wu ◽  
Shumei Ren ◽  
Peiling Yang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Soil Column ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Hydraulic Parameters ◽  
Superabsorbent Polymers ◽  
Treated Soil ◽  
Water Retention Properties ◽  
Properties Of Soil

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are widely applied in dryland agriculture. However, their functional property of repeated absorption and release of soil water exerts periodic effects on the hydraulic parameters and water-retention properties of soil, and as this property gradually diminishes with time, its effects tend to be unstable. During the 120-day continuous soil cultivation experiment described in this paper, horizontal soil column infiltration and high-speed centrifugation tests were conducted on SAP-treated soil to measure unsaturated diffusivityDand soil water characteristic curves. The experimental results suggest that the SAP increased the water retaining capacity of soil sections where the suction pressure was between 0 and 3,000 cm. The SAP significantly obstructed water diffusion in the soil in the early days of the experiment, but the effect gradually decreased in the later period. The average decrease in water diffusivity in the treatment groups fell from 76.6% at 0 days to 1.2% at 120 days. This research also provided parameters of time-varying functions that describe the unsaturated diffusivityDand unsaturated hydraulic conductivityKof soils under the effects of SAPs; in future research, these functions can be used to construct water movement models applicable to SAP-treated soil.

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