scholarly journals Effects of fresh and aged chars from pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization on nutrient sorption in agricultural soils

SOIL ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 475-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gronwald ◽  
A. Don ◽  
B. Tiemeyer ◽  
M. Helfrich
Keyword(s):  
Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Hydrothermal Carbonization ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Phosphate Retention ◽  
Ammonium Adsorption ◽  
Phosphate Leaching

Abstract. Leaching of nutrients from agricultural soils causes major environmental problems that may be reduced with amendments of chars derived from pyrolysis (pyrochars) or hydrothermal carbonization (hydrochars). Chars are characterized by a high adsorption capacity – i.e. they may retain nutrients such as nitrate and ammonium. However, the physicochemical properties of the chars and hence their sorption capacity likely depend on feedstock and the production process. We investigated the nutrient retention capacity of pyrochars and hydrochars from three different feedstocks (digestates, Miscanthus, woodchips) mixed into different soil substrates (sandy loam and silty loam). Moreover, we investigated the influence of char degradation on its nutrient retention capacity using a 7-month in situ field incubation of pyrochar and hydrochar mixed into soils at three different field sites. Pyrochars showed the highest ability to retain nitrate, ammonium and phosphate, with pyrochar from woodchips being particularly efficient in nitrate adsorption. Ammonium adsorption of pyrochars was controlled by the soil type of the soil–char mixture. We found some ammonium retention on sandy soils, but no pyrochar effect or even ammonium leaching from the loamy soil. The phosphate retention capacity of pyrochars strongly depended on the pyrochar feedstock with large phosphate leaching from digestate-derived pyrochar and some adsorption capacity from woodchip-derived pyrochar. Application of hydrochars to agricultural soils caused small, and often not significant, effects on nutrient retention. In contrast, some hydrochars did increase the leaching of nutrients compared to the non-amended control soil. We found a surprisingly rapid loss of the chars' adsorption capacity after field application of the chars. For all sites and for hydrochar and pyrochar, the adsorption capacity was reduced by 60–80 % to less or no nitrate and ammonium adsorption. Thus, our results cast doubt on the efficiency of char applications to temperate zone soils to minimize nutrient losses via leaching.

scholarly journals Effects of fresh and aged biochars from pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization on nutrient sorption in agricultural soils

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gronwald ◽  
A. Don ◽  
B. Tiemeyer ◽  
M. Helfrich
Keyword(s):  
Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Hydrothermal Carbonization ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Phosphate Retention ◽  
Ammonium Adsorption ◽  
Phosphate Leaching

Abstract. Leaching of nutrients from agricultural soils causes major environmental problems that may be reduced with biochar amendments to the soils. Biochars are characterised by a high adsorption capacity, i.e., they may retain nutrients such nitrate and ammonium. However, biochar properties strongly depend on feedstock and the production process. We investigated the nutrient retention capacity of biochars derived from pyrolysis (pyrochar) as well as from hydrothermal carbonization (hydrochar; produced at 200 and 250 °C) from three different feedstocks (digestates, Miscanthus, woodchips) mixed into different soil substrates (sandy loam and silty loam). Moreover, we investigated the influence of biochar degradation on its nutrient retention capacity using a seven-month in-situ field incubation of pyrochar and hydrochar. Pyrochars showed the highest ability to retain nitrate, ammonium and phosphate, with pyrochar from woodchips being particularly efficient in nitrate adsorption. Ammonium adsorption of pyrochars was controlled by the soil type of the soil-biochar mixture. We found some ammonium retention on sandy soils, but no pyrochar effect or even ammonium leaching from the loamy soil. The phosphate retention capacity of pyrochars strongly depended on the pyrochar feedstock with large phosphate leaching from digestate-derived pyrochar and some adsorption capacity from woodchip-derived pyrochar. Application of hydrochars to agricultural soils caused small, and often not significant, effects on nutrient retention. In contrast, some hydrochars did increase the leaching of nutrients compared to the non-amended control soil. We found a surprisingly rapid loss of the biochars' adsorption capacity after field application of the biochars. For all sites and for hydrochar and pyrochar, the adsorption capacity was reduced by 60–80% to less or no nitrate and ammonium adsorption. Thus, our results cast doubt on the efficiency of biochar applications to temperate zone soils to minimize nutrient losses via leaching.

The utility of biochar for increasing the fertility of new agricultural lands converted from boreal forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joinal Abedin ◽  
Adrian Unc
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Diminishing Returns ◽  
The Impact

The agricultural soils of the Happy Valley-Goose Bay (HV-GB) region of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada are Podzols that are converted from boreal forest and have limited productivity due to their sandy texture, acidity, low soil organic matter (SOM), CEC, and water and nutrient retention capacity. While numerous studies advocate biochar for mitigating soil quality problems and enhancing agronomic productivity, there is limited information on managing biochar for boosting productivity of Podzols under newly converted agricultural lands. A 5-year experiment evaluated the impact of eight biochar rates (0 to 80 Mg C ha-1) on soil properties including SOM, CEC, and availability of plant nutrients and metals in agricultural soils of HV-GB. Both immediate and long term impacts were thus assessed. Biochar generally improved soil fertility indicators. While the largest rates (40 and 80 Mg C ha-1) led to the greatest changes, significant changes were also found with rates as low as 10 Mg C ha-1. Increasing biochar rates had diminishing returns for soil’s quality parameters. The impact of biochar decreased with time after application, but the largest rate led to longer lasting effects. Although biochar was incorporated in topsoil, its effects were also measurable in the subsoil, albeit with a temporal delay, usually of one year. Thus, given the diminishing returns of increasing biochar rates, and that beneficial effects diminish over years, it is advisable that biochar be added in smaller amounts immediately after conversion, as little as 10 Mg C ha-1, with regular supplementation as needed.

scholarly journals Biochar alters hydraulic conductivity and impacts nutrient leaching in two agricultural soils

SOIL ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 811-825
Author(s):  
Danielle L. Gelardi ◽  
Irfan H. Ainuddin ◽  
Devin A. Rippner ◽  
Janis E. Patiño ◽  
Majdi Abou Najm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Production Method ◽  
Breakthrough Curves ◽  
Nutrient Leaching ◽  
Silt Loam ◽  
Primary Control ◽  
Almond Shell

Abstract. Biochar is purported to provide agricultural benefits when added to the soil, through changes in saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and increased nutrient retention through chemical or physical means. Despite increased interest and investigation, there remains uncertainty regarding the ability of biochar to deliver these agronomic benefits due to differences in biochar feedstock, production method, production temperature, and soil texture. In this project, a suite of experiments was carried out using biochars of diverse feedstocks and production temperatures, in order to determine the biochar parameters which may optimize agricultural benefits. Sorption experiments were performed with seven distinct biochars to determine sorption efficiencies for ammonium and nitrate. Only one biochar effectively retained nitrate, while all biochars bound ammonium. The three biochars with the highest binding capacities (produced from almond shell at 500 and 800 ∘C (AS500 and AS800) and softwood at 500 ∘C (SW500)) were chosen for column experiments. Biochars were amended to a sandy loam and a silt loam at 0 % and 2 % (w/w), and Ksat was measured. Biochars reduced Ksat in both soils by 64 %–80 %, with the exception of AS800, which increased Ksat by 98 % in the silt loam. Breakthrough curves for nitrate and ammonium, as well as leachate nutrient concentration, were also measured in the sandy loam columns. All biochars significantly decreased the quantity of ammonium in the leachate, by 22 % to 78 %, and slowed its movement through the soil profile. Ammonium retention was linked to high cation exchange capacity and a high oxygen-to-carbon ratio, indicating that the primary control of ammonium retention in biochar-amended soils is the chemical affinity between biochar surfaces and ammonium. Biochars had little to no effect on the timing of nitrate release, and only SW500 decreased total quantity, by 27 % to 36 %. The ability of biochar to retain nitrate may be linked to high micropore specific surface area, suggesting a physical entrapment rather than a chemical binding. Together, this work sheds new light on the combined chemical and physical means by which biochar may alter soils to impact nutrient leaching and hydraulic conductivity for agricultural production.

scholarly journals Effect of Drip Fertigation with Nitrogen on Yield and Nutritive Value of Melon Cultivated on a Very Light Soil

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 934
Author(s):  
Roman Rolbiecki ◽  
Stanisław Rolbiecki ◽  
Anna Figas ◽  
Barbara Jagosz ◽  
Dorota Wichrowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Total Carotenoids ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Total Sugars ◽  
Light Soil ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Drip Fertigation

Most species of Cucurbitaceae respond favorably to irrigation, especially when combined with fertilizers. The effect of drip irrigation combined with nitrogen fertigation in melon grown on a very light soil in Central Poland, during 2013–2015, was evaluated. The field experimental design was a split-plot with four replications. Two factors were studied: (1) irrigation treatments applied in two combinations—drip irrigation + broadcast nitrogen fertilization (control), and drip irrigation + fertigation with nitrogen; (2) two cultivars—Melba and Seledyn. The total marketable yield of fruits, weight of a single fruit, and the concentration of dry matter, total sugars, monosaccharides, ascorbic acid, total carotenoids, and polyphenols were evaluated. Tested factors presented a significant effect both on the yield and nutritive value characteristics. Drip irrigation combined with nitrogen fertigation, comparing to the control, notably improved yields and nutritional value of fruits. Seledyn produced better yields than Melba. This study shows that on very light soil, with low water and nutrient retention capacity, melon should be drip-irrigated and nitrogen-fertigated to obtain the best cultivation results.

Effect of L-Arginine on the Carbon Microsphere Forming under Hydrothermal Carbonization

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-72
Author(s):  
Jilei Liang Jilei Liang ◽  
Mengmeng Wu Mengmeng Wu ◽  
Hongmei Cai Hongmei Cai ◽  
Hao Wang Hao Wang ◽  
Hua Huang Hua Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Surface Property ◽  
Condensation Reaction ◽  
Hydrothermal Carbonization ◽  
Carbon Microspheres ◽  
N2 Adsorption ◽  
Sem Images ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Adsorption Desorption

Carbon microspheres (CMs) with a diameter of 5-10 μm have been synthesized by hydrothermal carbonization of starch and L-arginine. The surface property and structure of CMs were examined by FT-IR spectra, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and SEM images. These characterizations indicated that the L-arginine does not connect into the CMs but it promotes the starch hydrolysis and polymerization-condensation reaction of intermediate, which accelerates the formation of CMs and improves the yield in shorter time. The surface property of CMs determines adsorption capacity for acetic acid. By contrast, the porosity resulted from the carbonization at 500 and#176;C dominates the adsorption capacity for acetic acid.

scholarly journals Boron Desorption Kinetic in Calcareous Soils

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 525
Author(s):  
Baydaa H. A. Al-Ameri
Keyword(s):  
Activation Energy ◽  
Rate Constant ◽  
Incubation Temperature ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Calcareous Soils ◽  
Plant Chemical ◽  
Elovich Equation ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Texture Effect

Boron release (desorption) is one of the important factors use in estimating fertilizers use efficiency and management of boron in agricultural soils and correlation soil properties with it availability to plant. Chemical kinetics for boron desorption experiment was carried out of boric acid (source for boron fertilizer) under controlled conditions in three calcareous soils (clay, loamy and sandy loam) from central Iraq at three temperatures (278, 298 and 308 Kelvin), by using six mathematical and empirical equations viz. Zero order, First order, Second order, Parabolic diffusion, Power function and Elovich equation were used to study kinetic behavior of boron in calcareous soils. Elovich equation was the best for predication and describing boron released with highest correlation r = 0.942 and t value (9.004), and lowest SE.e (0.530) where boron release rate constant (K) was positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.978). Released rate constant (K) was increased from 0.329 to 0.561 hrs-1 as increasing incubation temperature from 278 to 308 K. Soils texture effect in boron release activation energy (Ea) in three soils under study. The overall average of boron release activation energy of three soils was 15.284 and the highest was 20.923 in clay soil and the lowest amount was 4.596 in sandy loam while loamy soil gave 20.332 KJ mol-1.

An Environmentally Friendly Technology for Biomass Production Hydorchar from Renewable Resources

2013 ◽  
Vol 726-731 ◽  
pp. 634-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Qiu Lei ◽  
Hai Quan Su
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Hydrothermal Carbonization ◽  
Removal Rates

A green and sustainable route for preparation of hydrochars from cornstalk by hydrothermal carbonization (200°C) was described. The morphology of the hydrochars changed with reaction time increased, the surface of the materials contained a large number of functional groups, showed higher adsorption capacity for Cr (VI) than activated carbon and the removal rates of Cr (VI) were 67% and 29% respectively (pH=1, 20°C).

Influence of soil texture on fertilizer and soil phosphorus transformations in Gleysolic soils

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Zheng ◽  
L. E. Parent ◽  
J. A. MacLeod
Keyword(s):  
Soil Texture ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
P Uptake ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
P Fractionation ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Plant P Uptake ◽  
Heavy Clay

The P dynamics in soils should be quantified in agricultural soils to improve fertilizer P (FP) efficiency while limiting the risk of P transfer from soils to water bodies. This study assessed P transformations following FP addition to Gleysolic soils. A pot experiment was conducted with five soils varying in texture from sandy loam to heavy clay, and receiving four FP rates under barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotations. A modified Hedley procedure was used for soil P fractionation. Soil resin-P and NaHCO3-Pi contents were interactively affected by texture and FP. The NaHCO3-Po, NaOH-Po, HCl-P and H2SO4-P were only affected by soil texture. Proportions of 78 and 90% of the variation in labile and total P were, respectively, related to soil clay content. The FP addition increased resin-P, NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH-Pi and -Po contents in coarse-textured soils, but the amount added was not sufficient to mask the initial influence of soil texture on the sizes of soil P pools. Plant P uptake was proportional to FP rate but less closely linked to clay content. The average increase in labile P per unit of total FP added in excess of plant exports was 0.85, 0.8 2 , 0.73, 0.55 and 0.24 for the sandy loam, loam, clay loam, clay and heavy clay soil, respectively. The results of this study stress the important of considering soil texture in Gleysolic soils when assessing P accumulation and transformations in soils, due to commercial fertilizers applied in excess of crop removal. Key words: P fractions, clay content, fertilizer P, plant P uptake, soil texture

scholarly journals Effects of hydrogel amendment on water storage of sandy loam and loam soils and seedling growth of barley, wheat and chickpea

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 463-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Akhter ◽  
K. Mahmood ◽  
K.A. Malik ◽  
A. Mardan ◽  
M. Ahmad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Available Water

The hydrogel amendments may improve seedling growth and establishment by increasing water retention capacity of soils and regulating the plants available water supplies, particularly under arid environments. The effects of different levels of a locally prepared hydrogel were studied on the moisture properties of sandy loam and loam soils (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Haplargids, USDA, Luvic Yermosol, FAO) and on growth response of three plant species, viz. barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Water absorption by gel was rapid and highest in distilled water and was inhibited by an increase in water salinity. The addition of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% hydrogel increased the moisture retention (θr) at field capacity linearly (r = 0.988) and thus the amount of plant available water significantly in both sandy loam and loam soils compared to the untreated soils. Seed germination of wheat and barley was not affected but seedling growth of both species was improved by the gel amendment. In loam soil, seed germination of chickpea was higher with 0.2% gel and seedling growth increased with increase in gel level compared with control conditions. The hydrogel amendment caused a delay by 4–5 days in wilting of seedlings grown in both soils compared with control conditions. The hydrogel amendment was effective in improving soil moisture availability and thus increased plant establishment. However, the varied responses of plant species in sandy loam and loam soils warrant further studies on the behaviour of different soil types with gel amendments.

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