{"title":"Influence of biochar on growth performances, yield of root and tuber crops and controlling plant-parasitic nematodes","authors":"Randima Edussuriya, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Chamila Jayasinghe, Chaamila Pathirana, Meththika Vithanage","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00261-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00261-7","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Root and tuber crops are important sources of food and provide income for millions of people worldwide besides an observed high demand for organically produced harvests. Hence, recent attention has been given to utilizing biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from the pyrolysis of organic materials, which improves soil structure, water-holding capacity, and nutrient availability, as an amendment to produce organic root and tuber crops. These effects are caused by the formation of organic coatings on the surface of biochar, which decreases hydrophobicity and increases the ability to retain nutrients, acting as a slow-release mechanism delivering nutrients dependent on plant physiological requirements. However, comprehensive studies on the impact of biochar application on root and tuber crop growth, productivity, and effectiveness in eliminating soil parasites have not been extensively studied. Thus, the purpose of this review is to explore the use of biochar and biochar-based soil amendments and their potential applications for improving the growth, yield, and efficacy of controlling parasitic nematodes in a wide range of root crops. Most of the studies have investigated the effects of biochar on cassava, sweet potatoes, and minor root crops such as ginger and turmeric. It has been observed that biochar application rates (5–20 t ha −1 ) increase the vine length and the number of leaves, tubers, and tuber weight. The addition of biochar demonstrates the ability to control plant-parasitic nematodes in a rate-dependent manner. While biochar has shown promising results in improving crop growth and yield of limited root and tuber crops based on a few biochar types, ample opportunities are around to evaluate the influence of biochar produced in different temperatures, feedstock, modifications and controlling parasitic nematodes. Graphical abstract","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"22 10","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135113047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhanced removal of estrogens from simulated wastewater by biochar supported nanoscale zero-valent iron: performance and mechanism","authors":"Yuping Han, Huanhuan Xu, Guangzhou Wang, Peiyuan Deng, Lili Feng, Yaoshen Fan, Jiaxin Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00264-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00264-4","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The intensification of estrogen non-point source pollution has drawn global attention due to their contribution to ecological environment problems worldwide, and it is critical to develop effective, economic and eco-friendly methods for reducing estrogens pollution. To address the agglomeration and oxidation of nano zero-valent iron (nZVI), biochar-nanoscale zero-valent iron composite (nZVI-biochar) could be a feasible choice for estrogens removal. This study summarized biochar and nZVI-biochar preparation, characterization, and unusual applications for estrone (E1), 17 β -estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) removal. The properties of biochar and nZVI-biochar in characterization, effects of influencing factors on the removal efficiency, adsorption kinetics, isotherm and thermodynamics were investigated. The experiment results showed that nZVI-biochar exhibited the superior removal performance for estrogens pollutants compared to biochar. Based on the quasi-second-order model, estrogens adsorption kinetics were observed, which supported the mechanism that chemical and physical adsorption existed simultaneously on estrogens removal. The adsorption isotherm of estrogens could be well presented by the Freundlich model and thermodynamics studies explained that nZVI-biochar could spontaneously remove estrogens pollutants and the main mechanisms involved π-π interaction, hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding and degradation through ring rupture. The products analyzed by GC–MS showed that estrogens degradation was primarily attributed to the benzene ring broken, and Fe 3+ promoted the production of free radicals, which further proved that nZVI-biochar had the excellent adsorption performances. Generally, nZVI-biochar could be employed as a potential material for removing estrogens from wastewater. Graphical Abstract","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"41 4","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135405349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiocharPub Date : 2023-10-12DOI: 10.1007/s42773-023-00267-1
Jae-Hyuk Park, Jin-Ju Yun, Seong-Heon Kim, Jong-Hwan Park, Bharat Sharma Acharya, Ju-Sik Cho, Se-Won Kang
{"title":"Biochar improves soil properties and corn productivity under drought conditions in South Korea","authors":"Jae-Hyuk Park, Jin-Ju Yun, Seong-Heon Kim, Jong-Hwan Park, Bharat Sharma Acharya, Ju-Sik Cho, Se-Won Kang","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00267-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00267-1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Biochar has been shown to improve soil properties and plant productivity in soils with inherently low fertility. However, little has been reported for upland corns under dry and wet precipitation regimes. This study investigates the effect of biochar addition on a range of soil physicochemical, biological, and hydrological properties, and corn growth and productivity under agrometeorological drought and wet conditions. Here, experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at two sites during 2017 and 2018 in South Korea. Treatments included (i) CN: control (ii) IF: inorganic fertilizer (N–P–K) at 145–30–60 kg ha −1 ; (iii) BS: barley straw at 5 t ha −1 ; (iv) CWBC: corn waste biochar at 5 t ha −1 ; (v) CWBC + IF: corn waste biochar + inorganic fertilizer; (vi) CWBC + BS: corn waste biochar + barley straw. The year 2017 was relatively dry, whereas the year 2018 was wet. Despite drought conditions in the year 2017, biochar facilitated soil water conservation. However, higher precipitation in 2018 increased the quantity and distribution of soil water and nutrients in the top 15 cm. Biochar reduced soil bulk density, and increased porosity, cation exchange capacity and total organic carbon in both years but increased total bacterial counts during the dry year only. Bacterial population was generally higher under wet conditions. Similarly, more soil CO 2 was emitted in the wet year than in the dry year. Results further indicated that biochar can enhance corn biomass and grain yield regardless of precipitation conditions. The grain index was, however, affected by rainfall and was significantly different across treatments in the year 2018 only. All biomass, grain yield, and grain index were highest in CWBC + IF treatment and lowest under CN treatment. Indeed, biochar addition appeared to improve soil quality and soil conditioning effects in the drought and wet years, ameliorating soil and plant properties. Overall, biochar can improve water and nutrients storage, availability, and uptake, and therefore corn productivity during hydrological extremes. Graphical abstract","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135969287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiocharPub Date : 2023-10-11DOI: 10.1007/s42773-023-00258-2
David Lefebvre, Samer Fawzy, Camila A. Aquije, Ahmed I. Osman, Kathleen T. Draper, Thomas A. Trabold
{"title":"Biomass residue to carbon dioxide removal: quantifying the global impact of biochar","authors":"David Lefebvre, Samer Fawzy, Camila A. Aquije, Ahmed I. Osman, Kathleen T. Draper, Thomas A. Trabold","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00258-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00258-2","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) 21 in December 2015 established Nationally Determined Contributions toward reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In the years since COP21, it has become increasingly evident that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies must be deployed immediately to stabilize concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases and avoid major climate change impacts. Biochar is a carbon-rich material formed by high-temperature conversion of biomass under reduced oxygen conditions, and its production is one of few established CDR methods that can be deployed at a scale large enough to counteract effects of climate change within the next decade. Here we provide a generalized framework for quantifying the potential contribution biochar can make toward achieving national carbon emissions reduction goals, assuming use of only sustainably supplied biomass, i.e., residues from existing agricultural, livestock, forestry and wastewater treatment operations. Our results illustrate the significant role biochar can play in world-wide CDR strategies, with carbon dioxide removal potential of 6.23 ± 0.24% of total GHG emissions in the 155 countries covered based on 2020 data over a 100-year timeframe, and more than 10% of national emissions in 28 countries. Concentrated regions of high biochar carbon dioxide removal potential relative to national emissions were identified in South America, northwestern Africa and eastern Europe. Graphical abstract","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136059359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiocharPub Date : 2023-10-07DOI: 10.1007/s42773-023-00263-5
Joshua T. Padilla, Donald W. Watts, Jeffrey M. Novak, Vasile Cerven, James A. Ippolito, Ariel A. Szogi, Mark G. Johnson
{"title":"Magnesium activation affects the properties and phosphate sorption capacity of poultry litter biochar","authors":"Joshua T. Padilla, Donald W. Watts, Jeffrey M. Novak, Vasile Cerven, James A. Ippolito, Ariel A. Szogi, Mark G. Johnson","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00263-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00263-5","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Biochars with a high affinity for phosphorus (P) are promising soil amendments for reducing P in agricultural runoff. Poultry litter (PL) is an abundant biochar feedstock. However, PL-derived biochars are typically high in soluble P and therefore require chemical modification to become effective P sorbents. This study investigated the effect of magnesium (Mg) activation on extractable P (EP) and P sorption capacities of PL-derived biochars. Biochar was produced at 500–900 °C from PL activated with 0–1 M Mg. Three differentially aged PL feedstocks were evaluated (1-, 3–5-, and 7–9-year-old). Increased Mg activation level and pyrolysis temperature both resulted in EP reductions from the biochars. Specifically, biochars produced at temperatures ≥ 700 °C from PL activated with ≥ 0.25 M Mg had negligible EP. X-ray diffractograms indicated that increased Mg loading favored the formation of stable Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 phases while increasing temperature favored the formation of both Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 and Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH. Maximum P sorption capacities (P max ) of the biochars were estimated by fitting Langmuir isotherms to batch sorption data and ranged from 0.66–10.35 mg g −1 . Average P max values were not affected by PL age or pyrolysis temperature; however, biochars produced from 1 M Mg-activated PL did have significantly higher average P max values ( p < 0.05), likely due to a greater abundance of MgO. Overall, the results demonstrated that Mg activation is an effective strategy for producing PL-derived biochars with the potential ability to reduce P loading into environmentally sensitive ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"66 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135253569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrating biochar and bacteria for sustainable remediation of metal-contaminated soils","authors":"Peng Ouyang, Mathiyazhagan Narayanan, Xiaojun Shi, Xinping Chen, Zhenlun Li, Yongming Luo, Ying Ma","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00265-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00265-3","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Due to anthropogenic activities, heavy metal (HM) pollution in soils has increased, resulting in severe ecological problems and posing a constant threat to human health. Among various remediation methods, bacterial remediation is a relatively clean, efficient, and minimally negative approach. However, bacterial agents face multiple environmental stresses, making them challenging to achieve long-lasting and stable restoration effects. To address this issue, supportive organic substances such as biochar can be added to the soil with bacteria. According to bibliometric studies, integrating biochar and bacteria is extensively researched and widely used for HM-contaminated soil remediation. By integrating biochar and bacteria, heavy metals in the soil can be remediated, and soil conditions can be improved over time. Bacteria can also better promote plant growth or contribute effectively to phytoremediation processes when assisted by biochar. However, the remediation agents integrating biochar and bacteria are still some distance away from large-scale use because of their high cost and possible environmental problems. Therefore, further discussion on the interaction between biochar and bacteria and the integration approach, along with their remediation efficiency and environmental friendliness, is needed to achieve sustainable remediation of HM-contaminated soils by integrating biochar and bacteria. This paper discusses the potential mechanisms of biochar-bacteria-metal interactions, current advancements in biochar-bacteria combinations for HM-contaminated soil treatment, and their application in sustainable remediation, analyzes the interaction between biochar and bacteria and compares the remediation effect of different ways and feedstocks to integrate biochar and bacteria. Finally, future directions of biochar-bacteria combinations are presented, along with evidence and strategies for improving their commercialization and implementation. Graphical Abstract","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"52 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134946112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiocharPub Date : 2023-09-29DOI: 10.1007/s42773-023-00256-4
Fernando García-Ávila, Andrés Galarza-Guamán, Mónica Barros-Bermeo, Emigdio Antonio Alfaro-Paredes, Alex Avilés-Añazco, Sergio Iglesias-Abad
{"title":"Integration of high-rate filtration using waste-derived biochar as a potential sustainable technology for drinking water supply","authors":"Fernando García-Ávila, Andrés Galarza-Guamán, Mónica Barros-Bermeo, Emigdio Antonio Alfaro-Paredes, Alex Avilés-Añazco, Sergio Iglesias-Abad","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00256-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00256-4","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This research aimed to evaluate the efficiency of eucalyptus (E) and bamboo (B) residual biomass biochars as filter materials for drinking water treatment. The efficiencies of these two biochars in the rapid filtration process were evaluated using water (raw, flocculated and settled) at the rate of 120 m 3 /m 2 /d. Finding that bamboo biochar manufactured under a slow pyrolysis process \"b\" (Bb) had the best performance. Subsequently, Bb was evaluated with three different granulometries, and it was found that the effective size with the best performance was the finest (0.6–1.18 mm). Subsequently, this biochar was compared with conventional filter materials such as gravel, sand and anthracite, using different types of water (raw, flocculated and settled) and at different filtration rates (120 and 240 m 3 /m 2 /d), and it was found that the filter material with the best performance was precisely biochar, with average removal efficiencies of 64.37% turbidity and 45.08% colour for raw water; 93.9% turbidity and 90.75% colour for flocculated water, and 80.79% turbidity and 69.03% colour for settled water. The efficiency using simple beds of sand, biochar, anthracite and gravel at the rate of 180 m 3 /m 2 /d was 75.9% copper, 90.72% aluminium, 95.7% iron, 10.9% nitrates, 94.3% total coliforms and 88.9% fecal coliforms. The efficiencies achieved by biochar were higher compared to those of conventional filter materials. It was also found that biochar contributes to improving the performance of sand and anthracite in mixed beds. Additionally, it was possible to demonstrate that the volume of washing water required for the biochar is lower compared to the other filter beds. Finally, it is recommended to carry out more tests for the purification of water with biochars from rural areas affected by the mining and oil exploitation, as well as the purification of seawater with biochars from coastal areas with residues from dry forests and organic residues from municipalities. Graphical abstract","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135199531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiocharPub Date : 2023-09-27DOI: 10.1007/s42773-023-00259-1
Pengxiang Zhang, Kang Sun, Yanyan Liu, Benji Zhou, Shuqi Li, Jingjing Zhou, Ao Wang, Lixia Xie, Baojun Li, Jianchun Jiang
{"title":"Improving bifunctional catalytic activity of biochar via in-situ growth of nickel-iron hydroxide as cathodic catalyst for zinc-air batteries","authors":"Pengxiang Zhang, Kang Sun, Yanyan Liu, Benji Zhou, Shuqi Li, Jingjing Zhou, Ao Wang, Lixia Xie, Baojun Li, Jianchun Jiang","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00259-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00259-1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Expanding the application scenarios of wood-derived biochar guided by the conversion of traditional energy to new energy shows great promise as a field. As thrilling energy conversion apparatus, zinc-air batteries (ZABs) require cathode catalysts with high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities and stability. Herein, two-dimensional nickel-iron hydroxide nanosheets were creatively assembled in N-doped wood-derived biochar (NiFe-LDH@NC) by an in-situ growth method. The categorized porous organization in wood-derived biochar facilitates the rapid seepage of electrolytes and rapid diffusion of reaction gases. The unique interfacial structure of biochar and NiFe-LDH accelerates electron transfer during oxygen electrocatalysis, and endows NiFe-LDH@NC with first-class catalytic activity and durability for ORR and OER. The ZAB derived from NiFe-LDH@NC showed elevated discharge productivity and cycle endurance, making it promising for viable applications. This work provided a convenient way for the conversion of wood-derived biochar to high-value added electrocatalysts. Graphical Abstract","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"45 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135537233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiocharPub Date : 2023-09-27DOI: 10.1007/s42773-023-00260-8
Youming Yang, Mingyang Zhong, Xiuqi Bian, Yongjun You, Fayong Li
{"title":"Preparation of carbon-based material with high water absorption capacity and its effect on the water retention characteristics of sandy soil","authors":"Youming Yang, Mingyang Zhong, Xiuqi Bian, Yongjun You, Fayong Li","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00260-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00260-8","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Biochar has the potential to provide a multitude of benefits when used in soil remediation and increasing soil organic matter enrichment. Nevertheless, the intricated, hydrophobic pores and groups weaken its water-holding capacity in dry, sandy soils in arid lands. In order to combat this issue, starch-carbon-based material (SB), sodium alginate-carbon-based material (SAB), and chitosan-carbon-based material (CB) have been successfully synthesized through the graft-polymerization of biochar (BC). A series of soil column simulations were used to scrutinize the microstructure of the carbon-based material and explore its water absorption properties and its effects on sandy soil water infiltration, water retention, and aggregation. The results indicated that SB, SAB, and CB achieved water maximum absorption rates of 155, 188, and 172 g g −1 , respectively. Considering their impact on sandy soils, SB, SAB, and CB lengthened infiltration times by 1920, 3330, and 3880 min, respectively, whilst enhancing the water retention capabilities of the soil by 18%, 25%, and 23% in comparison to solely adding BC. The utilization of these innovative materials notably encouraged the formation of sandy soil aggregates ranging from 2.0 to 0.25 mm, endowing the aggregates with enhanced structural stability. Findings from potting experiments suggested that all three carbon-based materials were conducive to the growth of soybean seeds. Thus, it is evident that the carbon-based materials have been fabricated with success, and they have great potential not only to significantly augment the water retention capacities and structural robustness of sandy soils in arid areas, but also to bolster the development of soil aggregates and crop growth. These materials possess significant application potential for enhancing the quality of sandy soils in arid and semi-arid regions. Graphical Abstract","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"41 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135537008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiocharPub Date : 2023-09-27DOI: 10.1007/s42773-023-00251-9
Yazheng Li, Ahmed I. Abdo, Zhaoji Shi, Abdel-Rahman M. A. Merwad, Jiaen Zhang
{"title":"Biochar derived from invasive plants improved the pH, macronutrient availability and biological properties better than liming for acid rain-affected soil","authors":"Yazheng Li, Ahmed I. Abdo, Zhaoji Shi, Abdel-Rahman M. A. Merwad, Jiaen Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s42773-023-00251-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00251-9","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Rapid development in industrialization and urbanization causes serious environmental issues, of which acid rain is one of the quintessential hazards, negatively affecting soil ecology. Liming has been investigated for a long time as the most effective amendment to alter the adverse effects of soil acidity resulting from acid rain. Herein, this study tested the biochar produced from invasive plants as an alternative amendment and hypothesized that biochar can maintain better availability of macronutrients under acid rain than liming by improving soil chemical and biological properties. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to compare the effects of lime and biochar at two rates (1% and 3%) on soil available nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) under simulated acid rain of two pH levels (4.5: pH 4.5 and 2.5: pH 2.5 ) as compared with tap water (pH 7.1 ) as a control treatment. Biochar was produced using different invasive plants, including Blackjack ( Biden Pilosa ), Wedelia ( Wedelia trilobata ) and Bitter Vine ( Mikania micrantha Kunth ). Liming decreased the availability of soil N, P, and K by 36.3% as compared with the control due to the great increment in soil pH and exchangeable calcium (Ca 2+ ) by 59% and 16-fold, respectively. Moreover, liming reduced the alpha diversity of soil bacteria and fungi by 27% and 11%, respectively. In contrast, biochar at different types and rates resulted in a fourfold increment in the available N, P, and K as an average under acid rain (pH 4.5 and pH 2.5 ) owing to maintaining a neutral pH (6.5–7), which is the most favorable level for soil microbial and enzymatic activites, and the bioavailability of soil nutrients. Furthermore, biochar caused balanced increments in Ca 2+ by threefold, cation exchange capacity by 45%, urease activity by 16%, and fungal diversity by 10%, while having a slight reduction in bacterial diversity by 2.5%. Based on the path, correlation, and principal component analyses, the exchangeable aluminum was a moderator for the reductions in macronutrients’ availability under acid rain, which decreased by 40% and 35% under liming and biochar, respectively. This study strongly recommended the use of biochar from invasive plants instead of lime for sustainable improvements in soil properties under acid rain. Graphical Abstract","PeriodicalId":8789,"journal":{"name":"Biochar","volume":"74 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135537542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}