TY - JOUR
T1 - Chemically and biologically-mediated fertilizing value of manure-derived biochar
AU - Subedi, R.
AU - Taupe, N.
AU - Ikoyi, I.
AU - Bertora, C.
AU - Zavattaro, L.
AU - Schmalenberger, A.
AU - Leahy, J. J.
AU - Grignani, C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2016/4/15
Y1 - 2016/4/15
N2 - This study evaluates the potential of manure-derived biochars in promoting plant growth and enhancing soil chemical and biological properties during a 150 day pot experiment. Biochars from pyrolysis of poultry litter (PL) and swine manure (SM) at 400 and 600 °C, and a commonly available wood chip (WC) biochar produced at high temperature (1000 °C) were incorporated to silt-loam (SL) and sandy (SY) soils on a 2% dry soil weight basis. Ryegrass was sown and moisture was adjusted to 60% water filled pore space (WFPS). The PL400 and SM400 biochars significantly increased (p < 0.05) shoot dry matter (DM) yields (SL soil) and enhanced nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) uptake by the plants in both soils, compared to the Control. All biochars significantly increased the soil carbon (C) contents compared to the Control. Total N contents were significantly greater for PL400 and PL600 treatments in both soils. The dehydrogenase activity (DA) significantly increased for PL400 and SM400 treatments and was positively correlated with the volatile matter (VM) contents of the biochars, while β-glucosidase activity (GA) decreased for the same treatments in both soils. All biochars significantly shifted (p ≤ 0.05) the bacterial community structure compared to the Control. This study suggests that pyrolysis of animal manures can produce a biochar that acts as both soil amendment and an organic fertilizer as proven by increased NPK uptake, positive liming effect and high soil nutrient availability, while WC biochar could work only in combination with fertilizers (organic as well as mineral).
AB - This study evaluates the potential of manure-derived biochars in promoting plant growth and enhancing soil chemical and biological properties during a 150 day pot experiment. Biochars from pyrolysis of poultry litter (PL) and swine manure (SM) at 400 and 600 °C, and a commonly available wood chip (WC) biochar produced at high temperature (1000 °C) were incorporated to silt-loam (SL) and sandy (SY) soils on a 2% dry soil weight basis. Ryegrass was sown and moisture was adjusted to 60% water filled pore space (WFPS). The PL400 and SM400 biochars significantly increased (p < 0.05) shoot dry matter (DM) yields (SL soil) and enhanced nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) uptake by the plants in both soils, compared to the Control. All biochars significantly increased the soil carbon (C) contents compared to the Control. Total N contents were significantly greater for PL400 and PL600 treatments in both soils. The dehydrogenase activity (DA) significantly increased for PL400 and SM400 treatments and was positively correlated with the volatile matter (VM) contents of the biochars, while β-glucosidase activity (GA) decreased for the same treatments in both soils. All biochars significantly shifted (p ≤ 0.05) the bacterial community structure compared to the Control. This study suggests that pyrolysis of animal manures can produce a biochar that acts as both soil amendment and an organic fertilizer as proven by increased NPK uptake, positive liming effect and high soil nutrient availability, while WC biochar could work only in combination with fertilizers (organic as well as mineral).
KW - Amendment
KW - Carbon sequestration
KW - Crop growth
KW - Fertilizer
KW - Pyrolysis temperature
KW - Soil enzyme activity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84956656437&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.160
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.160
M3 - Article
C2 - 26851878
AN - SCOPUS:84956656437
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 550
SP - 924
EP - 933
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
ER -