The role of biochar in retaining nutrients in amended tropical soils. Issue 5 (12th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alling, Vanja; Hale, Sarah E.; Martinsen, Vegard; Mulder, Jan; Smebye, Andreas; Breedveld, Gijs D.; Cornelissen, Gerard
• Is Part Of: Journal of plant nutrition and soil science. Volume 177:Issue 5(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 671
• Page End: 680
• Publication Date: 2014-08-12
• Subjects: Plants -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Soil science -- Periodicals; 630
• DOI: 10.1002/jpln.201400109
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1436-8730

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>This study investigated the effect of biochar amendments on the retention and availability of plant nutrients and Al in seven acidic tropical soils from Zambia and Indonesia. The experiments carried out investigated whether the adsorption capacity of NH<inline-formula><alternatives><tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _4^+ $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh1fd0bmb6" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></alternatives></inline-formula> in the soils increased upon the addition of biochar and which effect biochar had on available concentrations of NO<inline-formula><alternatives><tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _3^- $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh1fd0bmcr" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></alternatives></inline-formula>, K<sup>+</sup>, Mn<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, PO<inline-formula><alternatives><tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _4^{3‐} $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh1fd0bmd9" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></alternatives></inline-formula>, and Al<sup>3+</sup>. These nutrients were selected as they represent those important to plant growth and soil quality. No significant increases or decreases in aqueous NH<inline-formula><alternatives><tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _4^+ $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh1fd0bmfv" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></alternatives></inline-formula>‐N concentration with additions of biochar were detected. The Gaines–Thomas model was used in order to calculate selectivity coefficients for NH<inline-formula><alternatives><tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _4^+ $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh1fd0bkx2" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></alternatives></inline-formula> exchange (K<sub>gt</sub> values). Following the addition of biochar to soil, K<sub>gt</sub> values decreased showing a reduction in the selective binding of NH<inline-formula><alternatives><tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _4^+ $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh1fd0bkzm" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></alternatives></inline-formula> in the biochar amended soil compared to the control. The concentration of NO<inline-formula><alternatives><tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _3^- $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh1fd0bm2s" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></alternatives></inline-formula> increased following the addition of biochar to the soils. The addition of 5 and 10% biochar to the Indonesian soil did not significantly alter (<italic>t</italic>‐test confidence level 0.05) the sorption of PO<inline-formula><alternatives><tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _4^{3‐} $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh1fd0bm60" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></alternatives></inline-formula> to the soil–biochar mixtures as compared to the soil alone. However, the addition of biochar to the soil from Zambia increased the sorption of PO<inline-formula><alternatives><tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _4^{3‐} $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgh1fd0bkr9" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></alternatives></inline-formula> compared to the soil alone. The concentrations of K<sup>+</sup> and Mg<sup>2+</sup> were significantly increased for almost all soils (<italic>t</italic>‐test at the 0.05 confidence level) following the addition of biochar. Addition of biochar to all but two soils significantly decreased (<italic>t</italic>‐test confidence level 0.05) Mn<sup>2+</sup> concentrations. The concentration of Al<sup>3+</sup> in the soils decreased exponentially significantly (<italic>t</italic>‐test confidence level 0.05) following the amendment of biochar in accordance with the increase in pH observed when biochar was added to the soil. These results show that biochar has the ability to release essential plant growth nutrients as well as alleviate Al toxicity in these soils.</p> </abstract>