Testing Biochar’s Ability to Moderate Extremely Acidic Soils in Tea-Growing Areas

Biochar as a by-product of the carbonization of biomass has an inherent potential to modify acidic soils due to its alkaline nature. To explore the mechanism and effectiveness of biochar, a case study was conducted on severely acidic soils from six fields under tea cultivation in a subtropical zone,...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mohammad Ghorbani, Elnaz Amirahmadi, Jaroslav Bernas, Petr Konvalina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/533
_version_ 1827307354447675392
author Mohammad Ghorbani
Elnaz Amirahmadi
Jaroslav Bernas
Petr Konvalina
author_facet Mohammad Ghorbani
Elnaz Amirahmadi
Jaroslav Bernas
Petr Konvalina
author_sort Mohammad Ghorbani
collection DOAJ
description Biochar as a by-product of the carbonization of biomass has an inherent potential to modify acidic soils due to its alkaline nature. To explore the mechanism and effectiveness of biochar, a case study was conducted on severely acidic soils from six fields under tea cultivation in a subtropical zone, comparing rice husk biochars, in three rates (B5, B10, B15 t ha<sup>−1</sup>), and CaCO<sub>3</sub> as conventional liming practice. The results showed increases in pH of 71.5%, 52.7%, 30.6%, and 29.7% in B15, B10, B5, and CaCO<sub>3</sub>-treated soils compared to the control. On average, B15 and B10 treatments resulted in the highest organic matter with 12.3% and 9.7%, respectively. B15, B10, B5, and CaCO<sub>3</sub> caused increases of 196.6%, 173.4%, 129.7%, and 100.9% in base saturation compared to the control, respectively. Also, after the application of B15, B10, and B5 treatments, the effective cation exchange capacity increased by 191.4%, 112.1%, and 39.5%; however, the application of CaCO<sub>3</sub> resulted in a 20.1% decrease. Overall, applying biochar on acidic soils provides adequate negative charges due to its well-extended specific surface area and pore volume, which cause the absorption of additional Al<sup>+</sup>, resulting in ameliorating soil pH. The application of proper biochar could notably be more effective in improving acidic soils than conventional practices such as the overuse of CaCO<sub>3</sub>. In this regard, evaluating various biochars in terms of feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and modification scenarios merits in-depth research in future studies.
first_indexed 2024-04-24T18:38:47Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5f8a5285b60d4d1aa2dab55ac445cdd0
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2073-4395
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T18:38:47Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Agronomy
spelling doaj.art-5f8a5285b60d4d1aa2dab55ac445cdd02024-03-27T13:16:49ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-03-0114353310.3390/agronomy14030533Testing Biochar’s Ability to Moderate Extremely Acidic Soils in Tea-Growing AreasMohammad Ghorbani0Elnaz Amirahmadi1Jaroslav Bernas2Petr Konvalina3Department of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech RepublicDepartment of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech RepublicDepartment of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech RepublicDepartment of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech RepublicBiochar as a by-product of the carbonization of biomass has an inherent potential to modify acidic soils due to its alkaline nature. To explore the mechanism and effectiveness of biochar, a case study was conducted on severely acidic soils from six fields under tea cultivation in a subtropical zone, comparing rice husk biochars, in three rates (B5, B10, B15 t ha<sup>−1</sup>), and CaCO<sub>3</sub> as conventional liming practice. The results showed increases in pH of 71.5%, 52.7%, 30.6%, and 29.7% in B15, B10, B5, and CaCO<sub>3</sub>-treated soils compared to the control. On average, B15 and B10 treatments resulted in the highest organic matter with 12.3% and 9.7%, respectively. B15, B10, B5, and CaCO<sub>3</sub> caused increases of 196.6%, 173.4%, 129.7%, and 100.9% in base saturation compared to the control, respectively. Also, after the application of B15, B10, and B5 treatments, the effective cation exchange capacity increased by 191.4%, 112.1%, and 39.5%; however, the application of CaCO<sub>3</sub> resulted in a 20.1% decrease. Overall, applying biochar on acidic soils provides adequate negative charges due to its well-extended specific surface area and pore volume, which cause the absorption of additional Al<sup>+</sup>, resulting in ameliorating soil pH. The application of proper biochar could notably be more effective in improving acidic soils than conventional practices such as the overuse of CaCO<sub>3</sub>. In this regard, evaluating various biochars in terms of feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and modification scenarios merits in-depth research in future studies.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/533available nutrientacid saturationorganic carbonporosityexchangeable cations
spellingShingle Mohammad Ghorbani
Elnaz Amirahmadi
Jaroslav Bernas
Petr Konvalina
Testing Biochar’s Ability to Moderate Extremely Acidic Soils in Tea-Growing Areas
Agronomy
available nutrient
acid saturation
organic carbon
porosity
exchangeable cations
title Testing Biochar’s Ability to Moderate Extremely Acidic Soils in Tea-Growing Areas
title_full Testing Biochar’s Ability to Moderate Extremely Acidic Soils in Tea-Growing Areas
title_fullStr Testing Biochar’s Ability to Moderate Extremely Acidic Soils in Tea-Growing Areas
title_full_unstemmed Testing Biochar’s Ability to Moderate Extremely Acidic Soils in Tea-Growing Areas
title_short Testing Biochar’s Ability to Moderate Extremely Acidic Soils in Tea-Growing Areas
title_sort testing biochar s ability to moderate extremely acidic soils in tea growing areas
topic available nutrient
acid saturation
organic carbon
porosity
exchangeable cations
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/533
work_keys_str_mv AT mohammadghorbani testingbiocharsabilitytomoderateextremelyacidicsoilsinteagrowingareas
AT elnazamirahmadi testingbiocharsabilitytomoderateextremelyacidicsoilsinteagrowingareas
AT jaroslavbernas testingbiocharsabilitytomoderateextremelyacidicsoilsinteagrowingareas
AT petrkonvalina testingbiocharsabilitytomoderateextremelyacidicsoilsinteagrowingareas