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,...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| 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 |