Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean Climate
The effects of two types of biochar on corn production in the Mediterranean climate during the growing season were analyzed. The two types of biochar were obtained from pyrolysis of <i>Pinus pinaster</i>. B1 was fully pyrolyzed with 55.90% organic carbon, and B2 was medium pyrolyzed with...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| 丛编: | Molecules |
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| 在线阅读: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/11/3313 |
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| author | Juan Luis Aguirre María Teresa Martín Sergio González Manuel Peinado |
| author_facet | Juan Luis Aguirre María Teresa Martín Sergio González Manuel Peinado |
| author_sort | Juan Luis Aguirre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The effects of two types of biochar on corn production in the Mediterranean climate during the growing season were analyzed. The two types of biochar were obtained from pyrolysis of <i>Pinus pinaster</i>. B1 was fully pyrolyzed with 55.90% organic carbon, and B2 was medium pyrolyzed with 23.50% organic carbon. B1 and B2 were supplemented in the soil of 20 plots (1 m<sup>2</sup>) at a dose of 4 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. C1 and C2 (10 plots each) served as control plots. The plots were automatically irrigated and fertilizer was not applied. The B1-supplemented plots exhibited a significant 84.58% increase in dry corn production per square meter and a 93.16% increase in corn wet weight (<i>p</i> << 0.001). Corn production was no different between B2-supplemented, C1, and C2 plots (<i>p</i> > 0.01). The weight of cobs from B1-supplemented plots was 62.3%, which was significantly higher than that of cobs from C1 and C2 plots (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The grain weight increased significantly by 23% in B1-supplemented plots (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and there were no differences between B2-supplemented, C1, and C2 plots. At the end of the treatment, the soil of the B1-supplemented plots exhibited increased levels of sulfate, nitrate, magnesium, conductivity, and saturation percentage. Based on these results, the economic sustainability of this application in agriculture was studied at a standard price of €190 per ton of biochar. Amortization of this investment can be achieved in 5.52 years according to this cost. Considering the fertilizer cost savings of 50% and the water cost savings of 25%, the amortization can be achieved in 4.15 years. If the price of biochar could be reduced through the CO<sub>2</sub> emission market at €30 per ton of non-emitted CO<sub>2</sub>, the amortization can be achieved in 2.80 years. Biochar markedly improves corn production in the Mediterranean climate. However, the amortization time must be further reduced, and enhanced production must be guaranteed over the years with long term field trials so that the product is marketable or other high value-added crops must be identified. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:49:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-643bd6ce871a45f59ae001114f9b4d83 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:49:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-643bd6ce871a45f59ae001114f9b4d832023-11-21T22:17:49ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-05-012611331310.3390/molecules26113313Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean ClimateJuan Luis Aguirre0María Teresa Martín1Sergio González2Manuel Peinado3Cátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28871 Madrid, SpainCátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28871 Madrid, SpainCátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28871 Madrid, SpainEnvironment and Bioproducts Group, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28871 Madrid, SpainThe effects of two types of biochar on corn production in the Mediterranean climate during the growing season were analyzed. The two types of biochar were obtained from pyrolysis of <i>Pinus pinaster</i>. B1 was fully pyrolyzed with 55.90% organic carbon, and B2 was medium pyrolyzed with 23.50% organic carbon. B1 and B2 were supplemented in the soil of 20 plots (1 m<sup>2</sup>) at a dose of 4 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. C1 and C2 (10 plots each) served as control plots. The plots were automatically irrigated and fertilizer was not applied. The B1-supplemented plots exhibited a significant 84.58% increase in dry corn production per square meter and a 93.16% increase in corn wet weight (<i>p</i> << 0.001). Corn production was no different between B2-supplemented, C1, and C2 plots (<i>p</i> > 0.01). The weight of cobs from B1-supplemented plots was 62.3%, which was significantly higher than that of cobs from C1 and C2 plots (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The grain weight increased significantly by 23% in B1-supplemented plots (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and there were no differences between B2-supplemented, C1, and C2 plots. At the end of the treatment, the soil of the B1-supplemented plots exhibited increased levels of sulfate, nitrate, magnesium, conductivity, and saturation percentage. Based on these results, the economic sustainability of this application in agriculture was studied at a standard price of €190 per ton of biochar. Amortization of this investment can be achieved in 5.52 years according to this cost. Considering the fertilizer cost savings of 50% and the water cost savings of 25%, the amortization can be achieved in 4.15 years. If the price of biochar could be reduced through the CO<sub>2</sub> emission market at €30 per ton of non-emitted CO<sub>2</sub>, the amortization can be achieved in 2.80 years. Biochar markedly improves corn production in the Mediterranean climate. However, the amortization time must be further reduced, and enhanced production must be guaranteed over the years with long term field trials so that the product is marketable or other high value-added crops must be identified.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/11/3313biocharcornrentabilityfast pyrolysissoil analysiseconomic analysis |
| spellingShingle | Juan Luis Aguirre María Teresa Martín Sergio González Manuel Peinado Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean Climate Molecules biochar corn rentability fast pyrolysis soil analysis economic analysis |
| title | Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_full | Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_fullStr | Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_short | Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean Climate |
| title_sort | effects and economic sustainability of biochar application on corn production in a mediterranean climate |
| topic | biochar corn rentability fast pyrolysis soil analysis economic analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/11/3313 |
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