Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil
The use of biochar, which is the solid product of biomass pyrolysis, in agricultural soils, has been shown as a strategic solution for building soil carbon stocks and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. However, biochar amendment might also benefit other key soil processes and services, such as tho...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/10/3/62 |
| _version_ | 1831538506924556288 |
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| author | Martha Lustosa Carvalho Moacir Tuzzin de Moraes Carlos Eduardo P. Cerri Maurício Roberto Cherubin |
| author_facet | Martha Lustosa Carvalho Moacir Tuzzin de Moraes Carlos Eduardo P. Cerri Maurício Roberto Cherubin |
| author_sort | Martha Lustosa Carvalho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of biochar, which is the solid product of biomass pyrolysis, in agricultural soils, has been shown as a strategic solution for building soil carbon stocks and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. However, biochar amendment might also benefit other key soil processes and services, such as those that are related to water retention, particularly in sandy soils. Here, we conducted an experiment to investigate the potential of biochar to enhance pore size distribution and water retention properties in a tropical sandy soil. Three biochar rates were incorporated (equivalent to 6.25, 12.5, and 25 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>) into plastic pots containing a sandy Oxisol sampled from a sugarcane field in Brazil. Undisturbed samples of the mixture were collected at two evaluation times (50 and 150 days) and used to determine water retention curves and other soil physical properties. The results showed that biochar amendment decreased soil bulk density and increased water retention capacity, micropore volume, and available water content. Higher soil water retention in amended soil is associated with the inherent characteristics of biochar (e.g., internal porosity) and potential improvements in soil structure. Microporosity and water retention were enhanced with intermediate biochar rate (12.5 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), instead of the highest rate (25 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>) tested. Further studies are needed to validate these results under field conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:25:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-81228caac16c4fee913da084eddc39a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:25:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-81228caac16c4fee913da084eddc39a92022-12-21T22:12:02ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722020-03-011036210.3390/agriculture10030062agriculture10030062Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy SoilMartha Lustosa Carvalho0Moacir Tuzzin de Moraes1Carlos Eduardo P. Cerri2Maurício Roberto Cherubin3Department of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture/University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, BrazilDepartment of Agronomic Science (DAGRO-FB), Federal University of Technology-Paraná Campus Francisco Beltrão, Francisco Beltrão, PR 85601-970, BrazilDepartment of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture/University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, BrazilDepartment of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture/University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, BrazilThe use of biochar, which is the solid product of biomass pyrolysis, in agricultural soils, has been shown as a strategic solution for building soil carbon stocks and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. However, biochar amendment might also benefit other key soil processes and services, such as those that are related to water retention, particularly in sandy soils. Here, we conducted an experiment to investigate the potential of biochar to enhance pore size distribution and water retention properties in a tropical sandy soil. Three biochar rates were incorporated (equivalent to 6.25, 12.5, and 25 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>) into plastic pots containing a sandy Oxisol sampled from a sugarcane field in Brazil. Undisturbed samples of the mixture were collected at two evaluation times (50 and 150 days) and used to determine water retention curves and other soil physical properties. The results showed that biochar amendment decreased soil bulk density and increased water retention capacity, micropore volume, and available water content. Higher soil water retention in amended soil is associated with the inherent characteristics of biochar (e.g., internal porosity) and potential improvements in soil structure. Microporosity and water retention were enhanced with intermediate biochar rate (12.5 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), instead of the highest rate (25 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>) tested. Further studies are needed to validate these results under field conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/10/3/62pyrolysed biomasssoil pore functionsoil structuresoil physical propertiessoil water retention curve |
| spellingShingle | Martha Lustosa Carvalho Moacir Tuzzin de Moraes Carlos Eduardo P. Cerri Maurício Roberto Cherubin Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil Agriculture pyrolysed biomass soil pore function soil structure soil physical properties soil water retention curve |
| title | Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil |
| title_full | Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil |
| title_fullStr | Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil |
| title_short | Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil |
| title_sort | biochar amendment enhances water retention in a tropical sandy soil |
| topic | pyrolysed biomass soil pore function soil structure soil physical properties soil water retention curve |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/10/3/62 |
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