Biochar-Ca and Biochar-Al/-Fe-Mediated Phosphate Exchange Capacity are Main Drivers of the Different Biochar Effects on Plants in Acidic and Alkaline Soils
Because of the low consistency of the results obtained in the field, the use of biochar as a soil amendment is controversial. Thus, in general, in acidic soils, results are positive, while in alkaline soils, they are non-significant or even negative. The results regarding biochar action in acidic so...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/7/968 |
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| author | Roberto Baigorri Sara San Francisco Óscar Urrutia José María García-Mina |
| author_facet | Roberto Baigorri Sara San Francisco Óscar Urrutia José María García-Mina |
| author_sort | Roberto Baigorri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Because of the low consistency of the results obtained in the field, the use of biochar as a soil amendment is controversial. Thus, in general, in acidic soils, results are positive, while in alkaline soils, they are non-significant or even negative. The results regarding biochar action in acidic soils have been related to a lime-like effect due to its alkaline pH and the high doses normally used. However, the causes of biochar effects in alkaline soils remain unknown. Our objective was to explore the chemical mechanism of biochar interaction in acidic and alkaline soils. We used well-characterized biochar as a component of two complex N and PK granulated fertilizers at two different doses (1% and 5%). These fertilizers were applied to wheat cultivated in pots containing an alkaline soil and grown for 60 days. No effect was shown for the N-biochar fertilizer application. However, the PK-biochar fertilizer application caused a decrease in crop yield. In addition, the adsorption isotherms of Al, Fe, Mo, Mn, and Phosphate (Pi) in biochar were also studied. The results showed that Fe and Al were rapidly adsorbed in biochar, while Pi was only adsorbed on the Fe-, Al-biochar complex. Desorption experiments showed that P and Fe/Al were not desorbed from the P-Fe/Al-biochar complex by water or the Olsen reagent, while partial desorption was observed when HCl 0.1 M was used. This blockage of Fe/Al and P through Fe/Al bridges in biochar could partially explain the negative effects in alkaline soils. After these studies, soil solution sorption experiments were carried out in both acidic and alkaline soils and were complemented with a greenhouse trial using tomato plants. The results showed that biochar enhanced foliar Ca and N content, as well as growth in acidic soil only, and the possible mechanism of the failure in alkaline soils. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:40:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0e86a9428404e1eabf61da3958459d4 |
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| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:40:55Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0e86a9428404e1eabf61da3958459d42023-11-20T05:53:31ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-07-0110796810.3390/agronomy10070968Biochar-Ca and Biochar-Al/-Fe-Mediated Phosphate Exchange Capacity are Main Drivers of the Different Biochar Effects on Plants in Acidic and Alkaline SoilsRoberto Baigorri0Sara San Francisco1Óscar Urrutia2José María García-Mina3Biological and Agricultural Chemistry Department, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, SpainBiological and Agricultural Chemistry Department, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, SpainBiological and Agricultural Chemistry Department, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, SpainBiological and Agricultural Chemistry Department, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, SpainBecause of the low consistency of the results obtained in the field, the use of biochar as a soil amendment is controversial. Thus, in general, in acidic soils, results are positive, while in alkaline soils, they are non-significant or even negative. The results regarding biochar action in acidic soils have been related to a lime-like effect due to its alkaline pH and the high doses normally used. However, the causes of biochar effects in alkaline soils remain unknown. Our objective was to explore the chemical mechanism of biochar interaction in acidic and alkaline soils. We used well-characterized biochar as a component of two complex N and PK granulated fertilizers at two different doses (1% and 5%). These fertilizers were applied to wheat cultivated in pots containing an alkaline soil and grown for 60 days. No effect was shown for the N-biochar fertilizer application. However, the PK-biochar fertilizer application caused a decrease in crop yield. In addition, the adsorption isotherms of Al, Fe, Mo, Mn, and Phosphate (Pi) in biochar were also studied. The results showed that Fe and Al were rapidly adsorbed in biochar, while Pi was only adsorbed on the Fe-, Al-biochar complex. Desorption experiments showed that P and Fe/Al were not desorbed from the P-Fe/Al-biochar complex by water or the Olsen reagent, while partial desorption was observed when HCl 0.1 M was used. This blockage of Fe/Al and P through Fe/Al bridges in biochar could partially explain the negative effects in alkaline soils. After these studies, soil solution sorption experiments were carried out in both acidic and alkaline soils and were complemented with a greenhouse trial using tomato plants. The results showed that biochar enhanced foliar Ca and N content, as well as growth in acidic soil only, and the possible mechanism of the failure in alkaline soils.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/7/968biocharlimingphosphate blockageacidic and alkaline soils |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Baigorri Sara San Francisco Óscar Urrutia José María García-Mina Biochar-Ca and Biochar-Al/-Fe-Mediated Phosphate Exchange Capacity are Main Drivers of the Different Biochar Effects on Plants in Acidic and Alkaline Soils Agronomy biochar liming phosphate blockage acidic and alkaline soils |
| title | Biochar-Ca and Biochar-Al/-Fe-Mediated Phosphate Exchange Capacity are Main Drivers of the Different Biochar Effects on Plants in Acidic and Alkaline Soils |
| title_full | Biochar-Ca and Biochar-Al/-Fe-Mediated Phosphate Exchange Capacity are Main Drivers of the Different Biochar Effects on Plants in Acidic and Alkaline Soils |
| title_fullStr | Biochar-Ca and Biochar-Al/-Fe-Mediated Phosphate Exchange Capacity are Main Drivers of the Different Biochar Effects on Plants in Acidic and Alkaline Soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biochar-Ca and Biochar-Al/-Fe-Mediated Phosphate Exchange Capacity are Main Drivers of the Different Biochar Effects on Plants in Acidic and Alkaline Soils |
| title_short | Biochar-Ca and Biochar-Al/-Fe-Mediated Phosphate Exchange Capacity are Main Drivers of the Different Biochar Effects on Plants in Acidic and Alkaline Soils |
| title_sort | biochar ca and biochar al fe mediated phosphate exchange capacity are main drivers of the different biochar effects on plants in acidic and alkaline soils |
| topic | biochar liming phosphate blockage acidic and alkaline soils |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/7/968 |
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