Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment Systems
Biochar soil amendment to agricultural systems can reduce nitrogen (N) leaching; however, application to agricultural nitrogen treatment systems has not been extensively explored. The objective of this study was to assess the impact on N leaching in soils receiving repeated N applications which may...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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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/2073-4395/10/7/979 |
| _version_ | 1827713512192868352 |
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| author | Joseph R. Sanford Rebecca A. Larson |
| author_facet | Joseph R. Sanford Rebecca A. Larson |
| author_sort | Joseph R. Sanford |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biochar soil amendment to agricultural systems can reduce nitrogen (N) leaching; however, application to agricultural nitrogen treatment systems has not been extensively explored. The objective of this study was to assess the impact on N leaching in soils receiving repeated N applications which may be observed in agricultural treatment systems. In this study, 400 °C, 700 °C, and oxidized 700 °C corncob biochar was amended to sandy loam soil columns at 5% (<i>wt/wt</i>) to assess the impacts to N cycling following repeated synthetic N applications. Columns received weekly applications of either organic N (ORG-N), ammonium (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N), or nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N) and the N effluent, gaseous emissions, and soil N retention was measured. Biochar produced at 400 °C significantly reduced N leaching compared to control columns by 19% and 15% for ORG-N and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N, respectively, with application concentrations similar to silage bunker runoff. For NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N applications, 700 °C biochar significantly reduced leaching by 25% compared to the controls. The primary mechanism reducing N effluent for biochar amended columns was enhanced soil retention of ORG-N and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N. Biochar surface chemistry analysis measured an increase in oxygenated functional groups and cationic minerals on the biochar surface, which likely enhanced retention through cationic bridging or the development of an organomineral layer on the biochar surface. Results indicated biochar amendment to agricultural treatment systems receiving N runoff may reduce the risk of N leaching. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:36:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8171d00b9404f21be621119b1b0780c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:36:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8171d00b9404f21be621119b1b0780c2023-11-20T06:11:13ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-07-0110797910.3390/agronomy10070979Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment SystemsJoseph R. Sanford0Rebecca A. Larson1Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USABiochar soil amendment to agricultural systems can reduce nitrogen (N) leaching; however, application to agricultural nitrogen treatment systems has not been extensively explored. The objective of this study was to assess the impact on N leaching in soils receiving repeated N applications which may be observed in agricultural treatment systems. In this study, 400 °C, 700 °C, and oxidized 700 °C corncob biochar was amended to sandy loam soil columns at 5% (<i>wt/wt</i>) to assess the impacts to N cycling following repeated synthetic N applications. Columns received weekly applications of either organic N (ORG-N), ammonium (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N), or nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N) and the N effluent, gaseous emissions, and soil N retention was measured. Biochar produced at 400 °C significantly reduced N leaching compared to control columns by 19% and 15% for ORG-N and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N, respectively, with application concentrations similar to silage bunker runoff. For NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N applications, 700 °C biochar significantly reduced leaching by 25% compared to the controls. The primary mechanism reducing N effluent for biochar amended columns was enhanced soil retention of ORG-N and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N. Biochar surface chemistry analysis measured an increase in oxygenated functional groups and cationic minerals on the biochar surface, which likely enhanced retention through cationic bridging or the development of an organomineral layer on the biochar surface. Results indicated biochar amendment to agricultural treatment systems receiving N runoff may reduce the risk of N leaching.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/7/979biocharagriculture runoffnitrate leaching |
| spellingShingle | Joseph R. Sanford Rebecca A. Larson Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment Systems Agronomy biochar agriculture runoff nitrate leaching |
| title | Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment Systems |
| title_full | Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment Systems |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment Systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment Systems |
| title_short | Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment Systems |
| title_sort | assessing nitrogen cycling in corncob biochar amended soil columns for application in agricultural treatment systems |
| topic | biochar agriculture runoff nitrate leaching |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/7/979 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josephrsanford assessingnitrogencyclingincorncobbiocharamendedsoilcolumnsforapplicationinagriculturaltreatmentsystems AT rebeccaalarson assessingnitrogencyclingincorncobbiocharamendedsoilcolumnsforapplicationinagriculturaltreatmentsystems |