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Wacal C, Basalirwa D, Byalebeka J, Tsubo M, Nishihara E. Low cost maize stover biochar as an alternative to inorganic fertilizer for improvement of soil chemical properties, growth and yield of tomatoes on degraded soil of Northern Uganda. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:473. [PMID: 37803255 PMCID: PMC10559570 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04468-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil fertility decline due to nutrient mining coupled with low inorganic fertilizer usage is a major cause of low crop yields across sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, biochar potential to improve soil fertility has gained significant attention but there are limited studies on the use of biochar as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers. In this study, we determined the effect of maize stover biochar without inorganic fertilizers on soil chemical properties, growth and yield of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). A field experiment was conducted in 2022 for two consecutive seasons in Northern Uganda. The experiment included five treatments; inorganic fertilizer (control), biochar applied at rates of 3.5, 6.9, 13.8 and 27.6 t ha-1. RESULTS In this study, maize stover biochar improved all the soil chemical properties. Compared to the control, pH significantly increased by 27% in the 27.6 t ha-1 while total N increased by 35.6% in the 13.8 t ha-1. Although P was significantly low in the 3.5 t ha-1, 6.9 t ha-1 and 13.8 t ha-1, it increased by 3.9% in the 27.6 t ha-1. Exchangeable K was significantly increased by 42.7% and 56.7% in the 13.8 t ha-1 and 27.6 t ha-1 respectively. Exchangeable Ca and Mg were also higher in the biochar treatment than the control. Results also showed that plant height, shoot weight, and all yield parameters were significantly higher in the inorganic fertilizer treatment than in the 3.5, 6.9, and 13.8 t ha-1 treatments. Interestingly, maize stover biochar at 27. 6 t ha-1 increased fruit yield by 16.1% compared to the control suggesting it could be used as an alternative to inorganic fertilizer. CONCLUSIONS Maize stover biochar applied at 27.6 t ha-1 improved soil chemical properties especially pH, N, P and K promoting growth and yield of tomatoes. Therefore, maize stover biochar could be recommended as an alternative to expensive inorganic fertilizers for tomato production in Northern Uganda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosmas Wacal
- Department of Crop and Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Mountains of the Moon University, P.O. Box 837, Fort Portal, Uganda.
- Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Uganda Martyrs University, P.O. Box 5498, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Daniel Basalirwa
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7014, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - John Byalebeka
- Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Uganda Martyrs University, P.O. Box 5498, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mitsuri Tsubo
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, TottoriTottori, 680-0001, Japan
| | - Eiji Nishihara
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama Minami, Tottori, 680-8553, Japan
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Han J, Zhang A, Kang Y, Han J, Yang B, Hussain Q, Wang X, Zhang M, Khan MA. Biochar promotes soil organic carbon sequestration and reduces net global warming potential in apple orchard: A two-year study in the Loess Plateau of China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:150035. [PMID: 34500275 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Loess Plateau is China's primary apple-growing area, and the orchard is a significant source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions due to high nitrogen fertilizer input. Thus, a two-year field study was carried out to investigate the effects of apple wood derived biochar on GHGs emissions during apple orchard production, including soil organic carbon sequestration (SOCSR) and net global warming potential (NGWP) assessments. There are four treatments in this study: 20 t ha-1 biochar in a non-fertilized plot (B); no biochar in a fertilized plot (F); 20 t ha-1 biochar in a fertilized plot (FB); no biochar in a non-fertilized plot (CK). Results showed that the combined application of biochar and fertilizer stimulated CO2 emissions by 9.25% and 8.39% than either biochar or fertilizer alone. Meanwhile, biochar in fertilized plot increased annual N2O emissions by 32.6% as compared to fertilized plot without biochar amendment. Compared with CK, biochar had no significant effect on GHG emissions in unfertilized plot. The N2O emission factor of FB and F were 0.91% and 0.45% respectively in 2017-2018 and they were both 0.34% in 2018-2019. Moreover, compared with CK, the FB and B treatments increased the SOCSR by 316.52% and 354.78%, while, decreased the NGWP by 368.93% and 480.91%, respectively. Thus, biochar application may help reduce the impact of apple production on climate change by sequestering more soil organic carbon and decreasing the NGWP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Han
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agro-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Afeng Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agro-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Yanhong Kang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Jianqiao Han
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China
| | - Bo Yang
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin, 300191, PR China
| | - Qaiser Hussain
- Institute of Soil Science, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, P.O BOX, 46300, Pakistan
| | - Xudong Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agro-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
| | - Man Zhang
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
| | - Muhammad Azam Khan
- Department of Horticulture, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
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Influence of Acidified Biochar on CO2–C Efflux and Micronutrient Availability in an Alkaline Sandy Soil. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13095196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Biochar, an alkaline carbonaceous substance resulting from the thermal pyrolysis of biomass, reportedly enhances the micronutrient availability in acidic soils with little or no effect on alkaline soils. In this study, biochars were produced from poultry manure (PM) at 350 °C and 550 °C (BC350 and BC550 respectively). The acidified biochars (ABC350 and ABC550, respectively) were incorporated into an alkaline sandy soil, and their effects on the soil micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) availability, and CO2–C efflux were investigated in a 30-day incubation study. The treatments (PM, BC350, BC550, ABC350, and ABC550) were administered in triplicate to 100 g soil at 0%, 1%, and 3% (w/w). Relative to the poultry manure treatment, acidification drastically reduced the pH of BC350 and BC550 by 3.13 and 4.28 units, respectively, and increased the micronutrient availability of the studied soil. Furthermore, the biochars (both non-acidified and acidified) reduced the CO2 emission compared to that of the poultry manure treatment. After 1% treatment with BC550 and ABC550, the CO2 emissions from the soil were 89.6% and 91.4% lower, respectively, than in the 1% poultry manure treatment. In summary, acidified biochar improved the micronutrient availability in alkaline soil, and when produced at higher temperature, can mitigate the CO2 emissions of soil carbon sequestration.
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Adsorption Ability for Toxic Chromium (VI) Ions in Aqueous Solution of Some Modified Oyster Shell Types. Bioinorg Chem Appl 2020. [DOI: 10.1155/2020/2435777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, the chromium, Cr (VI), ion adsorption ability of oyster shell samples collected from two sea regions in Vietnam (Phu Yen province and Quang Ninh province) was investigated and compared. The oyster shell samples were calcined at different temperatures and denatured by using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The Cr (VI) ion adsorption ability of the prismatic (PP) and nacreous (NP) shell layers of oysters was also evaluated. The characteristics of oyster shell samples before and after treatment were determined by using analysis methods including XRD, IR, BET, UV-Vis, and FESEM. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich models and fit statistic equations were used to study the adsorption isotherms of Cr (VI) ion adsorption by oyster shells. The Cr (VI) ions adsorption kinetic has been set up using four reaction models consisting of first-order, pseudo-first-order, second-order, and pseudo-second-order reaction models. Effects of experimental factors on the Cr (VI) ion adsorption process using oyster shells were also investigated and discussed in this work.
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Aerated Irrigation and Pruning Residue Biochar on N2O Emission, Yield and Ion Uptake of Komatsuna. HORTICULTURAE 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae4040033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
After irrigation in intensive vegetable cultivation, the soil is filled with water leading to reduced oxygen content of the soil air which will affect vegetable growth and soil N2O emission. In this study, the effect of aerated irrigation and residue biochar on soil N2O emission, yield, and ion uptake of komatsuna grown in Andosol was explored. The experiment included four treatments; control (tap water irrigation), aerated water irrigation, pruning residue biochar with tap water irrigation, and a combination of aerated irrigation and biochar. The results showed that aerated irrigation had no effect on plant growth, but it also increased N2O emission by 12.3% for several days after planting. Plant ion uptake was not affected by aerated irrigation. Biochar amendment increased shoot dry weight and significantly reduced soil N2O emission by 27.9% compared with the control. Plant uptake of N and K also increased with biochar. This study showed that pruning residue biochar has the potential to mitigate N2O emission while increasing vegetable growth and plant nutrient uptake. However, the study soil, Andosol, already has high soil porosity with low bulk density. Thus, further injection of air through irrigation showed no effect on plant growth but increased N2O emission, hence soil aeration was not a limiting factor in Andosol.
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Returning Tea Pruning Residue and Its Biochar Had a Contrasting Effect on Soil N2O and CO2 Emissions from Tea Plantation Soil. ATMOSPHERE 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos9030109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A laboratory incubation experiment is conducted for 90 days under controlled conditions where either pruning residue or its biochar is applied to determine which application generates the lowest amount of greenhouse gas from tea plantation soil. To study the effect of incorporation depth on soil N2O and CO2 emissions, experiment 1 is performed with three treatments: (1) control; (2) tea pruning residue; and (3) residue biochar mixed with soil from two different depths (0–5 cm and 0–10 cm layers). In experiment 2, only the 0–10 cm soil layer is used to study the effect of surface application of tea pruning residue or its biochar on soil N2O and CO2 emissions compared with the control. The results show that biochar significantly increases soil pH, total C and C/N ratio in both experiments. The addition of pruning residue significantly increases soil total C content, cumulative N2O and CO2 emissions after 90 days of incubation. Converting pruning residue to biochar and its application significantly decreases cumulative N2O emission by 17.7% and 74.2% from the 0–5 cm and 0–10 cm soil layers, respectively, compared to their respective controls. However, biochar addition increases soil CO2 emissions for both the soil layers in experiment 1. Surface application of biochar to soil significantly reduces both N2O and CO2 emissions compared to residue treatment and the control in experiment 2. Our results suggest that converting pruning residue to biochar and its addition to soil has the potential to mitigate soil N2O emissions from tea plantation.
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