Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #266330

Title: Switchgrass biochar effects two aridisols

Author
item Ippolito, James
item Novak, Jeffrey
item Busscher, Warren
item AHMEDNA, M - North Carolina Agricultural And Technical State University
item REHRAH, D - North Carolina Agricultural And Technical State University
item Watts, Donald - Don

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/13/2011
Publication Date: 7/1/2012
Citation: Ippolito, J.A., Novak, J.M., Busscher, W.J., Ahmedna, M., Rehrah, D., Watts, D.W. 2012. Switchgrass biochar effects two aridisols. Journal of Environmental Quality. 41(4): 1123-1130.

Interpretive Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of either low or high temperature (250 or 500C) pyrolyzed switchgrass biochar on two arid soils. For both soils, leachate Ca and Mg decreased with the 250C switchgrass biochar likely due to binding by biochar surfaces. Both biochars caused an increase in leachate K, while the 500C biochar increased leachate P. The 500C biochar reduced leachate NO3-N concentrations as compared to the control; however, the 250C biochar reduced NO3-N concentrations to the greatest extent. Soil extractable K, P, and NO3-N followed a pattern similar to the leachate observations.

Technical Abstract: The use of biochar has received growing attention with regards to improving the physico-chemical properties of highly weathered Ultisols and Oxisols, yet very little research has focused on effects in Aridisols. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of either low or high temperature (250 or 500C) pyrolyzed switchgrass biochar on two Aridisols. In a pot study, biochar was added at 2% w/w to either a Declo loam (Xeric Haplocalcids) or a Warden very fine sandy loam (Xeric Haplocambids) and then incubated at 15% moisture content (by weight) for 127 days; a control (no biochar) was also included. Soils were leached with 1.2 to 1.3 pore volumes of deionized water on days 34, 62, 92, and 127, and cumulative leachate Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, NO3-N, NO2-N, and NH4-N concentrations were quantified. After the incubation experiment had terminated, soils were destructively sampled for extractable Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Zn, NO3-N, and NH4-N, total C, inorganic C, organic C, and pH. As compared to the 250C, the 500C pyrolysis temperature resulted in greater biochar surface area, elevated pH, higher ash content, and minimal total surface charge. For both soils, leachate Ca and Mg decreased with the 250C switchgrass biochar likely due to binding by biochar’s functional group sites. Both biochars caused an increase in leachate K, while the 500C biochar increased leachate P. The 500C biochar reduced leachate NO3-N concentrations as compared to the control; however, the 250C biochar reduced NO3-N concentrations to the greatest extent. Easily degradable C, associated with the 250C biochar’s structural make-up, likely stimulated microbial growth which caused NO3-N immobilization. Soil extractable K, P, and NO3-N followed a pattern similar to the leachate observations. Total soil C content increases were linked to an increase in organic C from the biochars. Cumulative results suggest that the use of switchgrass biochar prepared at 250C could improve environmental quality in calcareous soil systems by reducing nutrient leaching potential.