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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #252990
Title: Biochar soil amendment: Impact of soil types on heavy metal sorption-desorption behaviors and repeated nutrient leaching

Author
item Uchimiya, Sophie
item Lima, Isabel
item Klasson, K Thomas
item Wartelle, Lynda

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2010
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Depending on soil types, properties of chars especially pH and leachable organic/inorganic components can have varying impacts when used as a soil amendment. We have investigated sorption-desorption behaviors of metal contaminant of concern in shooting ranges and urban soils (Cu), nutrient supply (S, P, K), as well as the mobility of Al and Zn in char-amended soils of varying pH, buffering capacity, and organic carbon contents. Broiler litter-derived chars formed at 350 and 700 oC and steam-activated analogues were selected for both short- and long-term experiments employing synthetic precipitation leaching (SPLP) and toxicity characteristic leaching (TCLP) procedures. Comparison of TCLP and SPLP results indicates that P released from biochars rapidly form precipitates that can be mobilized via acid dissolution. While repeated, long-term release of K and P were observed, the release of S was short-term even under alkaline pH. Soil types controlled the reversibility of Cu sorption-desorption isotherms, and the mobility of all elements investigated.