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Applications of Biochar in Agriculture and Its Impact on Agricultural Systems

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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Systems and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2023) | Viewed by 4178

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Dr. Bogdan Saletnik

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Department of Bioenergetics, Food Analysis and Microbiology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Life Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 2D Ćwiklińskiej Street, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland
Interests: functional beverages; sports drinks; hydration; dehydration; CHO-enriched beverages; lipid-enriched beverages; protein-enriched beverages; osmolality; athletes; performance; recovery
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Dr. Marcin Bajcar

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Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Zaguła

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Dear Colleagues,

The uses of biochar in environmental protection include the remediation of polluted soils, energy production, climate change aspects, waste management, and sustainable development issues. The production of biochar allows a reduction in the need for the disposal of animal and plant waste. Interest in biochar as a potential soil enhancer began with the discovery of preta de Indio (Indian black earth) in Amazonia. From an agricultural point of view, the application of carbonization products for soil amelioration seems to be beneficial because the treatment improves the conditions for plant growth, leading to a better yield. Furthermore, due to the rapid effects and relatively low costs of such treatment, biochars are becoming more frequently used in soil remediation and conservation.

In this Special Issue, authors are actively invited to submit their papers covering high-quality novel research, as well as review studies regarding the use of biochar as a material used in agricultural systems. This Issue is devoted to interdisciplinary research on the production of biochar, optimization of the pyrolysis process, and the possibility of biochar uses as a fertilizer in laboratory research, as well as field crops.

Dr. Bogdan Saletnik
Dr. Marcin Bajcar
Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Zaguła
Guest Editors

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Keywords

biochar
pyrolysis
waste management
carbon sequestration
soil fertilization
soil ameliorant
crop production

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13 pages, 4078 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Combined Application of Chemical Fertilizer and Biochar on Soil Physio-Biochemical Properties and Maize Yield

by Jiajun Wu, Liang Jin, Na Wang, Dan Wei, Min Pang, Dahao Li, Junqiang Wang, Yan Li, Xin Sun, Wen Wang and Lei Wang

Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1200; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061200 - 05 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1892

Abstract

Excessive, long-term chemical fertilizer application adversely affects soil quality and maize yield. The combined application of biochar with chemical fertilizer can increase maize yield and improve soil fertility. A four-year field experiment was conducted to determine soil physio-biochemical properties and maize yield under a soybean–maize rotation in the black soils of Northeast China. There were five treatments, including no fertilization (CK), fertilizer (NPK), fertilizer + biochar (15.75 t·hm⁻², BC₁), fertilizer + biochar (31.50 t·hm⁻², BC₂), and fertilizer + biochar (47.25 t·hm⁻², BC₃). Compared with CK, the number of macroaggregates and the average weight diameter of soil aggregates in BC₂ treatment increased significantly by 10.3% and 24.5%, respectively. The soil pH in the study area was 7.03, and it increased in all treatments except for BC₁. The highest pH of 7.17 was recorded in NPK and BC₂ treatments, which was around the optimal soil pH. In contrast to the CK and NPK treatments, the biochar application increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) content. The BC₂ treatment improved soil C/N and increased the copy number of soil bacteria by 25.6% compared to CK. The combined application of chemical fertilizer and biochar was better than NPK treatment alone, and improved soil mechanical composition and fine soil particle contents (powder and clay). Mixed biochar with chemical fertilizer application also significantly increased maize yield and the weight of 100 grains increased from 9.5% to 10.9% compared to CK. The maize yield of the three fertilizer and biochar treatments was higher than treatments with applied chemical fertilizer alone, in the order of BC₂ > BC₃ > BC₁ > NPK > CK (BC₂ treatment increased by 34.8%). Additionally, the maize yield was significantly and positively correlated with soil aggregates, organic carbon and total nitrogen (p < 0.05) as well as the 100-grain weight (p < 0.01). The application of 31.50 t·hm⁻² (BC₂ treatment) of biochar can enhance soil physicochemical properties and improve maize yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Biochar in Agriculture and Its Impact on Agricultural Systems)

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15 pages, 887 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Biochar Impacts on Crop Performance and Soil Quality in Arid Sandy Loam Soil

by Lindsay Keller, Omololu John Idowu, April Ulery, Mohammed Omer and Catherine E. Brewer

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040782 - 29 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1853

Abstract

A two-year field study was conducted in sandy loam soil to evaluate the impacts of biochar on soil quality and the growth and yields of pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and sorghum–Sudan (Sorghum × drummondii). A wood-derived commercial biochar was applied at three rates to pinto bean (PB) and sorghum–Sudan (SS) plots. The biochar application rates applied annually for two years to PB plots were 0, 2.2, and 11.2 Mg ha⁻¹, whereas the rates for SS plots were 0, 3.4, and 6.7 Mg ha⁻¹. Crop growth and harvest parameters were evaluated. Assessed soil measurements included pH, electrical conductivity, available nutrients, soil organic matter (SOM), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), soil aggregates, and volumetric soil moisture content. The results showed no significant differences in plant growth parameters and yields over the two growing seasons for both PB and SS. Compared to the control treatment, the biochar at 11.2 Mg ha⁻¹ in PB plots improved soil moisture retention after irrigation by 19% in the first year and 25% in the second year. The SOM in the SS plot at 6.7 Mg ha⁻¹ biochar rate was higher (1.02%) compared to the control plot (0.82%), whereas a similar increase was not observed in the PB plot. Although biochar rates did not affect most of the soil measurements, there were significant changes in soil properties over time, regardless of biochar treatments: POXC increased in the PB and SS plots; SOM increased in the SS plot; and electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, and most soil micronutrients decreased. This research was conducted over two years; the effects of biochar can persist for much longer, indicating the need for longer-term biochar field studies in arid agroecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Biochar in Agriculture and Its Impact on Agricultural Systems)

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