Agriculture Reference
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Figure 4. Conceptual sketch of (A) biochar nutrient availability, (B) nutrient content, (C) feedstock
nutrient recovery, and (D) selected properties changes with increase in pyrolysis temperature relative to
feedstock state. Rates and peaks varies and are process, feedstock and element dependent (CCE,
calcium carbonate equivalent; CEC cation exchange capacity; AEC, anion exchange capacity); * C/N
ratio increase at higher rate and do not decline at elevated temperature (a dedicated line was avoided for
the purpose of simplicity).
E
FFECT OF
B
IOCHAR
A
PPLICATION ON
S
OIL
Q
UALITY
I
NDICATORS
Biochar used as soil amendment affects chemical, physical, and biological soil quality
indicators (Laird et al., 2010a, 2010b; Jeffery et al., 2011; Biederman & Harpole, 2012;
Chintala et al. 2013). Using over 100 studies in a meta-analysis, Biederman & Harpole (2012)
found that biochar increased aboveground biomass, crop yield, soil microbial biomass,
rhizobia nodulation, plant K tissue concentration, soil NPK, and total soil carbon (C)
compared to control conditions. Yet, biochar applications resulted in no significant response
in belowground biomass, ratio between above and below ground biomass, mycorrhizal root
colonization, soil inorganic N, as well as plant tissue N content (Biederman & Harpole,
2012). Incubated with a fine-loam US Midwest Hapludolls topsoil (pH 6.4), slow pyrolysis
biochar derived from mixed hardwood (oak [
Quercus spp.
] and hickory [
Carya spp.
])
material was shown to decreased soil bulk density and leaching of nutrient while increasing
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