Yunying Fang

Effect of ageing on surface charge characteristics and adsorption behaviour of cadmium and arsenate in two contrasting soils amended with biochar

Biochar has been recognised as an effective amendment for the remediation of contaminated soils; however, there is limited knowledge on the effects of biochar ageing in soil on its adsorption behaviour for cationic and anionic species. Biochars are considered to develop negative charge from oxidation with ageing, which may create additional interaction mechanisms for adsorption processes. In the present study, surface charge characteristics and cadmium (Cd) and arsenate (AsO43–) adsorption behaviour of aged biochar were investigated in two soils with variable charge, an Oxisol and an Inceptisol, by comparing (i) unamended soils, and soils amended with (ii) fresh biochar (450°C) and (iii) biochar (450°C) aged for 12 months, applied at a rate of 2% w/w. Surface charge characteristics were assessed using the ‘index’ ion adsorption method, with a LiCl electrolyte. Batch adsorption studies were conducted using fresh and aged soil–biochar mixtures. In contrast to previous studies, the results provided no evidence of an increase in cation exchange capacity as a consequence of biochar ageing. There was an increase in Cd adsorption in the presence of aged biochar in both soil types compared with unamended soils and soils amended with fresh biochar. Results also indicated an increase in AsO43– adsorption in the Inceptisol amended with aged biochar, whereas a decrease in AsO43– adsorption was observed in the Oxisol amended with aged biochar. Overall, the study has highlighted that adsorption behaviour of aged biochar varies depending on the ion it interacts with, soil properties and solution pH.

In Situ Persistence and Migration of Biochar Carbon and Its Impact on Native Carbon Emission in Contrasting Soils under Managed Temperate Pastures

Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) is an important component of the global soil carbon (C) pool, but its fate, persistence, and loss dynamics in contrasting soils and environments under planted field conditions are poorly understood. To fill this knowledge gap, a 13C-labelled biochar, as a surrogate material for PyC, produced from Eucalyptus saligna by slow pyrolysis (450°C; δ13C -36.7‰) was surface (0−10 cm) applied in C3 dominated temperate pasture systems across Arenosol, Cambisol and Ferralsol. The results show a low proportion of the applied biochar-C mineralised over 12 months in a relatively clay- and C-poor Arenosol (i.e., 2.0% loss via mineralisation), followed by a clay- and C-rich Cambisol (4.6%), and clay-, C- and earthworm-rich Ferralsol (7.0%). The biochar-C mean residence time (MRT), estimated by different models, varied between 44−1079 (Arenosol), 18−172 (Cambisol), and 11−29 (Ferralsol) years, with the shorter MRT estimated by a one-pool exponential and the longer MRT by an infinite-pool power or a two-pool exponential model. The two-pool model was best fitted to biochar-C mineralisation. The biochar-C recovery in the 12−30 cm soil layer varied from between 1.2% (Arenosol), 2.5−2.7% (Cambisol) and 13.8−15.7% (Ferralsol) of the applied biochar-C after 8−12 months. There was a further migration of biochar-C below the 50-cm depth in the Arenosol, as the combined biochar-C recovery in the mineralised pool and soil profile (up to 30 or 50 cm) was 82%, in contrast to 101% in the Cambisol and 104% in the Ferralsol after 12 months. These results indicate that the downward migration of biochar-C was greatest in the Arenosol (cf. Cambisol and Ferralsol). Cumulative CO2-C emission from native soil-plant sources was lower (p <0.10) in the biochar-amended vs. non-amended Ferralsol. This field-based study shows that the downward migration of biochar-C exceeded its loss via mineralisation in the Arenosol and Ferralsol, but not in the Cambisol. It is thus important to understand biochar-soil interactions to maximise long-term biochar C sequestration potential in planted soil systems.

A Fourier-Transform Infrared Study of Biochar Aging in Soils

We used diffuse reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (DR-FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and chemical and isotopic analyses to characterize the light fraction of four contrasting soils (control and biocharamended soils) to determine changes in biochar properties after aging. Two Eucalyptus saligna Sm. wood biochars, produced at 450°C (B450) and 550°C (B550), were incubated separately in each of the four soils for up to 12 mo at 20, 40, and 60°C. Total C and isotopic (δ13C) methods were used to quantify the amounts of biochar C and native C mineralized during incubation. The DR-FTIR spectra of the light fraction showed distinct absorption bands representing native soil organic C, biochar C, and mineral constituents present in the soils; the mineral bands were consistent with XRD data of the clay fraction of the four soils. Analysis of the DR-FTIR spectra in the ν(C-H) bands showed that the ratio of the aromatic ν(C-H) bands systematically increased relative to the aliphatic ν(C-H) bands with increasing mineralization of biochar C in the B550 amended soils, and this relationship was unique for each soil type. In contrast, this relationship was not observed for the B450 amended soils that contained a relatively smaller proportion of aromatic C.

Tillage and nitrogen fertilization enhanced belowground carbon allocation and plant nitrogen uptake in a semi-arid canola crop–soil system

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) allocation and assimilation are coupled processes, likely influencing C accumulation, N use efficiency and plant productivity in agro-ecosystems. However, dynamics and responses of these processes to management practices in semi-arid agro-ecosystems are poorly understood. A field-based 13CO2 and urea-15N pulse labelling experiment was conducted to track how C and N allocation and assimilation during canola growth from flowering to maturity were affected by short-term (2-year) tillage (T) and no-till (NT) with or without 100 kg urea-N ha−1 (T-0, T-100, NT-0, NT-100) on a Luvisol in an Australian semi-arid region. The T-100 caused greater (P < 0.05) belowground C allocation and higher (P < 0.05) translocation of soil N to shoots and seeds, compared to other treatments. Microbial N uptake was rapid and greatest in the fertilized (cf. non-fertilized) treatments, followed by a rapid release of microbial immobilized N, thus increasing N availability for plant uptake. In contrast, management practices had insignificant impact on soil C and N stocks, aggregate stability, microbial biomass, and 13C retention in aggregate-size fractions. In conclusion, tillage and N fertilization increased belowground C allocation and crop N uptake and yield, possibly via enhancing root–microbial interactions, with minimal impact on soil properties.