Chapter 13. Evaluating the long-term effects of pre-conditioned biochar on soil organic carbon in two southern Ontario soils using the century model

In: Sustainable agroecosystems in climate change mitigation
Authors:
M. Dil
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M. Oelbermann
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Chapter
Pages:
249–268
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-788-2_13

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Conventional agroecosystem management practices have accelerated the loss of soil organic matter. Adding organic matter from a relatively non-degradable source, such as biochar, may increase the long-term sequestration and stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, biochar contains a limited quantity of available mineral nutrients, requiring its addition in large quantities (≯10 t/ha/y) and in association with nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Alternatively, biochar could be pre-conditioned by soaking it in a urea ammonium nitrate (UAN-enriched biochar), which may require an input of only 1 t/ha/y. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term (150 years) impact of the addition of UAN-enriched biochar on SOC, and on soil C fractions, compared to other commonly used agroecosystem management practices, in a coarse and medium textured soil using the Century Soil Organic Matter Model. Results showed that after 150 years, treatments with biochar had an increase in SOC in both soil types. However, the other agroecosystem management practices including continuous maize, no till and maize-soybean rotation decreased in SOC. Manure increased SOC in the coarse textured soil but decreased in the medium textured soil. An evaluation of the active, slow and passive C fractions revealed significant differences between the various agroecosystem management practices for both soil textures. Results showed a significantly greater (P<0.05) accumulation of C in the slow and passive fractions in the biochar treatments. There was also a significant difference (P<0.05) between the two soil types with respect to each C fraction and agroecosystem management practice. Results from this study suggested that the application of biochar pre-soaked in UAN, compared to all other management practices, may lead to an increase and the long-term stabilization of SOC.

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Cover Sustainable agroecosystems in climate change mitigation
E-Book ISBN:
9789086867882
Publisher:
Wageningen Academic
Print Publication Date:
08 Apr 2014
Section 1. Opportunities for carbon sequestration in agroecosystems
Section 2. Greenhouse gas emissions from agroecosystems
Section 3. Nutrient dynamics and microbe interactions
Section 4. New tools: analytical methods and modeling

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