Biochar Effects on Soybean Growth and

Nodulation

Photo courtesy of gardenologist.comSoybean (Glycine

max)

M. R. Bayan, PhD, PhDEnvironmental Geochemist and Soil ScientistLincoln UniversityAgriculture and Environmental Sciences

Biochar from MiscanthusPhoto: M. R. Bayan, Lincoln University,

MO Soybean (Glycine max)

Although biochar has roots that extend far into the past, it is still a poorly known product

The technology that is used to produce biochar started in antiquity but pyrolysis is little known to researchers and the public

Forward

Knowledge about how and why biochar works is being generated at an accelerating rate. However, little is known about practical aspects of working with biochar on farms and in gardens.

As biochar becomes more widely known and used, it will become possible to formulate best management practices for different biochar use types.

Forward

“The application of biochar to agricultural soils has the

potential to greatly improve soil physical, chemical and biological conditions.”

DeLuca and others (2009): Biochar Effects on Soil Nutrient Transformation in “Biochar for Environmental Management.” Editors: J. Lehmann and S. Joseph

“Other promoted benefits of biochar application to soil include increased plant productivity and reduced nutrient leaching. However, the effects of biochar are variable and it remains unclear if recent enthusiasm can be justified.”

Biederman and Harpole (2012): Biochar and its effects on plant productivity and nutrient cycling: a meta-analysis. Global Change Biology Bioenergy.

Effect of Biochar on Plant Growth

The biochar treatments were found to increase the final

biomass, root biomass, plant height and number of leaves in all the cropping cycles in comparison to no biochar treatments

Carter and others (2013): The Impact of Biochar Application on Soil Properties and Plant Growth of Pot Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and Cabbage (Brassica chinensis). Agronomy 2013, 3(2), 404-418; doi:10.3390/agronomy3020404

Many of the short-term effects of biochar on plant growth and soil behavior reported from laboratory studies were not observed in the field emphasizing the need for long term field trials to help inform agronomic management decisions involving biochar

Jones and others (2012): Biochar-mediated changes in soil quality and plant growth in a three year field trial. http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=12683&postid=2409838

From the Literature: Effect of Biochar on Plant Growth…

1. Soybean (Glycine max, Elgin 87) growth in the presence

of biochar1. Leaves2. Stems3. Pods4. Plant height5. Root length6. Root weight

2. Nodule development on soybean roots (rhizobia/plant symbiosis) 1. Number of nodules2. Weight of nodules

Objectives: Effect of Biochar Types/Rates on Soybean Growth and

Nodulation

Treatments were as follows:

No Biochar – No Soybean (Glycine max)No Biochar – Soybean 2% Miscanthus Biochar (wt) – Soybean5% Miscanthus Biochar (wt) – Soybean2% Pine Biochar (wt) – Soybean5% Pine Biochar (wt) - Soybean

All treatments were triplicated

Greenhouse Experiment:Treatments

A cultivated Alfisol, 5 kg

CEC = 12.0 meq/100g Neutralizable Acidity = 4.0 meq/100gpHs = 5.48

OM = 2.9%P = 21.3 kg/ha (19 lbs/A) (Low) K = 285 kg/ha (254 lbs/A) (High)Ca = 2090 kg/ha (1865 lbs/A) (Medium)Mg = 808 kg/ha (721 lbs/A) (Very high)S (SO4-S) = 2.7 ppm (Medium)

The Soil

Greenhouse Experiment

Soil samples were taken from each pot after

1-day, 3-day, 10-day, 30-day and 60-

day intervals

All pots were treated with 75 kg P per hectare. Additional data from a similar experiment with switchgrass will be used here for comparison.

Experiment duration: 60 days

1. Fast: Moderate Temp ~500˚ C. Short vapor residence

time ~ 1 sec; Liquid (75%); Char (12%); Gas (13%)

2. Moderate: Moderate temperature ~500˚ C. Moderate vapor residence time ~10-20sec; Liquid (50%); Char (20%); Gas (30%)

3. Slow: Moderate temperature ~500˚ C. Very long vapor residence time ~5-30min; Liquid (30%); Char (35%); Gas (35%)

4. Gasification: High temperature >750˚ C. Moderate vapor residence time ~10-20sec; Liquid (10%); Char (20%); Gas (85%)

Ways to Produce Biochar: Types of Pyrolysis

Brown (2009): Biochar Production Technology. In Biochar for Environmental Management. Editors: J. Lehmann and S. Joseph. Earthscan ISBN 978-1-84407-658-1

Biochar – Byproduct of Bioenergy Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass

Photo courtesy of International Biochar Initiative

How Do We Produce Biochar?

Biochar was Generated from a Variety of Feedstocks through Slow Pyrolysis

… is recalcitrant in the soil environment (Lehmann et al., 2009)

… has sorption properties (McLaughlin and Shields, 2012; Yao et al.,

2012)

Biochar…

Biochar is charcoal with properties somewhat

similar to activated charcoal

It is produced through the pyrolysis process that involves heating of the herbaceous or ligneous biomass in an O2 deprived environment

In slow pyrolysis the biomass is heated to thermal values between 400 to 600 °C

Biochar?

Areas of Interest: Experimenting with Biochar in Our

Research Projects

- Effects of biochar on soil properties - Nutrient cycling in the soil environment- More efficient use of nutrients by plants in the presence of biochar (Little loss as nonpoint source polluters to drive eutrophication)-Growth of agricultural crops in the presence of biochar-Sorption properties of biochar in environmental remediation-Biomass research/production

Results and Discussion

http://www.maxgladwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/shark-global-warming.jpg

Cedar

Oak

Pine

Switchgrass

Miscanthus

7.00

7.50

8.00

8.50

9.00

9.50

10.00 Biochar pH (Saturated Paste)

PineCedar

OakMiscanthus

Switchgrass

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.261175 0.317025

0.421275 0.431475

0.7082

% Nitrogen-Kjeldahl Method

No Biochar2% Pine Biochar

5% Pine Biochar2% Miscanthus Biochar

5% Miscanthus Biochar

1.24

1.12

1.04

1.13

0.92

Bulk Density

No Biochar2% Pine Biochar

5% Pine Biochar2% Miscanthus

Biochar 5% Miscanthus Biochar 2% Switchgrass

Biochar 5% Switchgrass Biochar

6.17 6.19 6.27 6.326.71

6.486.435.48

5.475.41 5.81

6.29

6.01 6.10

Soil pH

Water Salt

No Biochar2% Pine Biochar

5% Pine Biochar2% Miscanthus

Biochar 5% Miscanthus Biochar

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Root Length (cm)

B ABAB

AB A

No Biochar2% Pine Biochar

5% Pine Biochar2% Miscanthus

Biochar 5% Miscanthus Biochar

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Root Dry Weight (grams)

AAB

C

ABC

BC

No Bi

ocha

r

2% P

ine

Bioc

har

5% P

ine

Bioc

har

2% M

iscan

thus

Bioch

ar

5% M

iscan

thus

Bioch

ar

2% S

witchg

rass

Bioch

ar

5% S

witchg

rass

Bioch

ar

75

30%

4%

-60%

-67%-72%

-85%

Nodules

Pine

Cedar

Oak

Misca

nthu

s

Switc

hgra

ss

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.261175 0.317025

0.421275 0.431475

0.7082

% Nitrogen-Kjeldahl Method

No

Bioch

ar

2% P

ine

Bioch

ar

5% P

ine

Bioch

ar

2% M

isca

nthu

s Bio

char

5% M

isca

nthu

s Bio

char

2% S

witc

hgra

ss B

ioch

ar

5% S

witc

hgra

ss B

ioch

ar

139.00cm

13%10% 16%

-3%

23%

-22%

Stem Height

No Bi

ocha

r

2% P

ine

Bioc

har

5% P

ine

Bioc

har

2% M

isca

nthu

s Bi

ocha

r

5% M

isca

nthu

s Bi

ocha

r

2% S

witc

hgra

ss B

ioch

ar

5% S

witc

hgra

ss B

ioch

ar

1517.30 cm 2

43%43%

94% 82%102%

85%

Leaf Area

B AB

A A

AB

No

Bioch

ar

2% P

ine

Bioch

ar

5% P

ine

Bioch

ar

2% M

isca

nthu

s Bio

char

5% M

isca

nthu

s Bio

char

2% S

witc

hgra

ss B

ioch

ar

5% S

witc

hgra

ss B

ioch

ar

21Number

50% 48%

34%

58% 62%55%

Developed Pods (Complete Seed Fill)

The rate of biochar significantly affects its

ability to impact soybean growth Root growth was significantly increased by

application of 2% biochar but at 5% rate, root growth was reduced as indicated by the root dry weight

Biochar produced from the herbaceous giant miscanthus feedstock increased root growth more than the ligneous pine biochar

Conclusions

The herbaceous biochar significantly inhibit

nodulation in soybean Pine biochar significantly promoted nodulation at

2% application rate but at 5% rate, when compared to control, no significant difference was observed

The effect of biochar on stem height was influenced by the type of biochar

Biochar significantly increased the leaf area in soybean. The herbaceous biochar showed a more significant effect on leaf area in soybean

Conclusions (Continued)

Biochar significantly increased the number of pods

(complete seed fill at stage R6 of soybean growth) The ability of biochar to enhance soybean growth is

significantly affected by the biochar type (biomass precusor)

Biochar as a soil amendment may contribute to sustainable use of N and P reducing nutrient flux from agricultural sites including feedlots into inland waters

The soil amendment Biochar sequesters atmospheric CO2 and can help farmers (and the environment) by reducing the need for agrichemicals

Conclusions (Continued)

As for biochar:

“In the absence of eligibility for carbon credits, or simply to supplement a future income stream from carbon stabilization, it is likely that biochar addition to soil will proceed only where sufficient improvements in soil performance and productivity are perceived or assured.” Sohi et al. (2010):A Review of Biochar and Its Use and Function in Soil. Advances in Agronomy, Volume 105. ISSN 0065-2113, DOI: 10.1016/S0065-2113(10)05002-9. http://www.soil-science.com/fileadmin/downloads/som/session5_4.pdf

Thank you!