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Studies on the use of biochar as soil amendments have been attracting a

lot of scientific interest. Biochar not only enhances some soil fertility-related

soil properties, but can also sequester soil carbon resulting in mitigation of

global warming. Biochar characteristics vary with their production

conditions, i.e., feedstock and pyrolysis techniques. In addition, their effectiveness as soil amendments may vary in different soils.

BACKGROUND

To evaluate effects of biochar produced under contrasting pyrolysis

techniques and their application rates on plant biomass and properties of soils contrasting in texture and mineralogy

OBJECTIVE

MATERIALS AND METHODS (Continue) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Continue)

CONCLUSION

Biochar Characteristics and Rates Affecting Corn Growth and Properties of Soils Contrasting in Texture and Mineralogy

Somchai Butnan a Patma Vityakon a Jonathan L. Deenik b, Banyong Toomsan a,

Goro Uehara b, and Michael J. Antal, Jr. c

Table 1. Soil particle size distribution and texture of Khorat and Wahiawa soils

Soil Soil particle size distribution Soil Texture

% Sand % Silt % Clay

Khorat soil 79.85 17.64 2.51 Loamy sand

Wahiawa soil 7.94 35.61 56.45 Silty Clay Loam

BIOCHAR

Biochar was produced from the upper part of 5-year-old eucalyptus

(Eucalyptus camaldulensis) wood under different pyrolysis techniques (Fig 1):

(a) Thai conventional kiln (TK), and (b) flash carbonization (FC) reactor.

Pyrolysis Conditions of Biochar Production

TK biochar was produced at 500oC in a clay kiln (Fig.1a).

FC biochar was produced under a controlled flash fire at 1 MPa for 40

min with peak temperature reaching 800oC in the reaction canister (Fig.1b).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Biochar Characteristics

Biochar proximate analysis; i.e., volatile matter, ash, and fixed carbon

contents, was analyzed using ASTM D 1762-84 standard method, while

ultimate analysis; i.e., element contents, and ash composition were

conducted by Hazen Research, Inc., Golden, Colorado (Table 1).

SOIL

Soils with contrasting texture and mineralogy were used(Table 2,3):

Khorat soil series (loamy sandy, isohyperthermic Typic Oxyaquic

Kandiustults) was collected from 0 – 15 cm-depth soil in Fruit Tree station

,Khon Kaen University, Thailand.

Wahiawa soil series (very fine, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic, Rhodic,

Haplustox) was collected from 0–15 cm-depth soil at the Poamoho Research Station, University of Hawaii, USA.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted in the University of

Hawaii, USA testing two corn crop cycles. The experiment was arranged in 2

x 2 x 4 (soils, biochar types, and biochar rates, respectively) factorial

arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replications.

Fig 2. Treatments (a) and photograph (b) of the experiment

Khorat soil

- Biochar -Fertilizer

- Biochar + Fertilizer

+ TK biochar + Fertilizer

1% TK biochar

2% TK biochar

4% TK biochar

+ FC biochar + Fertilizer

1% FC biochar

2% FC biochar

4% FC biochar

Wahiawa soil

- Biochar -Fertilizer

- Biochar + Fertilizer

+ TK biochar + Fertilizer

1% TK biochar

2% TK biochar

4% TK biochar

+ FC biochar + Fertilizer

1% FC biochar

2% FC biochar

4% FC biochar

(a) (b)

Thai conventional kiln biochar

Flash carbonization biochar

Table 3. Proximate and ultimate analysis results and ash composition of TK and FC biochars

Parameter

Content

TK

biochar FC biochar

Proximate analysis (%) a

Moisture 3.76 3.16

VM d 35.79 14.65

Ash 2.35 3.85

fC e 61.86 81.49

Ultimate analysis (%) b

C 79.9 90.95

O 12.92 1.14

H 3.79 2.25

N 0.46 0.44

S 0.03 0.05

C:N ratio 174 207

C:O ratio 6 80

C:H ratio 21 40

Ash composition (g kg-1 biochar) b

SiO2 c 1.55 2.22

Al2O3 0.26 0.62

Fe2O3 0.72 3.28

CaO 7.57 14.58

MgO 0.71 0.97

K2O 6.15 9.41

P2O5 1.14 1.97 a Dry basis -ASTM D 1762-84. b Analyzed by Hazen Research Inc., Golden, Colorado. c The ash was calcined at 600oC prior to analysis. d Volatile matter (VM). e Fixed carbon (fC). f Data not avaiable (N/A).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Fig 1. Thai conventional kiln (a) and Flash carbonization reactor (b)

Fig 5. Influence of biochars on corn growth in two soils with contrasting texture and mineralogy.

a Department of Plant Science and Agricultural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. b Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Hawaii, Hawaii 96822, USA. C Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii, Hawaii 96822, USA

(a) (b)

EFFECT OF PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE ON BIOCHAR PROPERTIES

Table 5 shows analysis of variance of soil properties of

crop cycle 2.

We considered which soil properties were major

effects of corn growth by using Pearson correlation

between corn biomass vs. soil properties and corn

biomass vs. tissue nutrient uptake (Table 6).

Biochar properties varied significantly depending on pyrolysis conditions.

Biochar effects were more pronounced in the sandy Khorat soil than in clay

Wahiawa soil.

Contrary to expectations, the TK biochar improved soil properties and

plant growth more effectively than the FC biochar.

Increasing biochar application rate increased soil enhancement and plant

growth, except the highest rate. ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

This research was funded by the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program under the Thailand Research

Fund (TRF). Part of the research was funded by the Government of Thailand's Grant to Khon Kaen

University (FY 2010 and 2011) and affiliate scholar of Memorandum of Understanding between the East-

West Center (EWC), the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM), and the TRF. Additionally, this research is

specially dedicated to our professor and friend, Dr.Goro Uehara.

SELECTED REFERENCE

Deenik, J.L.; Uehara, G.; Antal, M.J.; Campbell, S. Soil Sci Soc of Am J, 2010, 74(4), 1259-1270.

Table 2. Selected initial properties of Khorat and Wahiawa soils Soil BD WHC pH Bray2-

P

Extractable cations

(Soil:H2O =

1:5) K Ca Mg Al Mn (g cm3) (%) (mg kg-1) ----------------------(cmolc kg-1) ---------------------

Khorat soil 1.43 20.5 5.52 5.73 0.04 0.28 0.09 4.25×10-2 0.025

Wahiawa soil 0.91 63.4 6.04 6.26 0.80 1.27 0.66 8.47×10-5 0.941

Table 4. Analysis of variance of corn biomass of crop

cycle 2

SOV df p-value

Block 2

Soil 1 ***

Biochar 1 **

Rate 3 ***

Soil × Biochar 1 NS

Soil × Rate 3 NS

Biochar × Rate 3 *

Soil × Biochar ×Rate 3 NS

Error 30

Total 47

C.V. (%) 24 A Source of variance (SOV).

b Degree of freedom (df).

***Significantly different at p < 0.001; **Significantly different

at p < 0.01; *Significantly different at p < 0.05; ns = not

significant

Soil bulk density (BD)

decreased with

increasing application

rate showing a

negative correlation

with corn growth

(Table 6).

FC biochar was more

effective at decreasing

soil BD than the TK

biochar (Fig 4a).

Ww-BC-Ferti Ww-BC+Fert Ww+1%TK+Fert Ww+4%TK+Fert

Ww+1%FC+Fert

Ww+2%TK+Fert

Ww+2%FC+Fert

Ww+4%FC+Fert

Kt-BC-Fert Kt+1%TK+FertKt-BC+Fert Kt+2%TK+Fert Kt+4%TK+Fert

Kt+1%FC+Fert

Kt+2%FC+Fert

Kt+4%FC+Fert

HYPOTHESES

Hyp1. Thai conventional kiln (TK) will produce biochar which has higher

volatile matter (VM) content but lower ash and fixed C than Flash

carbonization (FC) technique. Additionally, TK biochar will has lower

C content but higher O, H, and N content than FC biochar.

Hyp2. Biochar will improve soil properties and plant growth more in the

sandy (Khorat) soil than the clayey (Wahiawa) soil.

Hyp3. FC biochar will be more effective in improving soil properties and

plant growth than the TK biochar.

Hyp4. Increasing biochar application rate will increase soil enhancement

and plant growth.

TK biochar showed less

thermal alteration with higher

VM and lower ash and fixed

carbon content than the FC

biochar (Table 3).

TK biochar had lower

percentage of C but higher O,

H, and N than FC biochar;

further evidence that the FC

biochar experienced a higher

degree of carbonization

Elements which were related

to ash content were higher in

FC than in TK. Therefore, Hyp1

was accepted.

EFFECT OF BIOCHAR CHARACTERISTICS ON SOIL PROPERTIES

AND CORN GROWTH

Table 5. Analysis of variance of selected soil properties of

crop cycle 2

SOV a df p-value BD pH P K Ca Mg

Block 2

Soil 1 *** *** *** *** *** ***

Biochar 1 * *** NS ** *** NS

Rate 3 *** *** *** *** *** ***

Soil × Biochar 1 NS ** NS * NS NS

Soil × Rate 3 * * * ** NS ***

Biochar × Rate 3 NS *** NS NS *** NS

Soil × Biochar × Rate 3 NS NS NS NS NS NS

Error 30

Total 47

C.V. (%) 9.3 3.2 31.9 41.6 9.4 7.1 a Source of variance (SOV).

b Degree of freedom (df).

***Significantly different at p < 0.001; **Significantly different at p < 0.01;

*Significantly different at p < 0.05; ns = not significant

Biochar application rate (%, w/w)

0 1 2 3 4

Corn

bio

mass (

g p

ot-1

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Khorat soil + TK biochar

Khorat soil + FC biochar

Wahiawa soil + TK biochar

Wahiawa soil + FC biochar

Biochar showed minimal effects

on plant growth during crop cycle

1 (data not shown).

Biochar significantly increased

plant growth in the crop cycle 2

with significant soil, biochar, and

rate effects (Table 4).

Fig 3. Relationship between corn biomass and biochar application rate of Khorat and Wahiawa soils amended with TK- and FC biochar

Table 6. Correlation matrix of corn biomass vs. soil properties and corn biomass vs. tissue nutrients Soil properties Tissue nutrient

pH BD P Extractable cations FDA Concen

tration Uptake

Corn biomass of K Ca Mg Al Mn Mn N P K Ca Mg

Khorat soil + TK biochar 0.125 -0.612 -0.613 -0.776 0.647 -0.869 -0.114 - -0.217 -0.254 0.814 0.884 0.518 0.912 0.836

Khorat soil + FC biochar 0.094 -0.357 -0.492 -0.562 0.217 -0.589 -0.495 - 0.149 0.059 0.360 0.491 0.465 0.729 0.871

Wahiawa soil + TK biochar 0.564 -0.693 -0.191 -0.637 -0.148 -0.756 - -0.175 -0.514 -0.591 0.835 0.816 0.789 0.917 0.877

Wahiawa soil + FC biochar 0.618 -0.711 -0.514 -0.465 0.164 -0.667 - -0.434 -0.718 -0.476 0.845 0.790 0.649 0.898 0.829 In bold, significant values (except diagonal) at the level of significance alpha=0.050 (two-tailed test)

Macro-nutrients, i.e., N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, were important

elements which were contributed by both TK and FC biochars

(Fig 4b,c,d,e,f).

(a) Soil BD

Biochar application rate (%, w/w)

0 1 2 3 4

Soil

bulk

density (

g c

m-3

)

0.0

.2

.4

.6

.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8Khorat soil + TK biochar

Khorat soil + FC biochar

Wahiawa soil + TK biochar

Wahiawa soil + FC biochar

(b) Tissue N uptake

Biochar application rate (%, w/w)

0 1 2 3 4

N u

pta

ke (

mg

pot-1

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

(c) Tissue P uptake

Biochar application rate (%, w/w)

0 1 2 3 4

P u

pta

ke (

mg

pot-1

)

0

10

20

30

40

(d) Tissue K uptake

Biochar application rate (%, w/w)

0 1 2 3 4

K u

pta

ke (

mg

pot-1

)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

(e) Tissue Ca uptake

Biochar application rate (%, w/w)

0 1 2 3 4

Ca u

pta

ke (

mg

pot-1

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

(f) Tissue Mg uptake

Biochar application rate (%, w/w)

0 1 2 3 4

Mg

up

take (

mg

pot-1

)

0

10

20

30

40

50 Fig 4. Relationship between

biochar application rate vs.

soil bulk density and biochar

application rate vs. tissue nutrient uptake

Corn biomass in both Khorat and Wahiawa soils increased with

biochar application rate (Fig 3), with higher growth response in

Khorat soil than in Wahiawa soil (Hyp2 and 4 were accepted).

However, contrary to expectation, biomass was higher with TK

biochar than with FC biochar (Hyp3 was rejected).

At the highest application rate of Wahiawa soil, corn biomass

statistically decreased.

The increase of corn biomass by biochar application rate was

higher in TK biochar than in FC biochar. Corn growth of FC

biochar decreased at the highest rate.