Author:
Olufemi Isimikalu Theophilus
Abstract
Due to its potential for improving soil fertility and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, biochar is frequently used as a soil amendment. This chapter presents an overview of its application and soil conditioning mechanisms as a technique for long-term carbon sequestration and lower greenhouse gas emissions, as well as an option for improving soil fertility. It focuses on biochar amendment for improved soil properties that support plant nutrient uptake and crop yield improvement, soil properties and biochar carbon sequestration dynamics, biochar degradation processes, and soil interactions and conditioning mechanisms that influence biochar carbon stability in soils. Current biochar stability assessment techniques used in academic studies are also addressed, along with their suitability for use with various goals and situations.
Reference64 articles.
1. Lal R. Methods and Guidelines for Assessing Sustainable Use of Soil and Water Resources in the Tropics. Columbus, Ohio, Washington, D.C.: Department of Agronomy, Ohio Sate University; Soil Management Support Services, Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 1994
2. Waters D, Van Zwieten L, Singh BP, Downie A, Cowie L, Lehmann J. Biochar in soil for climate change mitigation and adaptation. In: Singh BP, Cowie AL, Chan KY, editors. Soil Health and Climate Change. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag London Ltd.; 2011. pp. 345-368. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-20256-8_15
3. Keith B, Singh BP. Interactive priming of biochar and labile organic matter mineralization in a smectite-rich soil. Environmental Science and Technology. 2011;45:9611-9618
4. Park JH, Lamb D, Paneerselvam P, Choppala G, Bolan N, Chung JW. Role of organic amendments on enhanced bioremediation of heavy metal(loid) contaminated soils. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2011;185:549-574
5. Woolf D, Amonette JE, Street-Perrott FA, Lehmann J, Joseph S. Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change. Nature Communications. 2010;1(5):1-9. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1053