Assessing Nitrogen Cycling in Corncob Biochar Amended Soil Columns for Application in Agricultural Treatment Systems

Abstract

Biochar soil amendment to agricultural systems can reduce nitrogen (N) leaching; however, application to agricultural nitrogen treatment systems has not been extensively explored. The objective of this study was to assess the impact on N leaching in soils receiving repeated N applications which may be observed in agricultural treatment systems. In this study, 400 °C, 700 °C, and oxidized 700 °C corncob biochar was amended to sandy loam soil columns at 5% (wt/wt) to assess the impacts to N cycling following repeated synthetic N applications. Columns received weekly applications of either organic N (ORG-N), ammonium (NH4+-N), or nitrate (NO3−-N) and the N effluent, gaseous emissions, and soil N retention was measured. Biochar produced at 400 °C significantly reduced N leaching compared to control columns by 19% and 15% for ORG-N and NH4+-N, respectively, with application concentrations similar to silage bunker runoff. For NO3−-N applications, 700 °C biochar significantly reduced leaching by 25% compared to the controls. The primary mechanism reducing N effluent for biochar amended columns was enhanced soil retention of ORG-N and NO3−-N. Biochar surface chemistry analysis measured an increase in oxygenated functional groups and cationic minerals on the biochar surface, which likely enhanced retention through cationic bridging or the development of an organomineral layer on the biochar surface. Results indicated biochar amendment to agricultural treatment systems receiving N runoff may reduce the risk of N leaching.