Abstract
Biochar can play a key role in nutrient cycling, potentially affecting nitrogen retention when applied to soils. In this project, laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the adsorption properties of bamboo charcoal (BC) and the influence of BC on nitrogen retention at different soil depths using multi-layered soil columns. Results showed that BC could adsorb ammonium ion predominantly by cation exchange. Ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N) concentrations in the leachate of the soil columns showed significant differences at different depths after ammonium chloride application to the columns depending on whether BC had been added. Addition of 0.5% BC to the surface soil layer retarded the downward transport of NH4 +-N in the 70-day experiment, as indicated by measurements made during the first 7 days at 10 cm, and later, in the experimental period at 20 cm. In addition, application of BC reduced overall cumulative losses of NH4 +-N via leaching at 20 cm by 15.2%. Data appeared to suggest that BC could be used as a potential nutrient-retaining additive in order to increase the utilization efficiency of chemical fertilizers. Nonetheless, the effect of BC addition on controlling soil nitrogen losses through leaching needs to be further assessed before large-scale applications to agricultural fields are implemented.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alva, A. K., Paramasivam, S., Graham, W. D., & Wheaton, T. A. (2003). Best nitrogen and irrigation management practices for citrus production in sandy soils. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 143, 139–154.
Bakhsh, A., Kanwar, R. S., Pederson, C., & Bailey, T. B. (2007). N-source effects on temporal distribution of NO3-N leaching losses to subsurface drainage water. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 181, 35–50.
Camargo, J. A., & Alonso, Á. (2006). Ecological and toxicological effects of inorganic nitrogen pollution in aquatic ecosystems: A global assessment. Environment International, 32, 831–849.
Cheng, C. H., Lehmann, J., Thies, J. E., Burton, S. D., & Engelhard, M. H. (2006). Oxidation of black carbon by biotic and abiotic processes. Organic Geochemistry, 37, 1477–1488.
Cheng, C. H., Lehmann, J., & Engelhard, M. H. (2008). Natural oxidation of black carbon in soils: Changes in molecular form and surface charge along a climosequence. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 72, 1598–1610.
Forbes, M. S., Raison, R. J., & Skjemstad, J. O. (2006). Formation, transformation and transport of black carbon (charcoal) in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Science of the Total Environment, 370, 190–206.
Fraters, D., Leo, J. M., & Wim, D. (1998). Nitrogen monitoring in groundwater in the sandy regions of the Netherlands. Environmental Pollution, 102, 479–485.
Gentile, R., Vanlauwe, B., van Kessel, C., & Six, J. (2009). Managing N availability and losses by combining fertilizer-N with different quality residues in Kenya. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 131, 308–314.
Glaser, B., Balashov, E., Haumaier, L., Guggenberger, G., & Zech, W. (2000). Black carbon in density fractions of anthropogenic soils of the Brazilian Amazon region. Organic Geochemistry, 31, 669–678.
Hua, L., Wu, W., Liu, Y., McBride, M. B., & Chen, Y. (2009). Reduction of nitrogen loss and Cu and Zn mobility during sludge composting with bamboo charcoal amendment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 16, 1–9.
Iyobe, T., Asada, T., Kawata, K., & Oikawa, K. (2004). Comparison of removal efficiencies for ammonia and amine gases between woody charcoal and activated carbon. Journal of Health Science, 50, 148–153.
Lehmann, J. (2007). Bio-energy in the black. Front Ecol Environ, 5, 381–387.
Lehmann, J., da Silva, J. P., Jr., Steiner, C., Nehls, T., Zech, W., & Glaser, B. (2003). Nutrient availability and leaching in an archaeological Anthrosol and a Ferralsol of the Central Amazon basin: Fertilizer, manure and charcoal amendments. Plant and Soil, 249, 343–357.
Liang, B., Lehmann, J., Solomon, D., Kinyangi, J., Grossman, J., O’Neill, B., et al. (2006). Black carbon increases cation exchange capacity in soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 70, 1719–1730.
Luo, Y., Qiao, X., Song, J., Christie, P., & Wong, M. (2003). Use of a multi-layer column device for study on leachability of nitrate in sludge-amended soils. Chemosphere, 52, 1483–1488.
Major, J., Steiner, C., Ditommaso, A., Falcǎo, N. P. S., & Lenmann, J. (2005). Weed composition and cover after three years of soil fertility management in the central Brazilian Amazon: Compost, fertilizer, manure and charcoal applications. Weed Biology and Management, 5, 69–76.
Mathews, J. A. (2008). Carbon-negative biofuels. Energy Policy, 36, 940–945.
McHenry, M. P. (2009). Agricultural bio-char production, renewable energy generation and farm carbon sequestration in Western Australia: Certainty, uncertainty and risk. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 129, 1–7.
Oya, A., & Iu, W. G. (2002). Deodorization performance of charcoal particles loaded with orthophosphoric acid against ammonia and trimethylamine. Carbon, 40, 1391–1399.
Qiu, Y., Cheng, H., Xu, C., & Sheng, G. D. (2008). Surface characteristics of crop-residue-derived black carbon and lead (II) adsorption. Water Research, 42, 567–574.
Rocha, C. G., Zaia, D. A. M., da Silva Alfaya, R. V., & da Silva Alfaya, A. A. (2009). Use of rice straw as biosorbent for removal of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) ions in industrial effluents. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 166, 383–388.
Steiner, C., Teixeira, W. G., Lehmann, J., Nehls, T., de Macêdo, J. L. V., Blum, W. E. H., et al. (2007). Long term effects of manure, charcoal and mineral fertilization on crop production and fertility on a highly weathered Central Amazonian upland soil. Plant and Soil, 291, 275–290.
Thomsen, I. K., Hansen, J. F., Kjellerup, V., & Christensen, B. T. (1993). Effects of cropping system and rates of nitrogen in animal slurry and mineral fertilizer on nitrate leaching from a sandy loam. Soil Use and Management, 9, 53–58.
Tryon, E. H. (1948). Effect of charcoal on certain physical, chemical, and biological properties of forest soils. Ecological Monographs, 18, 81–115.
Wang, S. Y., Tsai, M. H., Lo, S. F., & Tsai, M. J. (2008). Effects of manufacturing conditions on the adsorption capacity of heavy metal ions by Makino bamboo charcoal. Bioresource Technology, 99, 7027–7033.
Yu, Q. G., Chen, Y. X., Ye, X. Z., Zhang, Z. J., & Tian, G. M. (2007). Influence of the DMPP (3, 4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate) on nitrogen transformation and leaching in multi-layer soil columns. Chemosphere, 69, 825–831.
Zheng, H., Han, L., Ma, H., Zheng, Y., Zhang, H., Liu, D., et al. (2008). Adsorption characteristics of ammonium ion by zeolite 13X. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 158, 577–584.
Acknowledgement
This research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (project No. 40873059), Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province Project (Grant No. 2008C13022-1), and National Critical Project for Science and Technology on Water Pollution Prevention and Control (No. 2008ZX07101-006).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Ying Ding and Yu-Xue Liu contribute equally to this paper.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ding, Y., Liu, YX., Wu, WX. et al. Evaluation of Biochar Effects on Nitrogen Retention and Leaching in Multi-Layered Soil Columns. Water Air Soil Pollut 213, 47–55 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0366-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0366-4