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Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil

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  • Martha Lustosa Carvalho

    (Department of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture/University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba SP 13418-900, Brazil)

  • Moacir Tuzzin de Moraes

    (Department of Agronomic Science (DAGRO-FB), Federal University of Technology-Paraná campus Francisco Beltrão, Francisco Beltrão PR 85601-970, Brazil)

  • Carlos Eduardo P. Cerri

    (Department of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture/University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba SP 13418-900, Brazil)

  • Maurício Roberto Cherubin

    (Department of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture/University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba SP 13418-900, Brazil)

Abstract

The use of biochar, which is the solid product of biomass pyrolysis, in agricultural soils, has been shown as a strategic solution for building soil carbon stocks and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. However, biochar amendment might also benefit other key soil processes and services, such as those that are related to water retention, particularly in sandy soils. Here, we conducted an experiment to investigate the potential of biochar to enhance pore size distribution and water retention properties in a tropical sandy soil. Three biochar rates were incorporated (equivalent to 6.25, 12.5, and 25 Mg ha −1 ) into plastic pots containing a sandy Oxisol sampled from a sugarcane field in Brazil. Undisturbed samples of the mixture were collected at two evaluation times (50 and 150 days) and used to determine water retention curves and other soil physical properties. The results showed that biochar amendment decreased soil bulk density and increased water retention capacity, micropore volume, and available water content. Higher soil water retention in amended soil is associated with the inherent characteristics of biochar (e.g., internal porosity) and potential improvements in soil structure. Microporosity and water retention were enhanced with intermediate biochar rate (12.5 Mg ha −1 ), instead of the highest rate (25 Mg ha −1 ) tested. Further studies are needed to validate these results under field conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Martha Lustosa Carvalho & Moacir Tuzzin de Moraes & Carlos Eduardo P. Cerri & Maurício Roberto Cherubin, 2020. "Biochar Amendment Enhances Water Retention in a Tropical Sandy Soil," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:10:y:2020:i:3:p:62-:d:328152
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dominic Woolf & James E. Amonette & F. Alayne Street-Perrott & Johannes Lehmann & Stephen Joseph, 2010. "Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-9, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hugo Alexander Rondón-Quintana & Fredy Alberto Reyes-Lizcano & Saieth Baudilio Chaves-Pabón & Juan Gabriel Bastidas-Martínez & Carlos Alfonso Zafra-Mejía, 2022. "Use of Biochar in Asphalts: Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Mehnaz Mosharrof & Md. Kamal Uddin & Shamshuddin Jusop & Muhammad Firdaus Sulaiman & S. M. Shamsuzzaman & Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul Haque, 2021. "Changes in Acidic Soil Chemical Properties and Carbon Dioxide Emission Due to Biochar and Lime Treatments," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Mehnaz Mosharrof & Md. Kamal Uddin & Shamim Mia & Muhammad Firdaus Sulaiman & Shordar M. Shamsuzzaman & Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul Haque, 2022. "Influence of Rice Husk Biochar and Lime in Reducing Phosphorus Application Rate in Acid Soil: A Field Trial with Maize," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Josef Slaboch & Lukáš Čechura & Michal Malý & Jiří Mach, 2022. "The Shadow Values of Soil Hydrological Properties in the Production Potential of Climatic Regionalization of the Czech Republic," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, December.

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