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Organic coating on biochar explains its nutrient retention and stimulation of soil fertility

Author

Listed:
  • Nikolas Hagemann

    (University of Tuebingen
    Environmental Analytics, Agroscope)

  • Stephen Joseph

    (School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chemistry, University of Newcastle
    School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales
    Nanjing Agricultural University)

  • Hans-Peter Schmidt

    (Ithaka Institute for Carbon Strategies)

  • Claudia I. Kammann

    (Hochschule Geisenheim University)

  • Johannes Harter

    (University of Tuebingen)

  • Thomas Borch

    (Colorado State University)

  • Robert B. Young

    (Colorado State University)

  • Krisztina Varga

    (University of New Hampshire)

  • Sarasadat Taherymoosavi

    (School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chemistry, University of Newcastle)

  • K. Wade Elliott

    (University of New Hampshire)

  • Amy McKenna

    (Florida State University)

  • Mihaela Albu

    (Austrian Cooperative Research, Centre for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis)

  • Claudia Mayrhofer

    (Austrian Cooperative Research, Centre for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis)

  • Martin Obst

    (BayCEER Analytics, University of Bayreuth)

  • Pellegrino Conte

    (Università degli Studi di Palermo)

  • Alba Dieguez-Alonso

    (Technische Universität Berlin)

  • Silvia Orsetti

    (Center for Applied Geoscience, University of Tuebingen)

  • Edisson Subdiaga

    (Center for Applied Geoscience, University of Tuebingen)

  • Sebastian Behrens

    (University of Minnesota
    BioTechonology Institute, 140 Gortner Labs)

  • Andreas Kappler

    (University of Tuebingen)

Abstract

Amending soil with biochar (pyrolized biomass) is suggested as a globally applicable approach to address climate change and soil degradation by carbon sequestration, reducing soil-borne greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing soil nutrient retention. Biochar was shown to promote plant growth, especially when combined with nutrient-rich organic matter, e.g., co-composted biochar. Plant growth promotion was explained by slow release of nutrients, although a mechanistic understanding of nutrient storage in biochar is missing. Here we identify a complex, nutrient-rich organic coating on co-composted biochar that covers the outer and inner (pore) surfaces of biochar particles using high-resolution spectro(micro)scopy and mass spectrometry. Fast field cycling nuclear magnetic resonance, electrochemical analysis and gas adsorption demonstrated that this coating adds hydrophilicity, redox-active moieties, and additional mesoporosity, which strengthens biochar-water interactions and thus enhances nutrient retention. This implies that the functioning of biochar in soil is determined by the formation of an organic coating, rather than biochar surface oxidation, as previously suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikolas Hagemann & Stephen Joseph & Hans-Peter Schmidt & Claudia I. Kammann & Johannes Harter & Thomas Borch & Robert B. Young & Krisztina Varga & Sarasadat Taherymoosavi & K. Wade Elliott & Amy McKen, 2017. "Organic coating on biochar explains its nutrient retention and stimulation of soil fertility," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01123-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01123-0
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    1. repec:mth:jas888:v:6:y:2018:i:3:p:1-33 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Kun Li & Guangcai Yin & Qiuyuan Xu & Junhua Yan & Zeng-Yei Hseu & Liwei Zhu & Qintie Lin, 2020. "Influence of Aged Biochar Modified by Cd 2+ on Soil Properties and Microbial Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Shu-Yuan Pan & Cheng-Di Dong & Jenn-Fang Su & Po-Yen Wang & Chiu-Wen Chen & Jo-Shu Chang & Hyunook Kim & Chin-Pao Huang & Chang-Mao Hung, 2021. "The Role of Biochar in Regulating the Carbon, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen Cycles Exemplified by Soil Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-34, May.
    4. Ratnajit Saha & Lakshman Galagedara & Raymond Thomas & Muhammad Nadeem & Kelly Hawboldt, 2020. "Investigating the Influence of Biochar Amendment on the Physicochemical Properties of Podzolic Soil," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-29, October.
    5. Giuliano Bonanomi & Mohamed Idbella & Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad, 2021. "Microbiota Management for Effective Disease Suppression: A Systematic Comparison between Soil and Mammals Gut," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    6. Anders Hansson & Simon Haikola & Mathias Fridahl & Pius Yanda & Edmund Mabhuye & Noah Pauline, 2021. "Biochar as multi-purpose sustainable technology: experiences from projects in Tanzania," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 5182-5214, April.
    7. Hossein Beidaghy Dizaji & Thomas Zeng & Volker Lenz & Dirk Enke, 2022. "Valorization of Residues from Energy Conversion of Biomass for Advanced and Sustainable Material Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-5, April.
    8. Alba Dieguez-Alonso & Axel Funke & Andrés Anca-Couce & Alessandro Girolamo Rombolà & Gerardo Ojeda & Jörg Bachmann & Frank Behrendt, 2018. "Towards Biochar and Hydrochar Engineering—Influence of Process Conditions on Surface Physical and Chemical Properties, Thermal Stability, Nutrient Availability, Toxicity and Wettability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-26, February.
    9. Radheshyam Yadav & Wusirika Ramakrishna, 2023. "Biochar as an Environment-Friendly Alternative for Multiple Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    10. Maria Rosaria Boni & Agostina Chiavola & Simone Marzeddu, 2018. "Application of Biochar to the Remediation of Pb-Contaminated Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, November.
    11. JoungDu Shin & Eunjung Choi & EunSuk Jang & Seung Gil Hong & SangRyong Lee & Balasubramani Ravindran, 2018. "Adsorption Characteristics of Ammonium Nitrogen and Plant Responses to Biochar Pellet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-1, April.
    12. Simeng Li & Gang Chen, 2020. "Contemporary strategies for enhancing nitrogen retention and mitigating nitrous oxide emission in agricultural soils: present and future," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 2703-2741, April.

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