Biochar incorporation increased nitrogen and carbon retention in a waste-derived soil
dc.contributor.author | Schofield, HK | |
dc.contributor.author | Pettitt, TR | |
dc.contributor.author | Tappin, Alan | |
dc.contributor.author | Rollinson, GK | |
dc.contributor.author | Fitzsimons, Mark | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2019-07-12T14:04:19Z | |
dc.date.available | 2019-07-12T14:04:19Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2019-11-10 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0048-9697 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1879-1026 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/14630 | |
dc.description.abstract |
The synthesis of manufactured soils converts waste materials to value-added products, alleviating pressures on both waste disposal infrastructure and topsoils. For manufactured soils to be effective media for plant growth, they must retain and store plant-available nutrients, including nitrogen. In this study, biochar applications were tested for their ability to retain nitrogen in a soil manufactured from waste materials. A biochar, produced from horticultural green waste, was added to a manufactured soil at 2, 5 and 10 % (by weight), then maintained at 15 °C and irrigated with water (0.84 mL m-2 d-1) over 6 weeks. Total dissolved nitrogen concentrations in soil leachate decreased by 25.2, 30.6 and 44.0 % at biochar concentrations of 2, 5 and 10 %, respectively. Biochar also changed the proportions of each nitrogen-fraction in collected samples. Three mechanisms for biochar-induced nitrogen retention were possible: i) increased cation and anion exchange capacity of the substrate; ii) retention of molecules within the biochar pore spaces; iii) immobilisation of nitrogen through microbial utilisation of labile carbon further supported by increased soil moisture content, surface area, and pH. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations in leachate were reduced (-34.7 %, -28.9 %, and -16.7 %) in the substrate with 2, 5 and 10 % biochar additions, respectively. Fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis data showed increased microbial metabolic activity with biochar application (14.7 ± 0.5, 25.4 ± 5.3, 27.0 ± 0.1, 46.1 ± 6.1 µg FL g-1 h-1 for applications at 0, 2, 5, and 10 %, respectively), linking biochar addition to enhanced microbial activity. These data highlight the potential for biochar to suppress the long-term turnover of SOM and promote carbon sequestration, and a long-term sustainable growth substrate provided by the reuse of waste materials diverted from landfill. | |
dc.format.extent | 1228-1236 | |
dc.format.medium | Print-Electronic | |
dc.language | en | |
dc.language.iso | en | |
dc.publisher | Elsevier | |
dc.subject | Waste materials | |
dc.subject | Sustainability | |
dc.subject | Biochar | |
dc.subject | Manufactured soil | |
dc.subject | Nitrogen | |
dc.subject | Carbon | |
dc.title | Biochar incorporation increased nitrogen and carbon retention in a waste-derived soil | |
dc.type | journal-article | |
dc.type | Journal Article | |
plymouth.author-url | https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000482549900111&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=11bb513d99f797142bcfeffcc58ea008 | |
plymouth.volume | 690 | |
plymouth.publication-status | Published | |
plymouth.journal | Science of the Total Environment | |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.116 | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Faculty of Science and Engineering | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Faculty of Science and Engineering/School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA/UoA07 Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Research Groups | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Research Groups/BEACh | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Research Groups/Marine Institute | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Users by role | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Users by role/Academics | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Users by role/Researchers in ResearchFish submission | |
dc.publisher.place | Netherlands | |
dcterms.dateAccepted | 2019-07-08 | |
dc.rights.embargodate | 2020-7-7 | |
dc.identifier.eissn | 1879-1026 | |
dc.rights.embargoperiod | Not known | |
rioxxterms.versionofrecord | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.116 | |
rioxxterms.licenseref.uri | http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved | |
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate | 2019-11-10 | |
rioxxterms.type | Journal Article/Review |