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Influence of Sugarcane Bagasse‐derived Biochar Application on Nitrate Leaching in Calcaric Dark Red Soil
Author(s) -
Kameyama K.,
Miyamoto T.,
Shiono T.,
Shinogi Y.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2010.0453
Subject(s) - bagasse , biochar , charcoal , leaching (pedology) , soil water , adsorption , fertilizer , nitrate , pyrolysis , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , environmental science , agronomy , soil science , organic chemistry , biology , engineering
Application of biochar has been suggested to improve water‐ and fertilizer‐retaining capacity of agricultural soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of bagasse charcoal (sugarcane [ Saccharum officinarum L.] bagasse–derived biochar) on nitrate (NO 3 − ) leaching from Shimajiri Maji soil, which has low water‐ and fertilizer‐retaining capacity. The nitrate adsorption properties of bagasse charcoal formed at five pyrolysis temperatures (400–800°C) were investigated to select the most suitable bagasse charcoal for NO 3 − adsorption. Nitrate was able to adsorb onto the bagasse charcoal formed at pyrolysis temperatures of 700 to 800°C. Nitrate adsorption by bagasse charcoal (formed at 800°C) that passed through a 2‐mm sieve was in a state of nonequilibrium even at 20 h after the addition of 20 mg N L −1 KNO 3 solution. Measurements suggested that the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of bagasse charcoal (800°C)–amended soils are affected by changes in soil tortuosity and porosity and the presence of meso‐ and micropores in the bagasse charcoal, which did not contribute to soil water transfer. In NO 3 − leaching studies using bagasse charcoal (800°C)–amended soils with different charcoal contents (0–10% [w/w]), the maximum concentration of NO 3 − in effluents from bagasse charcoal–amended soil columns was approximately 5% less than that from a nonamended soil column because of NO 3 − adsorption by bagasse charcoal (800°C). We conclude that application of bagasse charcoal (800°C) to the soil will increase the residence time of NO 3 − in the root zone of crops and provide greater opportunity for crops to absorb NO 3 − .