Optimal Thermolysis Conditions for Soil Carbon Storage on Plant Residue Burning: Modeling the Trade‐Off between Thermal Decomposition and Subsequent Biodegradation

Field burning of plant biomass is a widespread practice that provides charred materials to soils. Its impact on soil C sequestration remains unclear due to the heterogeneity of burning products and difficulty in monitoring the material's biodegradation in fields. Basic information is needed on the relationship between burning conditions and the resulting quantity/quality of residue‐derived C altered by thermal decomposition and biodegradation. In this study, we thermolyzed residues (rice straw and husk) at different temperatures (200–600°C) under two oxygen availability conditions and measured thermal mass loss, C compositional change by solid‐state 13 C NMR spectroscopy, and biodegradability of the thermally altered residues by laboratory aerobic incubation. A trade‐off existed between thermal and microbial decomposition: when burned at higher temperatures, residues experience a greater mass loss but become more recalcitrant via carbonization. When an empirical model accounting for the observed trade‐off was projected over 10 2 to 10 3 yr, we identified the threshold temperature range (330–400°C) above and below which remaining residue C is strongly reduced. This temperature range corresponded to the major loss of O‐alkyl C and increase in aromatic C. The O/C molar ratios of the resultant residues decreased to 0.2 to 0.4, comparable to those of chars in fire‐prone field soils reported previously. Although the negative impacts of biomass burning need to be accounted for, the observed relationship may help to assess the long‐term fate of burning‐derived C and to enhance soil C sequestration.