Biochar Stability in a Highly Weathered Sandy Soil under Four Years of Continuous Corn Production

Jeffrey Michael Novak, Donald William Watts, Gilbert C. Sigua, William Tillman Myers, Thomas F. Ducey and Hannah C. Rushmiller
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Jeffrey Michael Novak: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), 2611 West Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501, USA
Donald William Watts: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), 2611 West Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501, USA
Gilbert C. Sigua: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), 2611 West Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501, USA
William Tillman Myers: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), 2611 West Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501, USA
Thomas F. Ducey: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), 2611 West Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501, USA
Hannah C. Rushmiller: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), 2611 West Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501, USA

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: Biochar is being considered a climate change mitigation tool by increasing soil organic carbon contents (SOC), however, questions remain concerning its longevity in soil. We applied 30,000 kg ha −1 of biochars to plots containing a Goldsboro sandy loam (Fine-loamy, siliceous, sub-active, thermic Aquic Paleudults) and then physically disked all plots. Thereafter, the plots were agronomically managed under 4 years (Y) of continuous corn ( Zea Mays , L.) planting. Annually, incremental soil along with corresponding bulk density samples were collected and SOC concentrations were measured in topsoil (down to 23-cm). The biochars were produced from Lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta ) chip (PC) and Poultry litter (PL) feedstocks. An untreated Goldsboro soil (0 biochar) served as a control. After four years, SOC contents in the biochar treated plots were highest in the top 0–5 and 5–10 cm depth suggesting minimal deeper movement. Declines in SOC contents varied with depth and biochar type. After correction for SOC declines in controls, PL biochar treated soil had a similar decline in SOC (7.9 to 10.3%) contents. In contrast, the largest % SOC content decline (20.2%) occurred in 0–5 cm deep topsoil treated with PC biochar. Our results suggest that PC biochar had less stability in the Goldsboro soil than PL biochar after 4 years of corn grain production.

Keywords: biochar stability; carbon sequestration; climate change; highly weathered soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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