Effect of Pyrochar and Hydrochar on Water Evaporation in Clayey Soil under Greenhouse Cultivation

Yang Liu, Xiaoyu Liu, Ni Ren, Yanfang Feng, Lihong Xue and Linzhang Yang
Additional contact information
Yang Liu: Research Center of IoT Agriculture Applications/Institute of Agricultural Information, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
Xiaoyu Liu: Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
Ni Ren: Research Center of IoT Agriculture Applications/Institute of Agricultural Information, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
Yanfang Feng: Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
Lihong Xue: Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
Linzhang Yang: Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-10

Abstract: Greenhouse cultivation consumes large volumes of freshwater, and excessive irrigation induces environmental problems, such as nutrient leaching and secondary salinization. Pyrochar (biochar from high-temperature pyrolysis) is an effective soil amendment, and researches have shown that pyrochar application could maintain soil nutrient and enhance carbon sequestration. In addition to pyrochar from pyrolysis, hydrochar from hydrothermic carbonization is considered as a new type of biochar and has the advantages of low energy consumption and a high productive rate. However, the effect of these two biochars on water evaporation in clayey soils under a greenhouse system has seldom been studied. The relationship between water evaporation and biochar properties is still unknown. Thus, in the present study, water evaporation under pyrochar and hydrochar application were recorded. Results showed that both pyrochar and hydrochar application could inhibit water evaporation in clayey soil under greenhouse cultivation. Pyrochar showed a better inhibition effect compared with hydrochar. Correlation analysis indicated that the water evaporation rate was significantly positively correlated with bulk density of biochar ( p < 0.05). Overall, application of pyrochar or hydrochar could both reduce soil bulk density and inhibit soil evaporation, and be available for greenhouse cultivation. However, the inhibition effect depends on the properties of the biochar.

Keywords: soil evaporation; hydrochar; pyrochar; greenhouse cultivation; clayey soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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