Research and Application of Biochar in Soil CO 2 Emission, Fertility, and Microorganisms: A Sustainable Solution to Solve China’s Agricultural Straw Burning Problem

Huanhuan Wang, Tianbao Ren, Huijuan Yang, Yuqing Feng, Huilin Feng, Guoshun Liu, Quanyu Yin and Hongzhi Shi
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Huanhuan Wang: School of Tobacco, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Tianbao Ren: School of Tobacco, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Huijuan Yang: School of Tobacco, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Yuqing Feng: School of Tobacco, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Huilin Feng: School of Tobacco, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Guoshun Liu: School of Tobacco, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Quanyu Yin: School of Tobacco, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Hongzhi Shi: School of Tobacco, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: This study aimed to explore a new way to address the burning of agricultural waste in China while achieving the sustainable use of it. Three agricultural wastes (Wheat straw, peanut shell, and rice husk) were slowly pyrolyzed into biochar, which was subsequently added to the soil to reduce CO 2 emissions from the soil, and to improve soil fertility as well as microbial community structure. The biochar and raw materials were added to the soil and cultured under controlled conditions, and then the CO 2 emissions produced from the mixing. At the same time, this study used pot experiments to determine the effects of biochar on tobacco soil physical and chemical properties and, therefore, the microbial communities of the soil. This study suggests that (1) biochar can effectively reduce soil CO 2 emission rate. Compared with the control, peanut shell biochar could reduce the total CO 2 emissions of soil by 33.41%, and the total CO 2 emissions of wheat straw biochar treatment was 90.25% lower than that of wheat straw treatment. (2) The soil’s physical and chemical properties were improved. The soil bulk density of wheat straw biochar treatment kept 34.57% lower than that of the control as well as 21.15% lower than that of wheat straw treatment. The soil’s organic carbon of peanut shell biochar treatment was 87.62% more than that of peanut shell treatment. (3) Biochar changed soil microbial community structure. (4) Biochar is suitable for tobacco growth. Peanut husk biochar significantly increased the total biomass of tobacco, and wheat straw biochar significantly increased tobacco root vigor. This study concluded that processing Chinese agricultural waste into biochar and adding it to the soil instead of burning it directly would be an effective means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to improve soil, and to promote crop growth.

Keywords: biochar; agricultural waste; soil; CO 2 emission; fertility; tobacco (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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