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Non Commercial Use Only IJA-2017_2.qxp_Hrev_master 10/07/17 10:50 Pagina 161 Italian Journal of Agronomy 2017; volume 12:794 Crop response to soils amended with biochar: expected benefits and unintended risks Raghunath Subedi, Chiara Bertora, Laura Zavattaro, Carlo Grignani Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Italy Abstract Introduction Biochar (BC) from biomass waste pyrolysis has been widely In the agricultural sector, the term biochar (BC) is acknowl- studied due to its ability to increase carbon sequestration, reduce edged as a tool for soil management and carbon (C) sequestration greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance both crop growth and soil (Barrow, 2012; Jeffery et al., 2015b; Smith, 2016). It is a solid quality. This review summarises the current knowledge of BC pro- material, rich in recalcitrant C, derived from anaerobic heating of duction, characterisation, and types, with a focus on its positive biomass such as wood, manure, sludge, or crop residue (Lehmann effects on crop yield and soil properties vs the unintended risks asso- and Joseph, 2015). The use of BC for soil C sequestration fol- ciated with these effects. Biochar-amended soils enhance crop lowed the discovery of so-called terra preta, the charcoal-rich and growth and yield via several mechanisms: expanded plant nutrient highly fertile soil of the central Amazon basin (Barrow, 2012). and water availability through increased use efficiencies, improved Biochar, a secondary product of pyrolysis after syngas and bio-oil soil quality, and suppression of soil and plant diseases. Yield production for bioenergy (Srinivasan et al., 2015; Jeffery et al., response to BC has been shown to be more evident in acidic and 2015b), is touted for its diverse and positive agricultural roles. Its sandy soils than in alkaline and fine-textured soils. Biochar compo- C sequestration (Lehmann and Joseph, 2015) and greenhouse gas sition and properties vary considerably with feedstock and pyrolysis (GHG) emission reductiononly (Cayuela et al., 2014; Ameloot et al., conditions so much that its concentrations of toxic compounds and 2013a, 2016; Smith, 2016) help mitigate climate change and heavy metals can negatively impact crop and soil health. potential adverse impacts to ecosystems from agriculture (Barrow, Consequently, more small-scale and greenhouse-sited studies are in 2012; Liu et al., 2014). Additionally, it (Jensen 2013a, 2013b) rep- process to investigate the role of BC/soil/crop types on crop growth, use resents an alternative means by which to contain water and atmo- and the mechanisms by which they influence crop yield. Similarly, spheric pollution ascribed to large volumes of crop and animal a need exists for long-term, field-scale studies on the effects (bene- wastes (Jeffery et al., 2015b). As a soil amendment (Lehmann et ficial and harmful) of BC amendment on soil health and crop yields, al., 2011, 2015; Windeatt et al., 2014), BC has received increased so that production guidelines and quality standards may be devel- interest due to its role in enhancing nutrient- and water-use effi- oped for BCs derived from a range of feedstocks. ciencies (Van Zwieten et al., 2010; Singh et al., 2010; Barrow, 2012). Finally, it has been found to immobilise and remove soil and water contaminants (Novak et al., 2016). Keeping in view its Correspondence: Laura Zavattaro, Department of Agricultural, Forest multifaceted benefits, BC emerges as a social, economic, and and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 environmental friendly product (BRC, 2014). Grugliasco (TO), Italy. The positive effects of amending the soil with BC include E-mail: [email protected] commercialincreased crop productivity and soil fertility (Liu et al., 2013, 2014; Windeatt et al., 2014; Biederman and Harpole, 2013; Key words: Feedstock type; Pyrolysis temperature; Crop yield; Carbon Jeffery et al., 2011, 2015b) mainly through improved quality, C sequestration; Soil quality. storage, infiltration, and water holding capacity of soil (Mukherjee and Lal, 2013; Mukherjee et al., 2014). Compared to other amend- Acknowledgments: the authors thank the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European UnionNon Seventh Framework Programme ments, BC is thought to be C-negative because it is derived from FP7/2007-2013/ under REA grant agreement number 289887 for their atmospheric CO2 captured by plants, which is then diverted to the financial support of this work, Joan C. Leonard for her precious help in soil in a very stable form where it can remain for several years revising the text, and two anonymous reviewers for their valuable sug- (Lehmann and Joseph, 2015; Smith, 2016). Authors have also gestions. reported that applying BC to agricultural soils can lead to resis- tance against several soil- and air-borne plant diseases (such as Received for publication: 9 May 2016. potato rot, tomato seedling damping-off, pepper and strawberry Revision received: 12 December 2016. fungal diseases, and carrot root-lesion nematode), through stimu- Accepted for publication: 19 December 2016. lation of several general defence pathways and promotion of defence-related gene expression (Elad et al., 2011; Harel et al., ©Copyright R. Subedi et al., 2017 Licensee PAGEPress, Italy 2012; George et al., 2016). Italian Journal of Agronomy 2017; 12:794 Despite its many benefits, BC also poses risks, associated with doi:10.4081/ija.2017.794 the properties of the original feedstock and thermal process condi- tions (Deenik et al., 2010; Spokas et al., 2011; Freddo et al., 2012; This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Barrow, 2012; Quilliam et al., 2013b; Butnan et al., 2015; Camps- Attribution Noncommercial License (by-nc 4.0) which permits any non- Arbestain et al., 2015; Domene et al., 2015; Genesio et al., 2016). commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provid- These can range from heavy metal soil accumulation to toxic com- ed the original author(s) and source are credited. pound release, and to other negative effects on soil biota and [Italian Journal of Agronomy 2017; 12:794] [page 161] IJA-2017_2.qxp_Hrev_master 10/07/17 10:50 Pagina 162 Review human health. This review paper analyses the current knowledge Conversely, fast and intermediate pyrolysis at greater PTs of BC production and characterisation not only to emphasise its (>500°C), with short residence time of 1-30 seconds, produce more role in enhancing crop yield, but also to unleash its potential risks. liquid (bio-oil) products (50−75%) and higher fixed-C-containing This paper has been sectioned as follows: BC properties, impacts BC whereas more solid (char) and gaseous (syngas) product (up to on soil quality, and selected crops productivity as a function of BC 35% each) is obtained through slow pyrolysis at low PTs with long properties, application rates, post-application elapsed time, and residence time (>30 minutes) (Figure 1; Bridgwater, 2012; Enders external environmental conditions. Furthermore, we examine the et al., 2012). Nonetheless, it is feedstock choice and market condi- undesirable soil and crop effects that may occur following BC tions that often drive optimisation of pyrolytic conditions. application to agricultural soils. Hydrochar, an HTC product, contrasts with BC in that it is pro- duced from feedstock pyrolysis under subcritical conditions (liquid water), called wet pyrolysis (Libra et al., 2011; Subedi et al., 2015). The process normally operates at pressures and temperatures of Biochar production and properties 15-25 MPa and 180-250°C, respectively (Kammann et al., 2012). The C-content of hydrochar is lower relative to BC as some biomass-C leaches as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) during the Pyrolysis processing conditions reaction with water, although both the C and N gaseous losses are Biochar can be produced from a variety of feedstocks (Cantrell almost negligible (Appendix Table 1; Kammann et al., 2012; et al., 2012; Jeffery et al., 2015b; Ronsse et al., 2013). The condi- Subedi et al., 2015). It is often reported that HTC operating condi- tions for its optimal production with improved nutrient properties tions never attain spontaneous carbonisation temperatures, and differ with the original feedstock (manure, sewage sludge, bio- thus, remain endothermic. However, we know even less of solid, crop residue, or wood biomass), thermal process used (pyrol- hydrochar production, characterisation, and application than we do ysis, gasification, or hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC), and BC (Libra et al., 2011). pyrolytic conditions (slow/fast or low/high temperature) (Figure 1; Spokas et al., 2012; Bridgwater, 2012; Mukome et al., 2013; Li et Biochar properties as a function of processing conditions al., 2016). Biochar production can be optimised at pyrolytic tem- Appendix Table 1 showsonly that BC properties are governed by peratures (PT) between 300 and 800°C. Gasification of biomass feedstock type and composition (Singh et al., 2010; Cantrell et occurs at temperatures above 750°C and with limited oxygen al., 2012; Camps-Arbestain et al., 2015; Subedi et al., 2015; (<10%) supply to facilitate burning of the biomass. Generally, BC 2016a, 2016b), thermal process (pyrolysis, gasification, HTC) yield falls with rising PTs, as weak-bound C gets volatilised at high (Libra et al., 2011;use Lynch et al., 2013), pyrolytic conditions temperature (Table 1; Cantrell et al., 2012). Also, slow pyrolysis at (slow/fast, high/low PT) (Bridgwater, 2012), and operating con- low PTs (<500°C) generally produces higher BC yields than does ditions (temperature, heating rate, residence time) (Lee et al., fast pyrolysis at high PTs, but the resulting BCs contain less aro- 2013). Of most significance are its properties of surface area, pH, matic C than those produced at high PTs (Ronsse et al., 2013). and nutrient composition. Table 1. Changes in biochars properties as influenced by pyrolysis conditions. References Physico-chemical Effect/changes due to PT parameters Spokas (2010), Budai et al. (2014) BC yield Decreases with increase in PT Lehman (2007), Ippolito et al.
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