Interactions between lead(II) ions and dissolved organic matter derived from organic fertilizers incubated in the field.

This work was to study composition characteristics and the subsequent effect on the lead (Pb) binding properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from seaweed-based (SWOF) and chicken manure organic fertilizers (CMOF) during a one-year field incubation experiment using the excitation-emission matrix-parallel factor (EEM-PARAFAC) and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS) analysis. Results showed that high aromatic and hydrophobic fluorescent substances were enriched in CMOF-derived DOM and SWOF-derived DOM and enhanced over time. And phenolic groups in the fulvic-like substances for SWOF-derived DOM and carboxyl groups in the humic-like substances for CMOF-derived DOM had the fastest responses over time, respectively. Moreover, both non-fluorescent polysaccharides and fluorescent humic-like substances or fulvic-like substances with aromatic (C=C) groups first participated in the binding process of Pb to SWOF-derived DOM on day 0 and 180 during the lead binding process. In contrast, humic-like substances associated with aromatic (C=C) and phenolic groups gave a faster response to Pb binding on day 360. Regarding CMOF-derived DOM, the fulvic-like substances associated with aromatic (C=C) and carboxylic groups displayed a faster response to Pb ions on day 0. Nonetheless, polysaccharides and humic-like associated with phenolic groups had a faster response on days 180 and 360. It is noteworthy that the polysaccharides, which participated in Pb binding to CMOF-derived DOM, posed a higher risk of Pb in the environment after 360 days. Therefore, these findings gave new insights into the long-term applications of commercial organic fertilizers for the amendment of soil.

Distribution, sources, and decomposition of soil organic matter along a salinity gradient in estuarine wetlands characterized by C:N ratio, δ13 C-δ15 N, and lignin biomarker.

Despite increasing recognition of the critical role of coastal wetlands in mitigating climate change, sea-level rise, and salinity increase, soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration mechanisms in estuarine wetlands remain poorly understood. Here, we present new results on the source, decomposition, and storage of SOC in estuarine wetlands with four vegetation types, including single Phragmites australis (P, habitat I), a mixture of P. australis and Suaeda salsa (P + S, habitat II), single S. salsa (S, habitat III), and tidal flat (TF, habitat IV) across a salinity gradient. Values of δ13 C increased with depth in aerobic soil layers (0-40 cm) but slightly decreased in anaerobic soil layers (40-100 cm). The δ15 N was significantly enriched in soil organic matter at all depths than in the living plant tissues, indicating a preferential decomposition of 14 N-enriched organic components. Thus, the kinetic isotope fractionation during microbial degradation and the preferential substrate utilization are the dominant mechanisms in regulating isotopic compositions in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively. Stable isotopic (δ13 C and δ15 N), elemental (C and N), and lignin composition (inherited (Ad/Al)s and C/V) were not completely consistent in reflecting the differences in SOC decomposition or accumulation among four vegetation types, possibly due to differences in litter inputs, root distributions, substrate quality, water-table level, salinity, and microbial community composition/activity. Organic C contents and storage decreased from upstream to downstream, likely due to primarily changes in autochthonous sources (e.g., decreased onsite plant biomass input) and allochthonous materials (e.g., decreased fluvially transported upland river inputs, and increased tidally induced marine algae and phytoplankton). Our results revealed that multiple indicators are essential to unravel the degree of SOC decomposition and accumulation, and a combination of C:N ratios, δ13 C, δ15 N, and lignin biomarker provides a robust approach to decipher the decomposition and source of sedimentary organic matter along the river-estuary-ocean continuum.

Unexpected increases in soil carbon eventually fell in low rainfall farming systems.

Understanding the drivers of soil organic carbon (SOC) change over time and confidence to predict changes in SOC are essential to the development and long-term viability of SOC trading schemes. This study investigated temporal changes in total SOC, total nitrogen (N), and carbon (C) fractions (particulate organic carbon - POC, resistant organic carbon - ROC and humus organic carbon - HOC) over a 16-year period for four contrasting farming systems in a low rainfall environment (424 mm) at Condobolin, Australia. The farming systems were 1) conventional tillage mixed farming (CT); 2) reduced tillage mixed farming (RT); 3) continuous cropping (CC); and 4) perennial pasture (PP). The SOC dynamics were also modelled using APSIM C and N modules, to determine the accuracy of this model. Results are presented in the context of land managers participating in Australian climate change mitigation schemes. There was an increase in SOC for all farming systems over the first 12 years (total organic C, TOC% at 0-10 cm increased from 1.33% to 1.77%), which was predominately in the POC% fraction (POC% at 0-10 cm increased from 0.14% to 0.5%). Between 2012 and 2015, there was a decrease in SOC back to starting levels (TOC = 1.22% POC = 0.12% at 0-10 cm) in all systems. The PP system had higher TOC%, POC% and HOC% levels on average and higher SOC stocks to 30 cm depth at the final measurement in 2015 (PP = 30.43 t C ha-1; cropping systems = 23.71 t C ha-1), compared to the other farming systems. There was a decrease in TN% over time in all farming systems except PP. The average C:N increased from 14.1 in 1999 to 19.7 in 2012, after which time the SOC levels decreased and C:N dropped back to 15.8. The temporal change in SOC was not able to be represented by the AusFarm model. There are three important conclusions for policy development: 1) monitoring temporal changes in SOC over 12 years did not indicate long-term sequestration, required to assure "permanence" in SOC trading (i.e. 25-100 years) due to the susceptibility of POC to degradation; 2) without monitoring SOC in reference land uses (e.g. CT cropping system as a control in this experiment) it is not possible to determine the net carbon sequestration, and therefore the true climate change mitigation value; and 3) modelling SOC using AusFarm/APSIM, does not fully represent the temporal dynamics of SOC in this low rainfall environment.

Microbial mechanisms of carbon priming effects revealed during the interaction of crop residue and nutrient inputs in contrasting soils.

Agronomic practices such as crop residue return and additional nutrient supply are recommended to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) in arable farmlands. However, changes in the priming effect (PE) on native SOC mineralization in response to integrated inputs of residue and nutrients are not fully known. This knowledge gap along with a lack of understanding of microbial mechanisms hinders the ability to constrain models and to reduce the uncertainty to predict carbon (C) sequestration potential. Using a 13 C-labeled wheat residue, this 126-day incubation study examined the dominant microbial mechanisms that underpin the PE response to inputs of wheat residue and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur) in two contrasting soils. The residue input caused positive PE through "co-metabolism," supported by increased microbial biomass, C and nitrogen (N) extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs), and gene abundance of certain microbial taxa (Eubacteria, ß-Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Fungi). The residue input could have induced nutrient limitation, causing an increase in the PE via "microbial nutrient mining" of native soil organic matter, as suggested by the low C-to-nutrient stoichiometry of EEAs. At the high residue, exogenous nutrient supply (cf. no-nutrient) initially decreased positive PE by alleviating nutrient mining, which was supported by the low gene abundance of Eubacteria and Fungi. However, after an initial decrease in PE at the high residue with nutrients, the PE increased to the same magnitude as without nutrients over time. This suggests the dominance of "microbial stoichiometry decomposition," supported by higher microbial biomass and EEAs, while Eubacteria and Fungi increased over time, at the high residue with nutrients cf. no-nutrient in both soils. Our study provides novel evidence that different microbial mechanisms operate simultaneously depending on organic C and nutrient availability in a residue-amended soil. Our results have consequences for SOC modeling and integrated nutrient management employed to increase SOC in arable farmlands.

Discrimination in Degradability of Soil Pyrogenic Organic Matter Follows a Return-On-Energy-Investment Principle.

A fundamental understanding of biodegradability is central to elucidating the role(s) of pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM) in biogeochemical cycles. Since microbial community and ecosystem dynamics are driven by net energy flows, then a quantitative assessment of energy value versus energy requirement for oxidation of PyOM should yield important insights into their biodegradability. We used bomb calorimetry, stepwise isothermal thermogravimetric analysis (isoTGA), and 5-year in situ bidegradation data to develop energy-biodegradability relationships for a suite of plant- and manure-derived PyOM (n = 10). The net energy value (ΔE) for PyOM was between 4.0 and 175 kJ mol(-1); with manure-derived PyOM having the highest ΔE. Thermal-oxidation activation energy (Ea) requirements ranged from 51 to 125 kJ mol(-1), with wood-derived PyOM having the highest Ea requirements. We propose a return-on-investment (ROI) parameter (ΔE/Ea) for differentiating short-to-medium term biodegradability of PyOM and deciphering if biodegradation will most likely proceed via cometabolism (ROI < 1) or direct metabolism (ROI ≥ 1). The ROI-biodegradability relationship was sigmoidal with higher biodegradability associated with PyOM of higher ROI; indicating that microbes exhibit a higher preference for "high investment value" PyOM.

Distinct biophysical and chemical mechanisms governing sucrose mineralization and soil organic carbon priming in biochar amended soils: evidence from 10 years of field studies.

While many studies have examined the role of biochar in carbon (C) accrual in short-term scale, few have explored the decadal scale influences of biochar on non-biochar C, e.g., native soil organic C (SOC) and added substrate. To address this knowledge gap, soils were collected from decade-old biochar field trials located in the United Kingdom (Cambisol) and China (Fluvisol), with each site having had three application rates (25-30, 50-60 and 75-100 Mg ha-1) of biochar plus an unamended Control, applied once in 2009. We assessed physicochemical and microbial properties associated with sucrose (representing the rhizodeposits) mineralization and the priming effect (PE) on native SOC. Here, we showed both soils amended with biochar at the middle application rate (50 Mg ha-1 biochar in Cambisol and 60 Mg ha-1 biochar in Fluvisol) resulted in greater substrate mineralization. The enhanced accessibility and availability of sucrose to microorganisms, particularly fast-growing bacterial genera like Arenimonas, Spingomonas, and Paenibacillus (r-strategists belonging to the Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla, respectively), can be attributed to the improved physicochemical properties of the soil, including pH, porosity, and pore connectivity, as revealed by synchrotron-based micro-CT. Random forest analysis also confirmed the contribution of the microbial diversity and physical properties such as porosity on sucrose mineralization. Biochar at the middle application rate, however, resulted in the lowest PE (0.3 and 0.4 mg of CO2-C g soil-1 in Cambisol and Fluvisol, respectively) after 53 days of incubation. This result might be associated with the fact that the biochar promoted large aggregates formation, which enclosed native SOC in soil macro-aggregates (2-0.25 mm). Our study revealed a diverging pattern between substrate mineralization and SOC priming linked to the biochar application rate. This suggests distinct mechanisms, biophysical and physicochemical, driving the mineralization of non-biochar carbon in a field where biochar was applied a decade before. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42773-024-00327-0.

Identification of possible sources for potentially toxic elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their spatially varying relationships in urban soils of Dublin, Ireland.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) harm the ecosystem and human health, especially in urban areas. Identifying and understanding their potential sources and underlying interactions in urban soils are critical for informed management and risk assessment. This study investigated the potential sources and the spatially varying relationships between 9 PTEs and PAHs in the topsoil of Dublin by combining positive matrix factorisation (PMF) and geographically weighted regression (GWR). The PMF model allocated four possible sources based on species concentrations and uncertainties. The factor profiles indicated the associations with high-temperature combustion (PAHs), natural lithologic factors (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni), mineralisation and mining (Zn), as well as anthropogenic inputs (Cu, Hg, Pb), respectively. In addition, selected representative elements Cr, Zn, and Pb showed distinct spatial interactions with PAHs in the GWR model. Negative relationships between PAHs and Cr were observed in all samples, suggesting the control of Cr concentrations by natural factors. Negative relationships between PAHs and Zn in the eastern and north-eastern regions were related to mineralisation and anthropogenic Zn-Pb mining. In contrast, the surrounding regions exhibited a natural relationship between these two variables with positive coefficients. Increasing positive coefficients from west to east were observed between PAHs and Pb in the study area. This special pattern was consistent with prevailing south-westerly wind direction in Dublin, highlighting the predominant influences on PAHs and Pb concentrations from vehicle and coal combustion through atmospheric deposition. Our results provided a better understanding of geochemical features for PTEs and PAHs in the topsoil of Dublin, demonstrating the efficiency of combined approaches of receptor models and spatial analysis in environmental studies.

An overview of the direct and indirect effects of acid rain on plants: Relationships among acid rain, soil, microorganisms, and plants.

Acid rain (AR) causes numerous environmental problems and complex negative effects on plants globally. Many studies have previously reported on direct effects of AR or its depositional substances on plant injury and performance. However, few studies have addressed the indirect effects of AR on plants as mediated by soil microorganisms and the abiotic environment of the soil rhizosphere. The indirect effects (e.g., AR â†’ soil microorganisms→plants) need greater attention, because acidic deposition not only affects the distribution, composition, abundance, function, and activity of plant-associated microorganisms, but also influences the dynamics of some substances in the soil in a way that may be harmful to plants. Therefore, this review not only focused on the direct effects of AR on plant performance, growth, and biomass allocations from a whole-plant perspective, but also addressed the pathway of AR-soil chemical characteristics-plants, which explains how soil solute leaching and acidification by AR will reduce the availability of essential nutrients and increase the availability of heavy metals for plants, affecting carbon and nitrogen cycles. Mainly, we evaluated the AR-soil microorganisms-plants pathway by: 1) synthesizing the potential roles of soil microbes in alleviating soil acidic stress on plants and the adverse effects of AR on plant-associated soil microorganisms; 2) exploring how plant mycorrhizal types affect the detection of AR effect on plants. The meta-analysis showed that the effects of AR-induced pH on leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, and plant root biomass were dependent on plant mycorrhizal types. Some possible reasons for different synergy between mycorrhizal symbiotic types and plants were discussed. Future research relating to the effects of AR on plants should focus on the combined direct and indirect effects to evaluate how AR affects plant performance comprehensively.

Soil acidification and the liming potential of biochar.

Soil acidification in managed ecosystems such as agricultural lands principally results from the increased releasing of protons (H+) from the transformation reactions of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) containing compounds. The incorporation of liming materials can neutralize the protons released, hence reducing soil acidity and its adverse impacts to the soil environment, food security, and human health. Biochar derived from organic residues is becoming a source of carbon input to soil and provides multifunctional values. Biochar can be alkaline in nature, with the level of alkalinity dependent upon the feedstock and processing conditions. This review covers the fundamental aspects of soil acidification and of the use of biochar to address constraints related to acidic soil. Biochar is increasingly considered as an effective soil amendment for reducing soil acidity owing to its liming potential, thereby enhancing soil fertility and productivity in acid soils. The ameliorant effect on acid soils is mainly because of the dissolution of carbonates, (hydro)-oxides of the ash fraction of biochar and potential use by microorganisms.

Specific PhytOC fractions in rice straw and consequent implications for potential of phytolith carbon sequestration in global paddy fields.

Phytoliths are silica biomineralization products within plants and have been considered as a promising material to sequester carbon (C). However, there is considerable uncertainty and controversy regarding the C content in phytoliths due to the lack of detailed information on variation of C under different extraction procedures. Herein, we established a series of batch digestion experimental procedures coupled with analyses of phytoliths using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy to divide phytoliths into three fractions. We then reported an approach for standardizing across hundreds of values found in the literature. Combining this standardized approach with C contents in phytoliths extracted from different digestion degrees, we revaluated the potential production rates of phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) input globally in rice paddy fields. The results showed that the C content in recovered phytoliths exhibited a significantly fitting exponential relationship (p < 0.01) with digestion degrees and decreased from 30 to 75 g kg-1 under moderate digestion to <5 g kg-1 under over digestion. On a global scale, the production of total PhytOC in the world paddy fields reached up to (2.71 ± 0.85) × 106 t year-1. Therein, the contribution of sub-stable PhytOC fraction, stable PhytOC fraction, and recalcitrant PhytOC fraction was 63 %, 28 %, and 9 %, respectively. Our results imply that the estimation of phytolith C sequestration potential across the global paddy fields is associated with specific PhytOC fractions. Therefore, further determining the storage time limits of these specific PhytOC fractions after returning to soil will be vital for predicting terrestrial biogeochemical C sequestration potentials of phytoliths.

Biochar carbon stability in a clayey soil as a function of feedstock and pyrolysis temperature.

The stability of biochar carbon (C) is the major determinant of its value for long-term C sequestration in soil. A long-term (5 year) laboratory experiment was conducted under controlled conditions using 11 biochars made from five C3 biomass feedstocks (Eucalyptus saligna wood and leaves, papermill sludge, poultry litter, cow manure) at 400 and/or 550 °C. The biochars were incubated in a vertisol containing organic C from a predominantly C4-vegetation source, and total CO(2)-C and associated δ(13)C were periodically measured. Between 0.5% and 8.9% of the biochar C was mineralized over 5 years. The C in manure-based biochars mineralized faster than that in plant-based biochars, and C in 400 °C biochars mineralized faster than that in corresponding 550 °C biochars. The estimated mean residence time (MRT) of C in biochars varied between 90 and 1600 years. These are conservative estimates because they represent MRT of relatively labile and intermediate-stability biochar C components. Furthermore, biochar C MRT is likely to be higher under field conditions of lower moisture, lower temperatures or nutrient availability constraints. Strong relationships of biochar C stability with the initial proportion of nonaromatic C and degree of aromatic C condensation in biochar support the use of these properties to predict biochar C stability in soil.

Characterization of halophyte biochar and its effects on water and salt contents in saline soil.

Biochar is a beneficial soil amendment; however, biochar-based properties are mainly determined by the feedstocks and the pyrolysis temperature. Nevertheless, considering the vast biomass of halophyte, little is known about how the halophyte-derived biochar improves saline soils. In this study, we firstly produced biochars by using three different halophytes, including Tamarix chinensis (recretohalophyte), Suaeda salsa (euhalophyte), and Phragmites australis (pseudo-halophyte) at 300, 500, and 700 °C, and compared their chemical and physical properties. We applied halophyte (Tamarix chinensis and Phragmites australis) biochars (pyrolysis at 500 °C) into 0-20 cm saline soil at 2% and 4% (w/w) rates to investigate the saline soil water, salt, and pH dynamics in a 12-month column experiment. The results showed that as the pyrolytic temperature increase, biochar yield and pore diameter decreased by 37.5-44.0% and 34.6-89.7%, respectively; in contrast, biochar pH, specific surface area, and total volume increased by 24.8-47.8%, 3-37 times and 1-9 times, respectively. The halophyte types significantly controlled biochar carbon and dissolved salt content and electrical conductivity. Halophyte biochar application can increase soil water and salt content, and application of 4% of Tamarix chinensis-derived biochar can increase more soil moisture than the soil salinity, and it can maintain soil pH at a stable level, which would be a potential way to improve saline soil properties. The results are valuable for choosing halophyte types and optimizing pyrolytic temperatures for halophyte biochar production through specific environmental usage.

Biostimulants decreased nitrogen leaching and NH3 volatilization but increased N2O emission from plastic-shed greenhouse vegetable soil.

Biostimulant application is an effective strategy to enhance soil fertility and plant growth. However, its comprehensive impacts on nitrogen (N) uptake and reactive N (Nr) losses via leaching, ammonia (NH3) volatilization, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from plastic-shed greenhouse vegetable system are still little known. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted with cauliflower-tomato growth rotation (from September 6, 2018, to July 17, 2019) receiving three biostimulants, i.e., humic acid (HA), algae extract (AE), and chitosan (CT), as well as a control without stimulant. The cumulative Nr losses over the cauliflower-tomato growth cycle via leaching, NH3 volatilization, and N2O emission were 104-175 kg N ha-1, 2.32-3.85 kg N ha-1, and 0.70-0.85 kg N ha-1, respectively. Biostimulant application significantly (P < 0.05) retarded the total N leaching by 17-44% in tomato season, while suppressed the NH3 volatilization by 18-38% in cauliflower season. Overall, AE showed the best inhibition efficiency on Nr losses by significantly (P < 0.05) decreasing total N leaching and NH3 volatilization by 36-44% and 38-52% in both vegetable seasons, compare to the control. However, all three biostimulants stimulated the N2O emission under both vegetable cycles. Interestingly, all biostimulant-added treatments promote the cauliflower and tomato yield, particularly following the HA and AE amendments, which bring local farmers approximately 4,384-10,035 yuan RMB ha-1 more income. Enhanced yield under biostimulant treatments was due to higher N uptake capacity and enhanced root morphology. In summary, biostimulants have a contrasting influence on three major Nr lost pathways in greenhouse vegetable production. We recommend that AE is the most optimal biostimulant as it increases vegetable yield and decreases total N leaching and NH3 volatilization while not dramatically increase the N2O emission.

Effects of slag and biochar amendments on microorganisms and fractions of soil organic carbon during flooding in a paddy field after two years in southeastern China.

Incorporating amendments of industrial waste such as biochar and steel slag in cropland has been used to enhance the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) while sustaining crop production. Short-term laboratory and field studies have identified important influences of biochar on active SOC fractions associated with soil microbial activity in paddy soils, but the long-term effects remain poorly understood. To address these knowledge gaps, we examined the effects of slag, biochar, and slag+biochar treatments on total SOC concentration, active SOC fractions and soil microbial communities in a paddy field two years after incorporation. Across both two seasons, the addition of slag, biochar, slag+biochar increased soil salinity by 26-80%, 1.3-37% and 42-79%, and also increased soil pH by 0.8-5.7%, 2.1-2.4% and 4.0-6.3%, respectively, relative to the control. SOC concentration was higher in the slag, biochar, and slag+biochar treatments across both rice seasons by 4.3-5%, 0.5-17% and 4.3-7%, respectively. Soil C-pool activity and C-pool management indices in the late paddy season were significantly lower in the slag+biochar treatment than the control by 26.3 and 21.3%, respectively, indicating that the amendments contributed to the stability of SOC. The C concentrations of the biochar and slag amendments affected bacterial abundance more than fungal abundance and affected C cycling. Our study suggests that combined slag and biochar amendments may increase bacterial abundance that may maintain SOC storage and reduce the abundances of potential SOC decomposers in key functional genera, indicating strong coupling relationships with changes of soil properties such as salinity, pH, and SOC concentration. These outcomes due to the amendments (e.g. slag+biochar) may increase microbial C-use efficiency and support the stability of active SOC fractions, with opportunities for long-term C sequestration.

Microspectroscopic visualization of how biochar lifts the soil organic carbon ceiling.

The soil carbon (C) saturation concept suggests an upper limit to the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC). It is set by the mechanisms that protect soil organic matter from mineralization. Biochar has the capacity to protect new C, including rhizodeposits and microbial necromass. However, the decadal-scale mechanisms by which biochar influences the molecular diversity, spatial heterogeneity, and temporal changes in SOC persistence, remain unresolved. Here we show that the soil C storage ceiling of a Ferralsol under subtropical pasture was raised by a second application of Eucalyptus saligna biochar 8.2 years after the first application-the first application raised the soil C storage ceiling by 9.3 Mg new C ha-1 and the second application raised this by another 2.3 Mg new C ha-1. Linking direct visual evidence from one-, two-, and three-dimensional analyses with SOC quantification, we found high spatial heterogeneity of C functional groups that resulted in the retention of rhizodeposits and microbial necromass in microaggregates (53-250 µm) and the mineral fraction (<53 µm). Microbial C-use efficiency was concomitantly increased by lowering specific enzyme activities, contributing to the decreased mineralization of native SOC by 18%. We suggest that the SOC ceiling can be lifted using biochar in (sub)tropical grasslands globally.

Interactive priming of biochar and labile organic matter mineralization in a smectite-rich soil.

Biochar is considered as an attractive tool for long-term carbon (C) storage in soil. However, there is limited knowledge about the effect of labile organic matter (LOM) on biochar-C mineralization in soil or the vice versa. An incubation experiment (20 °C) was conducted for 120 days to quantify the interactive priming effects of biochar-C and LOM-C mineralization in a smectitic clayey soil. Sugar cane residue (source of LOM) at a rate of 0, 1, 2, and 4% (w/w) in combination with two wood biochars (450 and 550 °C) at a rate of 2% (w/w) were applied to the soil. The use of biochars (~ -36‰) and LOM (-12.7‰) or soil (-14.3‰) with isotopically distinct δ(13)C values allowed the quantification of C mineralized from biochar and LOM/soil. A small fraction (0.4-1.1%) of the applied biochar-C was mineralized, and the mineralization of biochar-C increased significantly with increasing application rates of LOM, especially during the early stages of incubation. Concurrently, biochar application reduced the mineralization of LOM-C, and the magnitude of this effect increased with increasing rate of LOM addition. Over time, the interactive priming of biochar-C and LOM-C mineralization was stabilized. Biochar application possesses a considerable merit for long-term soil C-sequestration, and it has a stabilizing effect on LOM in soil.

Nitrous oxide emissions from cow urine patches in an intensively managed grassland: Influence of nitrogen loading under contrasting soil moisture.

In dairy grazing systems, livestock urine patches are hotspots that contribute to global warming, both directly through nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, and indirectly, through nitrate leaching. However, under warm-dry temperate environments, N2O emission factors (EFs) have not been thoroughly evaluated, accounting for the influence of urinary nitrogen (N) concentration and urine volume, and emissions measurement approach through different urine application methods. Here we quantified and compared N2O emissions and EFs on a moderately well-drained sandy loam soil from urine patches established in naturally expanding effective area (NEEA), representing urine volumes of 2, 3 and 4 L m-2 (equivalent to urine -N loadings of 141, 211 and 282 kg N ha-1), and using the uniformly wetted area (UWA) with urine applied at 10 L m-2 (709 kg N ha-1), under two different soil moistures (below field capacity, BFC; field capacity, FC). The results showed that cumulative N2O emissions in the NEEA urine patches were 0.36-0.52 kg N2O-N ha-1 over 146 days (early-winter to late-spring). In the UWA urine patches, cumulative N2O emissions were 2.3 times higher at FC (1.96 kg N2O-N ha-1) than BFC (0.87 kg N2O-N ha-1). The EFs were similar between UWA (0.09%) and NEEA (0.07-0.10%) at BFC but were significantly higher (P < 0.05-0.1) in UWA (0.26%) than NEEA (0.09-0.16%) at FC. The EFs in NEEA were not affected by urine-N loadings under BFC and FC, ranging between 0.07 and 0.16%. The relatively high versus low urine-N loadings in NEEA enhanced pasture herbage and N-uptake responses under both soil moistures. However, there were no differences in apparent N-use efficiency (ranging from 27 to 39%) across the treatments. The EFs observed in this study are much lower than the existing Australian cattle urine annual EF of 0.4%, and further examination to determine a more accurate EF for the industry is required.

Effects of nitrogen-enriched biochar on rice growth and yield, iron dynamics, and soil carbon storage and emissions: A tool to improve sustainable rice cultivation.

Biochar is often applied to paddy soils as a soil improver, as it retains nutrients and increases C sequestration; as such, it is a tool in the move towards C-neutral agriculture. Nitrogen (N) fertilizers have been excessively applied to rice paddies, particularly in small farms in China, because N is the major limiting factor for rice production. In paddy soils, dynamic changes in iron (Fe) continuously affect soil emissions of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2); however, the links between Fe dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and rice yields following application of biochar remain unclear. The aims of this study were to examine the effects of two rates of nitrogen (N)-enriched biochar (4 and 8 t ha-1 y-1) on paddy soil C emissions and storage, rice yields, and Fe dynamics in subtropical early and late rice growing seasons. Field application of N-enriched biochar at 4 and 8 t ha-1 increased C emissions in early and late rice, whereas application at 4 t ha-1 significantly increased rice yields. The results of a culture experiment and a field experiment showed that the application of N-enriched biochar increased soil Fe2+concentration. There were positive correlations between Fe2+concentrations and soil CO2, CH4, and total C emissions, and with soil DOC concentrations. On the other way around, these correlations were negative for soil Fe3+concentrations. In the soil culture experiment, under the exclusion of plant growth, N-enriched biochar reduced cumulative soil emissions of CH4 and CO2. We conclude that moderate inputs of N-rich biochar (4 t ha-1) increase rice crop yield and biomass, and soil DOC concentrations, while moderating soil cumulative C emissions, in part, by the impacts of biochar on soil Fe dynamics. We suggest that water management strategies, such as dry-wet cycles, should be employed in rice cultivation to increase Fe2+ oxidation for the inhibition of soil CH4 and CO2 production. Overall, we showed that application of 4 t ha-1 of N-enriched biochar may represent a potential tool to improve sustainable food production and security, while minimizing negative environmental impacts.

Biochar protects hydrophilic dissolved organic matter against mineralization and enhances its microbial carbon use efficiency.

A combination of biochar with exogenous organic material in soils is often used in practical farmland management. The objective of this study was to determine how biochar affects organic matter decomposition by studying the decomposition of 13C-labelled hydrophilic (Hi-) and hydrophobic (Ho-) dissolved organic matter (DOM) in acid and neutral soils during a 60-day incubation experiment. The proportions of carbon (C) mineralization in Hi-DOM with or without biochar addition were 32.6% or 34.5% in acid soil (P > 0.05) and 15.4% or 22.3% in neutral soil (P < 0.05), respectively. In contrast, those proportions of Ho-DOM-C mineralization with or without biochar addition were 20.0% or 21.4% in acid soil and 19.0% or 20.5% in neutral soil (P > 0.05), respectively. These results showed that biochar could protect Hi-DOM against mineralization in neutral soil but exhibited less effect on Ho-DOM mineralization in both acid and neutral soils. Additionally, biochar did not affect microbial incorporation of Hi- or Ho-DOM in acid and neutral soils. However, biochar notably improved the microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) of Hi-DOM while it significantly reduced the CUE of Ho-DOM in neutral soil (P < 0.05), indicating that the effect of biochar on microbial CUE was related to organic matter type and soil pH. This study suggests that Hi-DOM can outperform Ho-DOM to decrease C loss and improve microbial CUE in neutral soil with biochar addition. This phenomenon could be due mainly to the different chemical compositions of Hi-DOM and Ho-DOM and their distinct microbial preference. These findings can provide references for biochar's ability to regulate the decomposition of organic matter.

Influence of biochars on nitrous oxide emission and nitrogen leaching from two contrasting soils.

The influence of biochar on nitrogen (N) transformation processes in soil is not fully understood. This study assessed the influence of four biochars (wood and poultry manure biochars synthesized at 400 degrees C, nonactivated, and at 550 degrees C, activated, abbreviated as: W400, PM400, W550, PM550, respectively) on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and N leaching from an Alfisol and a Vertisol. Repacked soil columns were subjected to three wetting-drying (W-D) cycles to achieve a range of water-filled pore space (WFPS) over a 5-mo period. During the first two W-D cycles, W400 and W550 had inconsistent effects on N2O emissions and the soils amended with PM400 produced higher N2O emissions relative to the control. The initially greater N2O emission from the PM400 soils was ascribed to its higher labile intrinsic N content than the other biochars. During the third W-D cycle, all biochar treatments consistently decreased N2O emissions, cumulatively by 14 to 73% from the Alfisol and by 23 to 52% from the Vertisol, relative to their controls. In the first leaching event, higher nitrate leaching occurred from the PM400-amended soils compared with the other treatments. In the second event, the leaching of ammonium was reduced by 55 to 93% from the W550- and PM550-Alfisol and Vertisol, and by 87 to 94% from the W400- and PM400-Vertisol only (cf. control). We propose that the increased effectiveness of biochars in reducing N2O emissions and ammonium leaching over time was due to increased sorption capacity of biochars through oxidative reactions on the biochar surfaces with ageing.