Biochar soil amendments for increased crop yields: How to design a “designer” biochar

AIChE Journal ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 5425-5437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyriacos Zygourakis
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Designer Biochar

scholarly journals Response of Ancient and Modern Wheat Varieties to Biochar Application: Effect on Hormone and Gene Expression Involved in Germination and Growth

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Marco Racioppi ◽  
Maria Tartaglia ◽  
José María De la Rosa ◽  
Mauro Marra ◽  
Elisa Lopez-Capel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Wheat Cultivar ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Beech Wood ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Commercial Variety ◽  
Wheat Varieties

Agriculture has changed dramatically due to mechanization, new technologies, and the increased use of chemical fertilizers. These factors maximize production and reduce food prices, but may also enhance soil degradation. Sustainable agricultural practices include altering crop varieties and the use of soil amendments to increase production, improve irrigation, and more effectively use fertilizers. Ancient and modern durum wheat varieties have been shown to be tolerant to conditions caused by climate change and increase production. Biochar soil amendments have been reported to increase crop yields, soil fertility, and to promote plant growth. However, results are variable depending on biomass source, application conditions, and crop species. This study evaluates the crop response of two contrasting durum wheat varieties on an Eutric Cambisol amended with beech wood biochar. Wheat varieties used are Saragolla, an ancient variety traditionally used in Southern Italy, and Svevo, a widely used commercial variety. The effect of biochar soil amendment on the expression of genes involved in the germination of these two varieties of wheat was determined using RT-PCR. The content of hormones such as gibberellins (GAs), auxins (IAA), and abscisic acid (ABA) was determined. Results demonstrate that biochar had a stimulatory effect on the growth performances of Svevo and Saragolla cultivars at the molecular level. This correlated to the promoted transcription of genes involved in the control of plant development. Overall, the presence of biochar as soil amendment improved the germination rates of both varieties, but the ancient wheat cultivar was better suited to the Eutric Cambisol than the commercial variety. This trend was also observed in un-amended pots, which may indicate better adaptability of the ancient wheat cultivar to withstand environmental stress than the commercial variety.

Soil Amendments to Re-establish Agricultural Production on Ex-tin Mined Area

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rizki Maftukhah ◽  
Ngadisih Ngadisih ◽  
Murtingrum Murtiningrum ◽  
Axel Mentler ◽  
Katharina Keiblinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Main Crop

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>Mining is an important industrial sector in Bangka Island (Indonesia) where about 70% of this area is tin mining. The separation of tin via flotation of tin-containing soils results in acidic nutrient-poor soils with very low organic matter contents. Hence, ex-tin mined areas are highly and unsuitable for plant growth due to their un-fertility. To improve soil fertility soil amendments are of vital importance. This research aims to evaluate the impact of different soil amendments on agricultural production and basic soil parameters on the ex-tin mined area.</p><p>The study was conducted on ex-tin mined area located in Bangka Regency, Indonesia (1<sup>o</sup>47’22.9085 S and 106<sup>o</sup>5’47.0461 E). Bangka Regency has a tropical climate with an average daily temperature of 27.2<sup>o</sup>C, precipitation during the growing season is 191.5 mm per month. The field trial was set up in July 2018 by a randomized complete block design with five different soil amendments and control plots for comparison, with a size of 2 x 2 m in four replicates. The treatments consist of the: (1) Control, (2) Lime, (3) Compost; (4) Charcoal and combinations of (5) Charcoal and Compost, and (6) Charcoal and sawdust. The soil was amended with t.ha<sup>-1</sup> for the single amendments (treatments 2-4), and with rate 20 t.ha<sup>-1</sup> for combined amendments (treatments 5 and 6). The plots are used to grow cassava (Manihot esculenta) for 12 months as the main crop and Centrocema pubescens as used as a cover crop grown twice for 6 months to avoid soil erosion. Soil samples were taken before and after harvest to analyze soil properties. Soil samples were analyzed for the following parameters: pH, Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), and Electric Conductivity (EC). Crop yields were determined by weighing the total harvest of each crop per plot. The cover crop was harvested in December 2018, and replanted, until the main crop Cassava was harvested (30 July 2019), where the cover crop yield was also evaluated. Cassava yields were separated into belowground and aboveground yields.</p><p>Soil amendments showed positive effects on soil pH, DOC, and EC at harvest time. Lime treatment significantly improved soil pH and EC (7.40 and 72.30 µS.cm<sup>-1</sup> respectively), while DOC was significantly increased by compost treatment. Centrocema pubescens yields were significantly higher at the first harvest compared to the second one. The combined treatment with charcoal (10 t.ha<sup>-1</sup>) + Compost (t.ha<sup>-1</sup>) showed significantly the highest yield for both samplings. While another combined treatment, where, charcoal and sawdust was applied at 10 t.ha<sup>-1</sup> each, showed the highest total cassava belowground biomass (5.44 ton.ha<sup>-1</sup> ) as well as cassava aboveground biomass (3.06 ton.ha<sup>-1</sup>).</p><p>Results of the present field experiment suggest that the application of soil amendments directly affected soil parameters. The effect on yields was positive but crop dependent, likely due to different nutrient requirements. Data on heavy metal uptake by plants regarding soil amendments will be presented. Soil amendments can provide the potential to improve food safety and security in the ex-tin mined area.</p><p>Keywords: ex-tin mined, soil fertility, soil amendments, soil parameters, crop yields</p>

Justification of the need to increase the fertility of reclaimed alluvial soils of JSC «Moskovskoe»

2020 ◽  
pp. 44-48
Author(s):  
Andrey ilinsky ◽  
Alexander Nefedov ◽  
Konstantin Evsenkin
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Fertility Restoration ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Alluvial Soils ◽  
Ecological Stability ◽  
Reclaimed Land ◽  
Adverse Weather

Global climatic changes, technogenic pollution by pollutants, violations of technologies of exploitation of reclaimed land lead to a decrease in fertility and soil degradation of agricultural land. Adverse weather conditions, resulting in a lack of adequate flood water, and economic difficulties in agriculture make it difficult to fill the deficit of organic matter and macronutrients in reclaimed alluvial soils. The monitoring of agrochemical properties of alluvial meadow medium-loamy soil of the stationary site (reclaimed lands of JSC «Moskovskoye» of Ryazan region), located in the floodplain of the Oka river, conducted by the Meshchersky branch of Vniigim, showed the presence and intensification of degradation changes in the soil. Thus, comparing the agrochemical indicators in the layer 0–20 cm, carried out in 1995, with the indicators of 2019, it should be noted a decrease in soil fertility. The decrease in soil quality was expressed in a decrease in the amount of mobile phosphorus by 37.6 %, mobile potassium by 53.3 %. Also, during this time there was a decrease in organic matter by 9.1 %, and an increase in soil acidity was 0.6 pH. As a result of such changes, soils lose ecological stability and become more vulnerable to adverse weather and negative anthropogenic impacts. In such a situation, advanced agricultural techniques should be actively used to obtain guaranteed, environmentally safe crop yields and restore the fertility of degraded reclaimed soils. In this regard, there is a need to develop innovative methods of fertility restoration of degraded alluvial soils in reclaimed lands using multi-component organic-mineral ameliorants. Meshchersky branch performs research work in addressing this issue.

Ukrainian Chernozem Fertility Reproduction under Soil Conservation Agriculture

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-79
Author(s):  
Yu. Kravchenko
Keyword(s):  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Instructional Materials ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Typical Chernozem ◽  
Degradation Processes ◽  
Biological Potential

In Ukraine 57.5 % of agricultural land is subjected to erosion with 10–24 million tons of humus, 0.3–0.96 million tons of nitrogen, 0.7–0.9 million tons of phosphorus and 6–12 million tons of potassium lost annually. Degradation processes are also common on chernozems, which cover about 60 % of the Ukrainian territory. The aim of the research is to defi ne the most eff ective soil conservation practices and legislative decisions aimed to conservation/recovering the Ukrainian chernozem fertility. The experimental data of the agrochemical certifi cation of Ukrainian lands, data from scientifi c papers, stock and instructional materials as well as our own fi eld and laboratory studies were used. It has been established that the long-term use of deep subsurface tillage on typical chernozem increases, compared with plowing, the content of 10–0.25 mm of air-dry and water-resistant aggregates, the bulk density, soil water storages, water infi ltration rates, the content of mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium, pHH2O, CaCO3 stocks, the contents of humic and fulvic acids, molecular weights of humic acids – by 5.5 and 3.06 %; 0.05 g/cm3; 25.5 mm; 22.6 mm/h; 0.1 and 3 mg/100 g of soil; 0.03 pHH2O; 18 t/ha, 0.02 and 0.04 %, 91195 kDa, respectively. Fertilizers may contribute to the crop yields increase from by 60% in the Polissya, by 40 % – in the Forest Steppe, by 15 % – in the Wet Steppe, by 10 % – in the Dry Steppe and by 40 % – in the Irrigated Steppe areas. In soil-conservation rotations, the crop placement and alternation are advisable to combine with strips or hills sowing, taking into account the local relief features; soil alkalinization, applying anti-erosion structures. Ukrainian agriculture will receive additional 10–12 million tons of forage units or 20–22 % from all fodder in a fi eld agriculture under increasing 8–10 % of arable lands for intercrops. It is advisable to mulch the eroded chernozems of Ukraine depending on their texture composition: 1.3 t/ha of mulch for sandy and loamy soils, 1.9 t/ha – for sandy and 1.1 t/ha – for loamy soils. The implementation of soil conservation agriculture can minimize some soil degradation processes and improve eff ective soil properties required to realize the biological potential of cultivated plants. Key words: chernozem, degradation, fertility, soil conservation technologies, agriculture policy.

Fertiliser evenness - losses and costs: A study on the economic benefits of uniform applications of fertiliser

1999 ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Horrell ◽  
A.K. Metherell ◽  
S. Ford ◽  
C. Doscher
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Financial Return ◽  
Spread Pattern ◽  
Fertiliser Application ◽  
Seed Crops

Over two million tonnes of fertiliser are applied to New Zealand pastures and crops annually and there is an increasing desire by farmers to ensure that the best possible economic return is gained from this investment. Spreading distribution measurements undertaken by Lincoln Ventures Ltd (LVL) have identified large variations in the evenness of fertiliser application by spreading machines which could lead to a failure to achieve optimum potential in some crop yields and to significant associated economic losses. To quantify these losses, a study was undertaken to calculate the effect of uneven fertiliser application on crop yield. From LVL's spreader database, spread patterns from many machines were categorised by spread pattern type and by coefficient of variation (CV). These patterns were then used to calculate yield losses when they were combined with the response data from five representative cropping and pastoral situations. Nitrogen fertiliser on ryegrass seed crops shows significant production losses at a spread pattern CV between 30% and 40%. For P and S on pasture, the cumulative effect of uneven spreading accrues, until there is significant economic loss occurring by year 3 for both the Waikato dairy and Southland sheep and beef systems at CV values between 30% and 40%. For nitrogen on pasture, significant loss in a dairy system occurs at a CV of approximately 40% whereas for a sheep and beef system it is at a CV of 50%, where the financial return from nitrogen application has been calculated at the average gross revenue of the farming system. The conclusion of this study is that the current Spreadmark standards are a satisfactory basis for defining the evenness requirements of fertiliser applications in most circumstances. On the basis of Spreadmark testing to date, more than 50% of the national commercial spreading fleet fails to meet the standard for nitrogenous fertilisers and 40% fails to meet the standard for phosphatic fertilisers.Keywords: aerial spreading, crop response, economic loss, fertiliser, ground spreading, striping, uneven application, uneven spreading, yield loss

Trend of Extreme Precipitations Indices in West-central Côte d’Ivoire: Case of the Lobo Watershed

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 1281-1287
Author(s):  
F. B. Allechy ◽  
M. Youan Ta ◽  
V. H. N’Guessan Bi ◽  
F. A. Yapi ◽  
A. B. Koné ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
Côte D’Ivoire ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Cote D’Ivoire ◽  
West Central ◽  
Côte D'ivoire ◽  
Northern Half ◽  
Agricultural Potential ◽  
Annual Total

The Lobo watershed located in the west-central part of Côte d'Ivoire is an area with high agricultural potential, influenced by climate variations and changes that reduce crop yields. The objective of this study is to analyse trends in ETCCDI extreme rainfall indices from rainfall data from 1984 to 2013 using ClimPACT2 software. This study shows that the trend of the indices: number of consecutive wet days (CWD), number of rainy days (R1mm) and the cumulative annual total rainfall (PRCPTOT) is decreasing. On the other hand, the number of consecutive dry days (CDD) is on the rise. In general, the whole basin has experienced a decrease in rainfall as well as wet sequences and an increase in dry sequences. These different trends observed in this study are more pronounced in the northern half of the watershed.

Improved Plant Diversity as a Strategy to Increase Available Soil Phosphorus

2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Crusciol ◽  
João Rigon ◽  
Juliano Calonego ◽  
Rogério Soratto
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
P Availability ◽  
P Fractions ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Residue Decomposition ◽  
Available Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Crop Residue Decomposition

Some crop species could be used inside a cropping system as part of a strategy to increase soil P availability due to their capacity to recycle P and shift the equilibrium between soil P fractions to benefit the main crop. The release of P by crop residue decomposition, and mobilization and uptake of otherwise recalcitrant P are important mechanisms capable of increasing P availability and crop yields.

Application of Remote Sensing in Agriculture

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Piekarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Satellite Images ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Remote Sensing Methods

AbstractWith increasing intensity of agricultural crop production increases the need to obtain information about environmental conditions in which this production takes place. Remote sensing methods, including satellite images, airborne photographs and ground-based spectral measurements can greatly simplify the monitoring of crop development and decision-making to optimize inputs on agricultural production and reduce its harmful effects on the environment. One of the earliest uses of remote sensing in agriculture is crop identification and their acreage estimation. Satellite data acquired for this purpose are necessary to ensure food security and the proper functioning of agricultural markets at national and global scales. Due to strong relationship between plant bio-physical parameters and the amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected (in certain ranges of the spectrum) from plants and then registered by sensors it is possible to predict crop yields. Other applications of remote sensing are intensively developed in the framework of so-called precision agriculture, in small spatial scales including individual fields. Data from ground-based measurements as well as from airborne or satellite images are used to develop yield and soil maps which can be used to determine the doses of irrigation and fertilization and to take decisions on the use of pesticides.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document