Exploring soil amendment strategies with polyacrylamide to improve soil health and oat productivity in a dryland farming ecosystem: One‐time versus repeated annual application

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 1176-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Ma ◽  
Bao‐Luo Ma ◽  
Neil B. McLaughlin ◽  
Junzhen Mi ◽  
Yanming Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Dryland Farming ◽  
Annual Application

Impacts of nano-clay addition to soils: a meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Maddox ◽  
Stephen Bell ◽  
Carles Barriocanal
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Clay Particles ◽  
Lab Experiments ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Nano Clay ◽  
Positive Effect

<p>Nano-sized clay particles exhibit unique physicochemical properties within soil matrices relevant to several areas of applied environmental sciences. The amendment of soils with nano-clays in field, lab, and greenhouse settings has been increasingly studied over recent decades from various disciplinary perspectives. In general, nano-clay as a soil amendment is seen as a potentially effective and economically feasible method for managing soil resources. However, no comprehensive review and quantification of the impacts of nano-clay amendment on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties has been undertaken, which limits its uptake and application. Here, we provide a review of the impacts of nano-clay addition in soil, using a meta-analytical approach considering soil health parameters (e.g., organic carbon, water retention, cation exchange, pH, pollutant concentration). Preliminary results synthesizing field and lab experiments indicate a wide range of positive effect sizes across key soil properties, with only limited benefits occurring in specific cases. Our results highlight the significant potential of nano-clay as a soil amendment in diverse applications, especially when coupled with the economic and logistical suitability of nano-clay amendment globally.</p>

scholarly journals The 3R Principles for Applying Biochar to Improve Soil Health

Soil Systems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingxin Guo
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
High Water ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Erosion Risk ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Biochar Amendment

Amending soil with biochar is a promising approach to persistently improve soil health and promote crop growth. The efficacy of soil biochar amendment, however, is soil specific, biochar dependent, and influenced by the biochar application programs. To maximize the benefits of biochar application, this paper proposes the 3R principles for applying biochar to soils: right biochar source, right application rate, and right placement in soil. The quality of biochar as a soil amendment varies significantly with the feedstock and the production conditions. Biochar products capable of everlastingly sustaining soil health are those with high stable organic carbon (OC) content and high water- and nutrient-holding capacities that are manufactured from uncontaminated biomass materials. Acidic, coarse-textured, highly leached soils respond remarkably more to biochar amendment than other types of soils. Soil amendment with particular biochars at as low as 0.1 mass% (equivalent to 2 Mg ha−1) may enhance the seasonal crop productivity. To achieve the evident, long-term soil health improvement effects, wood- and crop residue-derived biochars should be applied to soil at one time or cumulatively 2–5 mass% and manure-derived biochars at 1–3 mass% soil. Optimal amendment rates of particular biochar soil systems should be prescreened to ensure the pH of newly treated soils is less than 7.5 and the electrical conductivity (EC) below 2.7 dS m−1 (in 1:1 soil/water slurry). To maximize the soil health benefits while minimizing the erosion risk, biochar amendment should be implemented through broadcasting granular biochar in moistened conditions or in compost mixtures to cropland under low-wind weather followed by thorough and uniform incorporation into the 0–15 cm soil layer. Biochars are generally low in plant macronutrients and cannot serve as a major nutrient source (especially N) to plants. Combined chemical fertilization is necessary to realize the synergic beneficial effects of biochar amendment.

scholarly journals The Effect of Biochar Used as Soil Amendment on Morphological Diversity of Collembola

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 5126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona Gruss ◽  
Jacek P. Twardowski ◽  
Agnieszka Latawiec ◽  
Jolanta Królczyk ◽  
Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Life Form ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Wood Chip ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Main Concept ◽  
Good Tool ◽  
Knowing That ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Biochar was reported to improve the chemical and physical properties of soil. The use of biochar as a soil amendment have been found to improve the soil structure, increase the porosity, decrease bulk density, as well increase aggregation and water retention. Knowing that springtails (Collembola) are closely related to soil properties, the effect of biochar on morphological diversity of these organisms was evaluated. The main concept was the classification of springtails to the life-form groups and estimation of QBS-c index (biological quality index based on Collembola species). We conducted the field experiment where biochar was used as soil amendment in oilseed rape and maize crops. Wood-chip biochar from low-temperature (300 °C) flash pyrolysis was free from PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) and other toxic components. Results showed that all springtail life-form groups (epedaphic, hemiedaphic, and euedaphic) were positively affected after biochar application. The QBS-c index, which relates to springtails’ adaptation to living in the soil, was higher in treatments where biochar was applied. We can recommend the use of Collembola’s morphological diversity as a good tool for the bioindication of soil health.

scholarly journals Biochar: A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Health and Environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreya Das ◽  
Samanyita Mohanty ◽  
Gayatri Sahu ◽  
Mausami Rana ◽  
Kiran Pilli
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Soil Contaminants ◽  
Multiple Challenges

Current agriculture faces multiple challenges due to boom in food demand and environmental concerns. Biochar is increasingly being recognized by scientists and policy makers for its potential role in carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, waste mitigation and as a soil amendment. The purpose of this review is to provide a balanced perspective on the agronomic and environmental impacts of biochar amendment to soil. Application of biochar to soil can play a significant role in the alteration of nutrients dynamics, soil contaminants as well as microbial functions. Therefore, strategic biochar application to soil may provide agronomic, environmental and economic benefits. Recent findings also supported that in order to enhance crop yield, improve soil quality and soil health, biochar has proven significant role as fertilizer and soil conditioner respectively.

Soil Amendment on Growth, Nodulation, Yield, Soil Health, and Economics of Cowpea

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Panda ◽  
Alok Nandi ◽  
P. K. Swain ◽  
S. K. Patnaik ◽  
M. Patnaik
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Soil Health

BIOCHAR IN TEMPERATE SOILS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicky Lévesque ◽  
Maren Oelbermann ◽  
Noura Ziadi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Plant Stress ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Temperate Soils ◽  
The Impact

Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by the pyrolysis of organic residues, is frequently used as a soil amendment to enhance soil fertility and improve soil properties in tropical climates. However, in temperate agriculture, the impact of biochar on soil and plant productivity remains uncertain. The objective of this review is to give an overview of the challenges and opportunities of using biochar as an amendment in temperate soils. Among the various challenges, the type of feedstock and the conditions during pyrolysis produces biochars with different chemical and physical properties, resulting in contrasting effects on soils and crops. Furthermore, biochar aging, biochar application rates and its co-application with mineral fertilizer and/or organic amendments add further complexity to our understanding of the soil-amendment-plant continuum. Although its benefits on crop yield are not yet well demonstrated under field studies, other agronomic benefits of biochar in temperate agriculture have been documented. In this review, we proposed a broader view of biochar as a temperate soil amendment, moving beyond our current focus on crop productivity, and instead target its capacity to improve soil properties. We explored biochar’s benefits in remediating low productive agricultural lands, and its environmental benefits through long-term carbon sequestration and reduced nutrient leaching while curtailing our reliance on fertilizer input. We also discussed the persistence of beneficial impacts of biochar in temperate field conditions. We concluded biochar displays great prospective to improve soil health and its productivity, enhance plant stress resilience, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and restore degraded soils in temperate agriculture.

scholarly journals Prospects of bicar as soil amendment in Nepal hill farming systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 92-103
Author(s):  
Ngamindra Dahal ◽  
Roshan Man Bajracharya ◽  
Juerg Merz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Soil Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Cropping Patterns

Burning of biomass under controlled temperature and oxygen limited environment produces biochar along with syn-gases and bio-oil. A significant volume of literatures portray biochar as a remedial option to meet growing needs of amending agricultural soils for global food security and carbon sequestration to curb climate change. Biochar has generated huge interests among agro-practitioners mainly for its two sets of benefits. The first set of benefits is about desirable changes in soil function that includes enhanced soil microbial activity, retention of nutrients and moisture, alkaline effect for treating acidic soils and, increased porosity on soil structure. The second set includes enhanced adaptive capacity of agricultural systems to climate change impacts, and, carbon sequestration due to its recalcitrant nature that remain in soil for a very long period. These acclaimed effects of biochar on soils are among the much sought-after remedies to heal a number of soil health ailments that millions of farmers and policy planners are looking for. However, effectiveness of biochar has yet to be examined carefully in different soil types over diverse topography corresponding with local cropping patterns. Matching properties of soils with those of biochar is a prerequisite for any interventions aimed at soil amendment. Properties of biochar generally depend on feedstock types, and temperatures during pyrolysis. This review analyses major published works on different aspects of biochar with the key question of whether promotion of biochar could be a viable solution to address some of the critical concerns of soil productivity in the Nepal mid hills and concludes with a note that there are serious knowledge gaps in two fronts – systematic practice of biochar production and application in agricultural farms is yet to take off, and, documented evidences of effectiveness of biochar on various soil types and cropping patterns are insignificant.

scholarly journals Calcium as a Plant Nutrient

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. i-iii
Author(s):  
Rajendra Prasad ◽  
◽  
Yashbir Singh Shivay
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Plant Nutrient ◽  
Plant Structure ◽  
Sodic Soil ◽  
Annual Application ◽  
Cultivated Soils

Calcium (Ca) is an essential plant nutrient responsible for the integrity of cells and plant structure, yet it is generally neglected, because it is available in plenty in most cultivated soils. It is therefore not applied as a fertilizer to crops except in groundnut. In acid soils, where it is limiting, it is applied in large amounts as a soil amendment as lime. In sodic soil, where excess of Na creates problems in crop production Ca is applied as gypsum, another soil amendment. When applied in large amounts as lime or gypsum, Ca nutrition is already taken care of and thus there is no need of annual application as a fertilizer. Nevertheless its importance as a plant nutrient cannot be ignored.

Poultry Manure as a Fertilizer

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Davis ◽  
Doug R. Sloan ◽  
Gerald Kidder ◽  
R. D. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Poultry Manure ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
High Nitrogen Content ◽  
High Nitrogen ◽  
Animal Science ◽  
Fact Sheet

Animal manures have been used as natural crop fertilizers for centuries. Because of poultry manure’s high nitrogen content, it has long been recognized as one of the most desirable manures. Besides fertilizing crops, manures also supply other essential plant nutrients and serve as a soil amendment by adding organic matter, which helps improve the soil’s moisture and nutrient retention. Organic matter persistence will vary with temperature, drainage, rainfall, and other environmental factors. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Michael A. Davis, D.R. Sloan, Gerald Kidder, and R.D. Jacobs, and published by the UF Department of Animal Science, November 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa205

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