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Agronomy
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The Effects of Biochar on Organisms
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The Effects of Biochar on Organisms

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2022) | Viewed by 12295

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sara Di Lonardo

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Guest Editor
Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems-National Research Council (IRET-CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
Interests: plant ecophysiology; plant responses; signalling under abiotic stress; antioxidant compounds; trace metals; soil-plant-water-nutrient relations; biostimulants; cropping system modelling; crop physiology; photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence; greenhouses gas emissions; biosphere-atmosphere interactions; micrometeorological measures; precision agriculture
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biochar is a pyrolysis byproduct that has been widely proposed as an option to improve soil fertility, mitigate soil degradation, reduce soil greenhouse gas emissions, and remediate contamination in all matrices (air, water, soil). The changes induced in matrix properties are known to have a direct impact on ecosystems, with consequences also for the entire biota community, such as plants and all types of microorganisms, including fungi, meso-, and macrofauna. Although several studies have investigated in the interplay between biochar and plants, microorganisms, and fauna, there is a clear lack of information on temporal variation and on whether these changes remain in time. However, a fuller understanding of the effects that these changes could have on plant and animal physiology and biodiversity and processes is needed. A better understanding of the biochar effects on biota would therefore enable us to better manage its eventual adverse effects and mitigate them.

This Special Issue will focus on “The Effects of Biochar on Organisms”. We welcome novel research, reviews, and opinion pieces covering all related topics including new discoveries, case-studies, and management solutions from the field. Topics in the broad areas of plant and animal physiology and biodiversity and environmental studies related to crop science are welcomed.

Dr. Sara Di Lonardo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Biodiversity
  • Microorganisms
  • Plants
  • Fauna
  • Fungi
  • Bioindicators

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2247 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Effect of In Situ Biochar Briquettes on Nitrogen Loss in Hybrid Rice Grown in an Agroforestry System for Three Years
by Priyono Suryanto, Eny Faridah, Handojo Hadi Nurjanto, Eka Tarwaca Susila Putra, Dody Kastono, Suci Handayani, Ruslan Boy, Muhammad Habib Widyawan and Taufan Alam
Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030564 - 24 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1921
Abstract
Kayu putih (Melaleuca cajuputi) waste has the potential via in situ biochar briquettes to overcome the low availability of nitrogen in soil. This study evaluated the short-term effects of in situ biochar briquettes on nitrogen loss reduction and determined an optimum [...] Read more.
Kayu putih (Melaleuca cajuputi) waste has the potential via in situ biochar briquettes to overcome the low availability of nitrogen in soil. This study evaluated the short-term effects of in situ biochar briquettes on nitrogen loss reduction and determined an optimum scenario for hybrid rice grown in an agroforestry system among kayu putih stands. This three-year experiment (2019–2021) was conducted using a randomised complete block design factorial with three blocks as replications. The treatments included biochar briquettes made from kayu putih waste (0-, 2-, 4-, and 6-grain plant−1 or 0, 5, 10, and 15 tonnes ha−1) and urea fertiliser (0, 100, 200, and 300 kg ha−1). The results demonstrated that the eco–environmental scenario was the most efficient strategy that improved the soil quality, the physiological characteristics, and the yield of the hybrid rice with the optimum application of the biochar briquettes at 5.54-grain plant−1 and the urea fertiliser at 230.08 kg ha−1. This alternative approach illustrated a reduction in both the usage of urea fertiliser and the loss of nitrogen by 23.31% and 26.28%, respectively, while increasing the yield of the hybrid rice by 24.73%, as compared to a single application of 300 kg urea ha−1 without biochar briquettes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Biochar on Organisms)
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15 pages, 1744 KiB  
Article
The Response of Nutrient Uptake, Photosynthesis and Yield of Tomato to Biochar Addition under Reduced Nitrogen Application
by Lili Guo, Huiwen Yu, Mourad Kharbach and Jingwei Wang
Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1598; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081598 - 11 Aug 2021
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4258
Abstract
Tomato is an important economic crop that is widely consumed worldwide. Tomato production is mainly limited by the use of nitrogen fertilizer, sunlight, soil and water conditions. Biochar is one of the soil amendments, and it is recognized as a promising practice for [...] Read more.
Tomato is an important economic crop that is widely consumed worldwide. Tomato production is mainly limited by the use of nitrogen fertilizer, sunlight, soil and water conditions. Biochar is one of the soil amendments, and it is recognized as a promising practice for improving crop production in agriculture. The effect of biochar on the photosynthetic traits and tomato yield under reduced nitrogen fertilizer application is still not well understood. The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of biochar application on the photosynthesis and yield of tomato under reduced nitrogen fertilizer application from the perspectives of the nutrient uptake of plants (nitrogen and phosphorus), leaf photosynthetic pigment and leaf gas exchange parameters. Two-year greenhouse experiments containing six biochar levels (0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 t ha−1) and two nitrogen fertilizer application rates (190 and 250 kg ha−1) were conducted. Compared with C0, C50 significantly improved the nitrogen uptake (74–80%) and phosphorus uptake (76–95%) by tomato plants and further enhanced the photosynthetic traits of tomato leaves (net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (Tr) and chlorophyll (2–60%), which lead to the highest gains in tomato yield (more than 50%) even when the applied nitrogen fertilizer was significantly reduced (from 250 kg ha−1 to 190 kg ha−1). The photosynthesis rate had a linear correlation with the total nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation and tomato yield. The results will enhance our understandings about the effect of biochar on the photosynthesis and yield of tomato and be of importance for practical agricultural management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Biochar on Organisms)
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10 pages, 1186 KiB  
Article
Biochar Improves Root Growth of Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb. Container Seedlings
by Hong Chen, Chen Chen and Fangyuan Yu
Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061242 - 19 Jun 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2370
Abstract
Background: The faulty development of the root system is a major threat that affects the survival rate of container seedlings of Sapium sebiferum in the transplanting and reforestation processes. The current study was conducted to determine the impact of biochar on the root [...] Read more.
Background: The faulty development of the root system is a major threat that affects the survival rate of container seedlings of Sapium sebiferum in the transplanting and reforestation processes. The current study was conducted to determine the impact of biochar on the root growth and development of S. sebiferum container seedlings. Methods: Varied concentrations (1%, 3%, and 5%) of straw and bamboo biochar were applied in six groups, whereas the control group (CK) was only treated with matrix. Results: The treatment with 3% straw biochar (C2) proved to be the most effective soil conditioner for cultivating S. sebiferum seedlings. Moreover, C2 increased seedling height (58.92%); ground diameter (33.86%, biomass of the over-ground part (12.73 g), the underground part (7.48 g), and the fibrous part (0.076 g) compared to the CK (control). Conclusions: Biochar not only improved the root morphology by developing primary lateral roots, but it also accelerated the assimilation of N from the matrix to indirectly facilitate stem growth through enhancing NR activity. The change in root growth strategy contributed to the growth in S. sebiferum seedlings, thereby improving the survival rate during transplanting and reforestation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Biochar on Organisms)
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13 pages, 3037 KiB  
Article
Exploring Suitable Biochar Application Rates with Compost to Improve Upland Field Environment
by Se-Won Kang, Jin-Ju Yun, Jae-Hyuk Park and Ju-Sik Cho
Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1136; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061136 - 2 Jun 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2667
Abstract
A field experiment was carried out to investigate crop productivity, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and soil quality of an upland field treated with compost and varying rates of biochar (BC) derived from soybean stalks [...] Read more.
A field experiment was carried out to investigate crop productivity, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and soil quality of an upland field treated with compost and varying rates of biochar (BC) derived from soybean stalks during crop growing periods in a corn and Chinese cabbage rotation system. Compost was supplemented with BC derived from soybean stalks at varying rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 t ha−1 (BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20, respectively); the control (BC0) area was untreated. Our results reveal that crop productivity and emissions of CO2 and N2O varied significantly with the biochar application rate. Moreover, irrespective of the biochar application rate, crop productivity was improved after BC application as compared to the control treatment area, by 11.2–29.3% (average 17.0 ± 8.3%) for corn cultivation and 10.3–39.7% (average 27.8 ± 12.7%) for Chinese cabbage cultivation. Peak emissions of CO2 and N2O were mainly observed in the early period of crop cultivation, whereas low CO2 and N2O emissions were determined during the fallow period. Compared to the control area, significant differences were obtained for CO2 emissions produced by the different biochar application rates for both crops. During the two cropping periods, the overall N2O emission was significantly decreased with BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20 applications as compared to the control, ranging from 11.1 to 13.6%, 8.7 to 15.4%, 23.1 to 26.0%, and 15.0 to 19.6%, respectively (average 16.9% decrease in the corn crop period and 16.3% in the Chinese cabbage crop period). Soil quality results after the final crop harvest show that bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly improved by biochar application, as compared to the control. Taken together, our results indicate that compost application supplemented with biochar is potentially an appropriate strategy for achieving high crop productivity and improving soil quality in upland field conditions. In conclusion, appropriate application of biochar with compost has the concomitant advantages of enriching soil quality for long-term sustainable agriculture and reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Biochar on Organisms)
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