Recently, the application of biochar to soils has been discussed as a win-win-win strategy to improve soil fertility, sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and to enable CO2-negative energy production from renewable feedstock. First results suggest that biochar application affects the N transformations in the soil - The interactions between biochar and soil N transformations are still poorly understood. The aim of this project is to quantify the simultaneously occurring gross N transformations and sources of N2O fluxes in soils after biochar application. The methodology developed by C. Müller and established at the Department of Plant Ecology (15N labeling-tracing-modeling) (2-5) will be used to investigate the effect of biochar on soil N dynamics. Three 15N-tracing studies will be conducted to evaluate the short-term, intermediate and longer-term effects of biochar on N dynamics: (1) a study using 15N-labelled biochars (adapt technique for biochar); (2) a study examining intermediateterm effects in a biochar-hydrochar field study that started in April 2011 at the Dept. of Plant Ecology, and (3) a study in an European field experiment where fully randomized biochar plots were installed in 2009. The study is designed in such a way that Bachelor- and Master studies will address certain aspects in support of the main study. A process-based understanding of the soil N dynamics is key to evaluate if biochar may be a suitable global-change mitigation tool.
Chromium (Cr) is introduced into the environment by several anthropogenic activities. A striking ex-ample is the area around Kanpur in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where large amounts of Cr-containing wastes have been recently illegally deposited. Hexavalent Cr, a highly toxic and mobile contaminant, is present in significant amounts in these wastes, severely affecting the quality of sur-roundings soils, sediments, and ground waters. The first major goal of this study is to clarify the solid phase speciation of Cr in these wastes and to examine its leaching behavior. X-ray diffraction and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques will be employed for quantitative solid phase speciation of Cr. Its leaching behavior will be studied in column experiments performed at un-saturated moisture conditions with flow interruptions simulating monsoon rain events. Combined with geochemical modeling, the results will allow the evaluation of the leaching potential and release kinetics of Cr from the waste materials. The second major goal is to investigate the spatial distribution, speciation, and solubility of Cr in the rooting zone of chromate-contaminated soils surrounding the landfills, and to study the suitability of biochar as novel soil amendment for mitigating the deleterious effects of chromate pollution. Detailed field samplings and laboratory soil incubation studies will be carried out with two agricultural soils and biochar from the Kanpur region.
Quantifizierung der Ertragswirksamkeit von Biokohlegaben ('Biochar') in Feldexperimenten ('Biochar'-Steigerungsversuche auf Kleinparzellen mit zwei unterschiedlichen Kulturen) in Mosambik auf Jatropha-Produktionsstandorten der Elaion AG.
Biochar has a great potential to ameliorate arable soils, especially those that are low in organic matter due to intensive use or erosion. Biochar is carbonised organic material with high porosity that brings about changes in physical, chemical and biological soil functions. Biochar amended soils show a higher water and cation exchange capacity with reduced leaching and enhanced availability of plant nutrients. The microbial biomass in biochar amended soils is enhanced and more diverse. Biochar is stabilised organic material, which is likely to remain for hundreds of years in the soil. Photosynthetically fixed atmospheric CO2 stabilised in biochar may thus act as a direct carbon sink and help to mitigate climate change. As feedstock and production conditions produce different biochar qualities predictions of effects in soil need to consider biochar and soil properties case by case. To date biochar has been approved to ameliorate highly weathered tropical soils with positive effects on crop growth and yield. Distinct microbial groups were reported to be enhanced in soils but if this depends on the particular soil or biochar or a combination of both is an open question, especially in temperate climates. Likewise, it is not known if microorganisms colonising biochar surfaces are responsible for its mineralization or if they just use the new niches provided. The aim of the proposed project is to investigate the influence of two biochar types on soil-plant systems by determining i) soil nutrient availability, plant growth and nutrient uptake, ii) structure and function of soil microbial communities, iv) the decomposition and fate of biochar in soils. We will use two loessial soils from the well-known DOK-trial with different soil organic matter content. Other soils from the region will be selected to provide a wider range of soil quality, in particular pH. The biochars will be produced by pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) from the C4-plant Miscanthus gigantea. Pyrolysis derived material has bigger pore sizes due to the evaporating gasses and is commonly alkaline, whereas the HTC derived biochar has a finer pore size, a much higher oxygen content and more acidic functional groups.