Pyrolysis temperature has greater effects on carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry than biochar feedstock when applied to a sandy forest soil

Alan J.Z. Toczydlowski; Robert A. Slesak; Rodney T. Venterea; Kurt A. Spokas

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2023.120881

Pyrolysis temperature has greater effects on carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry than biochar feedstock when applied to a sandy forest soil

Alan J.Z. Toczydlowski, Robert A. Slesak, Rodney T. Venterea, Kurt A. Spokas

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Abstract

Most studies evaluating effects of biochar on soil properties and plant responses have focused on agricultural soils, with limited focus on forested settings. There is increasing interest in applying biochar in forests because of the perceived benefits to soils and productivity, and because biochar could be produced from large quantities of residual woody biomass that is typically unmerchantable due to its size or quality. To test if findings from agricultural soils are applicable to forest soils, we applied biochars created from black ash or balsam fir woody feedstock pyrolyzed at 350 °C or 450 °C to a nutrient-poor forest soil in a laboratory incubation. To assess the influence of biochar on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, we measured fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), leaching of dissolved inorganic and total N and organic C (DOC), and post-incubation C and N soil chemistry. We found mixed effects, but a generally clear response to pyrolysis temperature. The lower temperature (350 °C) biochar generally increased CO₂ fluxes and had greater N and DOC leaching while the higher temperature (450 °C) biochar appeared to retain N and had little impact on CO₂ fluxes. The black ash feedstock had greater C leaching than balsam fir, but responses were similar across other metrics suggesting that these woody feedstocks produce biochar with similar properties.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	120881
Journal	Forest Ecology and Management
Volume	534
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.120881
State	Published - Apr 15 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this report is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). We gratefully acknowledge Gwendolen Keller for assistance with data collection, Douglas Brinkman for growth chamber management, and Scott Mitchell and Martin DuSaire for sample analysis.

Funding Information:
USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this report is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). We gratefully acknowledge Gwendolen Keller for assistance with data collection, Douglas Brinkman for growth chamber management, and Scott Mitchell and Martin DuSaire for sample analysis.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

Greenhouse gases
Nitrate
Nutrient leaching
Soil core incubation
Soil respiration
Woody feedstock

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.foreco.2023.120881

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title = "Pyrolysis temperature has greater effects on carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry than biochar feedstock when applied to a sandy forest soil",

abstract = "Most studies evaluating effects of biochar on soil properties and plant responses have focused on agricultural soils, with limited focus on forested settings. There is increasing interest in applying biochar in forests because of the perceived benefits to soils and productivity, and because biochar could be produced from large quantities of residual woody biomass that is typically unmerchantable due to its size or quality. To test if findings from agricultural soils are applicable to forest soils, we applied biochars created from black ash or balsam fir woody feedstock pyrolyzed at 350 °C or 450 °C to a nutrient-poor forest soil in a laboratory incubation. To assess the influence of biochar on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, we measured fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), leaching of dissolved inorganic and total N and organic C (DOC), and post-incubation C and N soil chemistry. We found mixed effects, but a generally clear response to pyrolysis temperature. The lower temperature (350 °C) biochar generally increased CO2 fluxes and had greater N and DOC leaching while the higher temperature (450 °C) biochar appeared to retain N and had little impact on CO2 fluxes. The black ash feedstock had greater C leaching than balsam fir, but responses were similar across other metrics suggesting that these woody feedstocks produce biochar with similar properties.",

keywords = "Greenhouse gases, Nitrate, Nutrient leaching, Soil core incubation, Soil respiration, Woody feedstock",

author = "Toczydlowski, {Alan J.Z.} and Slesak, {Robert A.} and Venterea, {Rodney T.} and Spokas, {Kurt A.}",

note = "Funding Information: USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this report is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). We gratefully acknowledge Gwendolen Keller for assistance with data collection, Douglas Brinkman for growth chamber management, and Scott Mitchell and Martin DuSaire for sample analysis. Funding Information: USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this report is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). We gratefully acknowledge Gwendolen Keller for assistance with data collection, Douglas Brinkman for growth chamber management, and Scott Mitchell and Martin DuSaire for sample analysis. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier B.V.",

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T1 - Pyrolysis temperature has greater effects on carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry than biochar feedstock when applied to a sandy forest soil

AU - Toczydlowski, Alan J.Z.

AU - Slesak, Robert A.

AU - Venterea, Rodney T.

AU - Spokas, Kurt A.

N1 - Funding Information: USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this report is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). We gratefully acknowledge Gwendolen Keller for assistance with data collection, Douglas Brinkman for growth chamber management, and Scott Mitchell and Martin DuSaire for sample analysis. Funding Information: USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this report is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). We gratefully acknowledge Gwendolen Keller for assistance with data collection, Douglas Brinkman for growth chamber management, and Scott Mitchell and Martin DuSaire for sample analysis. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2023/4/15

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N2 - Most studies evaluating effects of biochar on soil properties and plant responses have focused on agricultural soils, with limited focus on forested settings. There is increasing interest in applying biochar in forests because of the perceived benefits to soils and productivity, and because biochar could be produced from large quantities of residual woody biomass that is typically unmerchantable due to its size or quality. To test if findings from agricultural soils are applicable to forest soils, we applied biochars created from black ash or balsam fir woody feedstock pyrolyzed at 350 °C or 450 °C to a nutrient-poor forest soil in a laboratory incubation. To assess the influence of biochar on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, we measured fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), leaching of dissolved inorganic and total N and organic C (DOC), and post-incubation C and N soil chemistry. We found mixed effects, but a generally clear response to pyrolysis temperature. The lower temperature (350 °C) biochar generally increased CO2 fluxes and had greater N and DOC leaching while the higher temperature (450 °C) biochar appeared to retain N and had little impact on CO2 fluxes. The black ash feedstock had greater C leaching than balsam fir, but responses were similar across other metrics suggesting that these woody feedstocks produce biochar with similar properties.

AB - Most studies evaluating effects of biochar on soil properties and plant responses have focused on agricultural soils, with limited focus on forested settings. There is increasing interest in applying biochar in forests because of the perceived benefits to soils and productivity, and because biochar could be produced from large quantities of residual woody biomass that is typically unmerchantable due to its size or quality. To test if findings from agricultural soils are applicable to forest soils, we applied biochars created from black ash or balsam fir woody feedstock pyrolyzed at 350 °C or 450 °C to a nutrient-poor forest soil in a laboratory incubation. To assess the influence of biochar on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, we measured fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), leaching of dissolved inorganic and total N and organic C (DOC), and post-incubation C and N soil chemistry. We found mixed effects, but a generally clear response to pyrolysis temperature. The lower temperature (350 °C) biochar generally increased CO2 fluxes and had greater N and DOC leaching while the higher temperature (450 °C) biochar appeared to retain N and had little impact on CO2 fluxes. The black ash feedstock had greater C leaching than balsam fir, but responses were similar across other metrics suggesting that these woody feedstocks produce biochar with similar properties.

KW - Greenhouse gases

KW - Nitrate

KW - Nutrient leaching

KW - Soil core incubation

KW - Soil respiration

KW - Woody feedstock

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ER -

Pyrolysis temperature has greater effects on carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry than biochar feedstock when applied to a sandy forest soil

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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