Biochar application as a soil additive is gaining global acceptance. In this era of climate change, biochar use for improved soil productivity is not just a sustainable eco-friendly substitute to synthetic fertilizer, but a noble contributor to the fight against climate change. Although biochar has been accredited with some environmental and agricultural benefits, most studies concentrated on agricultural and biowaste products as feedstocks. This research was designed to explore P-enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar potential as a soil additive. Using corn as a test crop, greenhouse studies were performed on acidic sandy soil, comparing phosphorus enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar efficacy to a commercial synthetic triple superphosphate fertilizer and a control treatment. Incubation studies were also performed to evaluate the liming and heavy metal immobilization efficacies. Firstly, P-enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar’s ability to release plant soluble P was investigated. At various P enrichment concentration, soil plant availability P from P enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar treatments differed insignificantly from superphosphate fertilizer treatment. The direct correlations between both K and Mg recoveries with available soil P, suggested P enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar potential to supply multiple plant nutrients. Secondly, the influence of P uptake on plant growth and P use efficiency was examined. The greater agronomic P use efficiency obtained in P enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar (~32 kg kg-1) than the triple supper phosphate fertilizer (~17 kg kg-1) treatment confirmed P enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar potential as a multiple nutrient released soil additive. Thirdly, biochar-supported phosphate (BP) effectively reduced Pb2+ mobility in simulated contaminated soil. Pb2+reacted with phosphate from Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 embedded in the biochar supported phosphate at pHPb10(PO4)6(OH)2. Finally, the amendment of acidic soils with modified P-enriched modified-biochar improved soil buffering capacity because of its enhanced ash contents, alkalinity, and surface functional groups. Spectroscopic methods were used to analyze biochar, soil, and plant materials extracts. Several other analytical methods including BET and thermogravimetric analyses were used to characterized biochar. These findings suggest that the use of phosphorus enriched modified-Douglas fir biochar in agricultural soil is a feasible relatively low-cost, effective, and environmentally sustainable soil management and P recycling strategy

Cette étude repose sur une analyse comparative des distributions d’éléments traces (ET) dans les podzols de deux forêts adjacentes qui se distinguent principalement par leur régime de perturbation. La forêt du site de l’Île a été protégée des perturbations majeures pendant plusieurs siècles, tandis que le site du Versant a subi un feu majeur il y a 100 ans. Bien qu’ils aient évolué à partir du même matériel parental et sous les mêmes conditions climatiques et topographiques, les sols de ces deux sites présentent des différences marquées au niveau de leur morphologie et de leurs propriétés chimiques. Notamment, le sol de l’Île, qui est dominée par des conifères, a un pH significativement plus faible dans l’entièreté du profil, un horizon B podzolique qui contient significativement plus d’oxydes de fer cristallin et des horizons organiques quatre fois plus épais en comparaison au sol du Versant, un peuplement de feuillus. L’objectif de ce projet de recherche était alors de démontrer comment les différentes conditions biogéochimiques affectent la rétention et la mobilisation des ET et plus spécifiquement, comment l’âge des forêts affecte le cycle des ET à travers son influence sur la pédogénèse. Dans chacun des deux sites, quatre pédons ont été creusés puis tous leurs horizons de sol ont été échantillonnés (total de 79 échantillons) afin de mesurer leurs concentrations extraites à l’acides et solubles dans l’eau en As, Cd, Cu, Pb, V et Zn. Les différences majeures entre les deux sites se trouvaient surtout dans les horizons organiques, où les concentrations totales de tous les ET étaient significativement plus élevées sur le Versant. Un cyclage biologique accru sur le Versant, par la présence de feuillus, dont Betula alleghaniensis, explique en partie les concentrations élevées dans la couche d’humus, particulièrement pour le Cd, le Cu et le Zn, dont les concentrations étaient jusqu’à 5 fois plus élevées dans l’horizon F du Versant. Cependant, le pourcentage d’ET en solution était significativement plus élevé sur l’Île pour tous les ET, à l’exception de l’As. Le très faible pH de l’Île a contribué à la mobilisation de ces ET. La rétention de Cd et de Zn était plus sensible à la variation de pH que les autres ET. Une quantité significative de Zn a été lessivée en dehors du profil de la forêt non-perturbée, car le stock total du profil de sol en Zn (mg/m2 par cm d’épaisseur) y est 4.5 fois plus faible que sur le Versant. Cette étude soulève l’impact direct et indirect de la dynamique de la végétation sur la pédogénèse et sur le cycle des ET dans les podzols. / This study is based on a comparative analysis of the distribution of trace elements (ET) in the podzolic soils of two adjacent forested sites that distinguish themselves based on their disturbance regime. The Island site was sheltered from major disturbances for several centuries, whereas a stand-replacing wildfire burned the area 100 years ago on the Hillslope site. Even though the soils of both sites developed from the same parent material and under the same climatic and topographic conditions, they display major morphological and chemical differences. The Island is a coniferous stand that has a significantly lower soil pH through the entire profile, a podzolic B horizon that contains significantly more crystalline iron oxide and organic horizons that are four times thicker than at the Hillslope, a deciduous stand. The objective of this research is to demonstrate how different biogeochemical conditions affect the retention and mobilisation of TE and more specifically how stand age influences the cycling of TE in soils through its impact on pedogenesis. In each site, four soil profiles were dug and all their horizons were sampled (total of 79 samples) in order to measure their acid-extracted and water-soluble concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, V and Zn. Major differences between the two sites are mainly found in organic horizons, where acid-extracted TE concentrations were significantly greater on the Hillslope. The enhanced biocycling caused by deciduous trees including Betula alleghaniensis contributed to the high concentrations in the humus layer of the Hillslope, especially of Cd, Cu and Zn, which were 5 times higher in the F horizon compared to the Island. Also, a higher percentage of TE was soluble on the Island for all TE, except for As. The solubilisation of TE was associated to the low soil pH of the older stand. Cd and Zn retention were more sensible to pH variation than other TE. A significant quantity of Zn was leached outside of the soil profile on the Island since the summed Zn content of the entire profile (mg Zn /m2 surface /cm thickness) was 4.5 times lower than on the Hillslope. This study highlights the direct and indirect impacts of vegetation on soil genesis and TE cycling in podzols.

No description available.

La mise en place d’une agriculture plus durable nécessite une compréhension de l’impact des pratiques de gestion sur le fonctionnement des agroécosystèmes et sur la fourniture de services écosystémiques. En représentant près de 68% des terres agricoles mondiales et contribuant à la subsistance de plus de 800 millions de personnes, les prairies sont l’un des agroécosystèmes où l’optimisation des pratiques agricoles apparaît comme cruciale. Ce travail de thèse porte sur le chaulage, une pratique agricole connue pour lutter contre les effets de l’acidification des sols – qu’elle soit naturelle ou induite par la gestion – mais dont l’efficacité est variable en prairie permanente. De fait, la littérature documentant l’impact du chaulage en prairie permanente est limitée et ne prend en compte que rarement la multifonctionnalité de ces agroécosystèmes. Par une approche intégrant différents types d’expérimentations, mon travail de thèse a cherché à répondre à ce besoin et à renforcer les connaissances du chaulage sur le fonctionnement de l’écosystème prairial. Le développement d’expérimentations au champ (in situ), en conditions semi-contrôlées (mésocosmes) et d’incubations de sol au laboratoire (microcosmes) a permis d’explorer les effets du chaulage sur les différents compartiments de l’écosystème prairial (végétation, microorganismes, sol) ainsi que l’influence de facteurs modulant ces effets. Dans l’ensemble des expérimentations, le chaulage a effectivement augmenté le pH des sols. Toutefois, cette amélioration du statut acido-basique du sol ne s’est pas toujours traduite par une augmentation de la productivité du fourrage ou des biomasses microbiennes et racinaires. Mes travaux ont montré que le chaulage contribue aux émissions de gaz à effet de serre par différentes voies (réémission du carbone apporté sous forme de chaulage et stimulation de la minéralisation) et peut potentiellement réduire les émissions de CO2 à l’échelle de la respiration de l’écosystème. Collectivement mes résultats soulignent l’importance du contexte pédoclimatique sur l’impact du chaulage en prairie permanente, et la difficulté d’extrapoler les effets du chaulage, en particulier sur la production de fourrage et les émissions de gaz à effet de serre, d’une échelle d’étude fine à l’échelle de la parcelle en prairie permanente. L’efficacité du chaulage semble dépendre du type d’amendement et de son dosage et peut également interagir avec d’autres pratiques de gestion telles que la fertilisation azotée et le niveau d’intensité de gestion. / The development of sustainable agriculture requires greater understanding of the impact of management practices on agroecosystem functioning, and on the ecosystem services provided by these agroecosystems. Representing nearly 68% of world's agricultural surfaces and contributing to the livelihoods of more than 800 million people, grasslands are one of the major agroecosystems where optimized agricultural practices are of concern. This PhD focuses on liming, a well-known practice for counteracting soil acidification (due to ongoing natural processes or accelerated by management practices), but which has variable efficiency in permanent grasslands. Indeed, liming effects on grassland are poorly documented and existing studies rarely take into account grassland multifunctionality. My thesis uses an integrated approach to improve the knowledge of liming impacts on grassland functioning. Different types of experiments – in the field (in situ), in semi-controlled conditions (mesocosms) and laboratory soil incubations (microcosms) – were used to study liming effects on different grassland compartments (vegetation, microorganisms, soil) along with possible interacting factors. Liming effectively increased soil pH in all the experiments. However, improving pH status did not always lead to greater forage production or increases in microbial and root biomass. My results showed that liming can enhance greenhouse gas emissions through several pathways (reemission of lime-derived carbon or stimulation of carbon mineralization), but may also reduce CO2 emissions from ecosystem respiration. Collectively, my findings emphasize the importance of pedoclimatic conditions for liming impacts on permanent grasslands and highlight the difficulty of upscaling liming effects, particularly on forage production and greenhouse gas emissions. The efficiency of liming appears to depend on the type and dose of soil improvers and can also interact with other management practices such as nitrogen fertilization and management intensification.

No description available.

Diss. Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniv.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T18:55:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5511.pdf: 2599915 bytes, checksum: c246a5f7092e814f87e383c45b31d9f2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-06 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Can vinasse accelerate the change of minerals in rock powder for obtaining fertilizer, with utilization of residues from alcohol agro and mining industries? Answering this question was the main objective of this study. So, it was carried out two experiments in a laboratory in a completely randomized set using PVC columns in which we reproduced the 0-50 cm layers of a very clayey Red Oxisol and a Quartzipsamment. In the first test, with duration of 30 days, it was evaluated the application form of the mixture into the soil. It were tested incorporation of basalt powder previously in soil and incubation of basalt powder and vinasse in the laboratory for 24 hours and then applied to the soil. In Red Oxisol were used two doses of basalt powder (0 and 2,0 t ha-1), a dose of vinasse (200 m3 ha-1) and as a control, a dose of water (200 m3 ha-1) using the same amounts of rock powder. For this test, samples were collected from the surface of the columns in 1, 7, 15 and 30 days of experiment. In the second test, with duration of 90 days, using the two soils, were added three doses of basalt powder (0, 2,0 and 4,0 t ha-1) and a dose of vinasse (200 m3 ha-1). The control was made by treatments with water (200 m3 ha-1) with the same doses of rock powder. Samples were collected on the surface of each column in 1, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 days and at the end of the experiment, in botton and in the leachate. For the surface samples in the first and second tests and the botton in the second test, we determined the levels of macronutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, S), micronutrients (B, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn), H + Al, Al, organic matter, pH in CaCl2, sum of bases, base saturation and cation exchange capacity. In the leachate were determined Ca, Mg, K, SO4, Fe, Mn and Zn. In the first test, the evaluation of the application form of the mixture indicated that there was no difference between the use of basalt powder and vinasse incubated for 24 hours or previously incorporation of rock powder in the soil and then application of vinasse. In the second test, there were significant effects of solvent and soil in the surface layer, with variations in the levels of the attributes analyzed over time. The dose of basalt powder was not significant for most attributes analyzed, except for the levels of boron and iron. On balance levels at the beginning and end of the experiment, the results suggest that sorption phenomena with neoformed mineral phases or organic acids may have occurred. The mixture of vinasse and rock powder is an alternative fertilizer and reduces the consumption of soluble fertilizers, but further studies are needed to evaluate the sorption phenomena and availability of cations in the mixture. / Vinhaça pode acelerar a alteração de minerais em pó de rocha para obtenção de fertilizantes, com aproveitamento de resíduos de agroindústrias de álcool e de mineradoras? Responder a esta pergunta foi o principal objetivo deste estudo. Assim, foi montado em laboratório dois ensaios inteiramente casualizados em colunas de PVC nas quais foram reproduzidas as camadas 0-50 cm de um Latossolo Vermelho muito argiloso e de um Neossolo Quartzarênico. No primeiro ensaio, com duração de 30 dias, foi avaliado o modo de aplicação da mistura no solo. Foram testados a incorporação de pó de basalto previamente no solo e a incubação de pó de basalto e vinhaça em laboratório por 24 horas e depois aplicação no solo. Em Latossolo, foram utilizadas duas doses de pó de basalto (0 e 2,0 t ha-1), uma dose de vinhaça (200 m3 ha-1) e como controle uma dose de água (200 m3 ha-1) com as mesmas quantidades de pó de rocha. Para este ensaio foram coletadas amostras da camada superficial das colunas aos 1, 7, 15 e 30 dias de experimento. No segundo ensaio, com duração de 90 dias, utilizando os dois solos, foram adicionadas três doses de pó de basalto (0; 2,0 e 4,0 t ha-1) e uma dose de vinhaça (200 m3 ha-1). O controle foi feito por meio de tratamentos com água (200 m3 ha-1) e com as mesmas doses de pó de rocha. Foram coletadas amostras na superfície de cada coluna aos 1, 15, 30, 45, 60 e 90 dias e, ao final do experimento, em profundidade e no lixiviado. Para as amostra em superfície do primeiro e segundo ensaios e em profundidade do segundo ensaio, foram determinados os teores de macronutrientes (P, K, Ca, Mg, S), micronutrientes (B, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn), H+Al, Al, matéria orgânica, pH em CaCl2, soma de bases, saturação por bases e capacidade de troca catiônica. No lixiviado foram determinados os teores de Ca, Mg, K, SO4, Fe, Mn e Zn. No primeiro ensaio, a avaliação do modo de aplicação da mistura indicou que não houve diferença entre a utilização do pó de basalto incubado em vinhaça por 24 horas ou incorporação do pó de rocha no solo e em seguida aplicação de vinhaça. Já no segundo ensaio, houve efeito significativo do solvente e do solo na camada superficial, com variações nos teores dos atributos analisados durante o tempo. A dose de pó de basalto não foi significativa para a maioria dos atributos analisados, com exceção dos teores de boro e de ferro. No balanço de teores no início e no fim do experimento, os resultados sugerem que fenômenos de sorção com fases minerais neoformadas ou com ácidos orgânicos podem ter ocorrido. A mistura de vinhaça e pó de rocha é uma alternativa de adubação e permite reduzir o consumo de fertilizantes solúveis, mas são necessários estudos complementares para avaliar fenômenos de sorção e de disponibilização de cátions nessa mistura.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T16:24:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Adriana R da Costa.pdf: 1069791 bytes, checksum: 743805ac385dad30c9c493e611823930 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-24 / The loss of nitrogen from the soil-plant system has economic and environmental repercussions, especially when nitrous oxide is emitted to the atmosphere. The aim of this study was to evaluate the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the production system of irrigated commom beans under no-tillage, with brachiaria grass as cover plant (green manure), as affected by the application of different N sources. The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Rice and Beans, in a clayey Haplic Ferralsol. Six areas planted with common beans in no-till system, with sprinkler irrigation, center pivot, were evaluated in the fall/winter period of 2009. In each area (150 m2) a different source on N (treatments) was applied. The total area of the study was 1000 m2. The treatments were: no N (control), urea, ammonium sulfate (A.S.), urea + urease inhibitor (Ur.+Inhi.), urea combined with charcoal (Ur.+Car.), biological fixation nitrogen (B.F.N.), Cerrado (Cer). One hundred kg of N ha-1 was applied in all areas: 20% at sowing together with the seed at the same depth and 80% as top dressing, 25 days after planting. Periods, whose N2O fluxes were more important, were selected for more detailed study, including soil biological variables. The N2O concentration was determined by gas chromatography. Concurrently, soil moisture, temperature, water filled pore space (WFPS), pH and parameters related to the microbial biomass were also measured. The variables that influence soil N2O fluxes during the growing cycle of the bean are: the levels of nitrate in the soil, pH, moisture and WFPS, indicating conditions that favor the denitrification process. The highest emissions of N2O, occur in the following treatments: urea with urease inhibitor, biological nitrogen fixation and urea associated with charcoal, 70%, 36% and 32% higher then that observed in the control, respectively. The emission factors observed in this study are below the lowest levels suggested by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). After fertilization at sowing, the variables that control the emission of N2O are basal respiration, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), total organic carbon (TOC), soil moisture and WFPS. The charcoal combined with urea provides better conditions for microorganisms, increasing MBC and microbial quocient. After topdressing N2O fluxes are lower than at sowing, possibly due to higher N losses through volatilization or increased demand for N by the plant and consequent higher N uptake by plants. The ammonium sulfate source shows the highest N2O fluxes in this period. The variables that control N2O emission in this period are: MBN, pH, moisture and WFPS. During the senescence of the bean plants urea combined with urease inhibitor and biological fixation nitrogen are the treatments that most emitt N2O. The variables that controll the fluxes are soil temperature and TOC. / A perda de nitrogênio no sistema solo-planta tem repercussões econômicas e ambientais, especialmente quando óxidos de nitrogênio são emitidos para a atmosfera. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a emissão de óxido nitrosos (N2O) em sistema de produção de feijoeiro comum irrigado em sistema plantio direto, sobre palhada de braquiária, com aplicação de diferentes fontes de nitrogênio (N), bem como as variáveis ambientais e do solo que condicionam esta emissão. O experimento foi conduzido na Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, num Latossolo Vermelho distrófico argiloso. Foram avaliadas seis áreas de cultivo de feijoeiro comum, em sistema plantio direto, sobre palhada de braquiária, irrigado por aspersão via pivô central, no outono/inverno de 2009. A área de cada tratamento foi de 150 m2. A área total do estudo foi de 1000 m2. Os tratamentos foram: Sem N (testemunha); Uréia; Sulfato de amônio (S.A.); Uréia tratada com inibidor de urease (Ur.+ Inib.); Uréia combinada com carvão vegetal (Ur.+Car.); Fixação biológica de nitrogênio (F.B.N.); Cerradão (Cer) como referência. Foram aplicados 100 kg ha-1 de N: 20% na linha de semeadura e 80% em cobertura, a lanço, 25 dias após plantio. Selecionaram-se períodos, cujos fluxos de N2O apresentaram maior relevância, para que fosse realizado um estudo mais detalhado, incluindo variáveis biológicas do solo. A concentração de N2O foi determinada por cromatografia gasosa. Concomitantemente, realizou-se amostragem de solo para verificação da temperatura, espaço poroso saturado por água (EPSA), pH e parâmetros referentes a biomassa microbiana. As variáveis de solo que mais influenciam os fluxos de N2O, durante o ciclo do feijoeiro, são os teores de nitrato no solo, pH e EPSA, cujas condições favorecem o processo de desnitrificação, no sistema de produção irrigada em plantio direto. As maiores emissões totais de N2O, ocorrem nos seguintes tratamentos: uréia com inibidor de urease, fixação biológica de nitrogênio e uréia associada ao carvão vegetal, sendo 70%, 36% e 32% maior que o observado na testemunha, respectivamente. Os fatores de emissão observados neste estudo estão abaixo dos menores níveis sugeridos pelo IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Após adubação no sulco, as variáveis que controlam a emissão de N2O são respiração basal, carbono da biomassa microbiana (CBM), nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana (NBM), carbono orgânico total (COT) e EPSA. O carvão vegetal combinado com uréia proporciona melhores condições aos microrganismos, elevando índices como o CBM e o quociente microbiano. Após a adubação de cobertura os fluxos de N2O são menores que na semeadura, talvez devido a maiores perdas de N por volatilização e maior demanda pela planta por N, sendo o sulfato de amônio a fonte que mais emitiu N2O. As variáveis que controlam a emissão de N2O neste período são o NBM, o pH do solo e o EPSA. No período de senescência do feijoeiro as fontes uréia combinada com inibidor de urease e a fixação biológica de nitrogênio são as que mais emitem N2O, sendo as variáveis que controlam este período de emissão, a temperatura do solo e o COT.

The state of Florida has one of the most severe exotic species invasion problems in the United States, but little is known about their influence on soil biogeochemistry. My dissertation research includes a cross-continental field study in Australia, Florida, and greenhouse and growth chamber experiments, focused on the soil-plant interactions of one of the most problematic weeds introduced in south Florida, Lygodium microphyllum (Old World climbing fern). Analysis of field samples from the ferns introduced and their native range indicate that L microphyllum is highly dependent on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for phosphorus uptake and biomass accumulation. Relationship with AMF is stronger in relatively dry conditions, which are commonly found in some Florida sites, compared to more common wet sites where the fern is found in its native Australia. In the field, L. microphyllum is found to thrive in a wide range of soil pH, texture, and nutrient conditions, with strongly acidic soils in Australia and slightly acidic soils in Florida. Soils with pH 5.5 - 6.5 provide the most optimal growth conditions for L. microphyllum, and the growth declines significantly at soil pH 8.0, indicating that further reduction could happen in more alkaline soils. Comparison of invaded and uninvaded soil characteristics demonstrates that L. microphyllum can change the belowground soil environment, with more conspicuous impact on nutrient-poor sandy soils, to its own benefit by enhancing the soil nutrient status. Additionally, the nitrogen concentration in the leaves, which has a significant influence in the relative growth rate and photosynthesis, was significantly higher in Florida plants compared to Australian plants. Given that L. microphyllum allocates up to 40% of the total biomass to rhizomes, which aid in rapid regeneration after burning, cutting or chemical spray, hence management techniques targeting the rhizomes look promising. Over all, my results reveal for the first time that soil pH, texture, and AMF are major factors facilitating the invasive success of L. mcirophyllum. Finally, herbicide treatments targeting rhizomes will most likely become the widely used technique to control invasiveness of L. microphyllum in the future. However, a complete understanding of the soil ecosystem is necessary before adding any chemicals to the soil to achieve a successful long-term invasive species management strategy.

Changes brought about by chemical and physical weathering were investigated in a chronosequence of terrace soils near Reefton, New Zealand. The parent materials of the soil, which ranged in age from about 1000 to over 130,000 years were outwash gravels, sands and silts derived from granite (dominant) and indurated sandstone. Variations in pH, organic matter, particle size, cation exchange properties, total Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Fe and Ti, poorly-ordered and organic-complexed forms of Al and Fe, and mineralogy caused by increasing duration of weathering and by short range, short term variations in the intensity of the biotic factor were determined. It was concluded that the younger soils represented dynamic systems in which alternative weathering cycles could replace each other as the growth, death and eventual disappearance of individual red beech trees caused localised fluctuations in pH. It was further concluded that these processes would lead ultimately to the formation of gley podzols as are now found on the two oldest surfaces p and that podzolisation preceded gleying. Attempts were made to determine if minerals of the plumbogummite group were responsible for the high proportion of soil phosphate from these soils that, on fractionation, appeared in the residual P fraction. It was found that attempts to concentrate these minerals by prolonged digestion with HF resulted in their solution, and in precipitation of complex fluorides that yielded diffraction spacings that have been mistaken for minerals of the plumbogummite group.