Abstract
Phosphorus loss from agricultural soils is an important cause of eutrophication. The diversity of soil conditions and biochar feedstocks induces various effects on P retention after biochar application. Here, the effect of biochars at three application rates (0/1/5%, w/w) on P sorption and desorption in paddy soil with two levels of P application, 0 and 60 mg kg−1, were evaluated. Results show a notable reduction of the phosphorus activation coefficient (PAC, AP (available P)/TP (total P)) with biochar addition, thus suppressing the risk of P loss by the formation of Ca–P and Fe–P. The Langmuir sorption maximum (Qm) increased by 20.7–21.6%, 18.5–40.6% and 14.1–31.2% in amendments of biochar obtained from pig manure, corn straw and pine, respectively. The P sorption index (PSI) and maximum buffer capacity (MBC) in soils with biochar obtained from different feedstocks ranged in order from pig manure > corn straw > pine. Pig manure biochar had no significant effect on P retention due to changes in Ca/Mg/P by adjusting the pH, electronegativity and P content, resulting in anion repulsion. However, pine-derived biochar was favorable for the accumulation of thermally stable carbon dominated by aromatic carbon as well as lower alkalinity, promoting P sorption and suppressing P availability, especially at low P levels. In this study, we show that adding woody biochar to soil can simultaneously suppress nonpoint source pollution and reduce P fertilizer inputs.
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Abbreviations
- P:
-
Phosphorus
- AP:
-
Available phosphorus
- WP:
-
Water-soluble phosphorus
- TP:
-
Total phosphorus
- AK:
-
Available potassium
- CEC:
-
Cation exchange capacity
- MB:
-
Pig manure-derived biochar
- CB:
-
Corn straw-derived biochar
- WB:
-
Pine-derived biochar
- PAC:
-
Phosphorus activation coefficient
- Qm :
-
Sorption maximum
- PSI:
-
P sorption index
- MBC:
-
Maximum buffer capacity
- K l :
-
Higher bonding energy
- RDP:
-
Easy desorption of P
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Provincial Science and Technology Support Program of Sichuan (Grant Nos. 2016NZ0039 and 2015SZ0007).
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Xu, M., Wu, J., Yang, G. et al. Biochar addition to soil highly increases P retention and decreases the risk of phosphate contamination of waters. Environ Chem Lett 17, 533–541 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0802-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0802-z