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Predicting phosphorus bioavailability from high-ash biochars

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Abstract

Background and aims

Biochars are highly variable in nutrient composition and availability, which are determined by types of feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. The aim of this research was to (a) study the bioavailability of phosphorus (P) in biochars using different feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions; (b) develop a robust chemical method for biochar P availability measurements.

Methods

In the present study, (a) chemical analysis – including total P and extractable P (2% citric acid, 2% formic acid, and neutral ammonium citrate extraction), and (b) a bioassay test using rye-grass grown in a P deficient sandy soil were used to compare the P bioavailability of different biochars. Biochars were produced from two different feedstocks (dairy manure-wood mixture, MAe; biosolid-wood mixture, BSe) at four different pyrolysis temperatures (250, 350, 450, and 550°C).

Results

Results showed that P in feedstock was fully recovered in the biochars. After 6 harvests, the biochars were as effective as the P fertilizers tested [Sechura phosphate rocks (SPR) and calcium dihydrogen phosphate (CaP)] in increasing the shoot yield. However, P uptake followed the order of CaP >MAe biochars >BSe biochars >SPR, on a same TP basis. Based on the Mitscherlich equation, 2% formic acid was the most sensitive indicator of P bioavailability in biochars.

Conclusions

The results suggest that high-ash biochars with high P concentrations are potential P sources with high-agronomic efficiency. We propose the use of 2% formic acid extraction to predict the availability of P in ash-rich biochars.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are deeply grateful to Mr James Hanly for providing the manure samples, Erwin Wisnubroto for providing soil samples, Associate Professor Bob Stewart for biochar XRD analysis, Mr Mike Bretherton, Mr Ian Furkert, Mr Bob Toes, and Ms Glenys Wallace for technical support. We also thank Prof. Felipe Macías from Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and two anonymous reviewers for their review and constructive suggestions on this manuscript. The Palmerston North City Council supplied the biosolids, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry New Zealand funded this research, and Massey University funded Tao’s fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New Zealand Biochar Research Centre, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, 4442, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Tao Wang, Marta Camps-Arbestain, Mike Hedley & Peter Bishop

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  1. Tao Wang
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  2. Marta Camps-Arbestain
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  3. Mike Hedley
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  4. Peter Bishop
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Correspondence to Tao Wang.

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Responsible Editor: Johannes Lehmann.

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Wang, T., Camps-Arbestain, M., Hedley, M. et al. Predicting phosphorus bioavailability from high-ash biochars. Plant Soil 357, 173–187 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1131-9

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