Abstract
Increasing the retention of nutrients by agricultural soils is of great interest to minimize losses of nutrients by leaching and/or surface runoff. Soil amendments play a role in nutrient retention by increasing the surface area and/or other chemical processes. Biochar (BC) is high carbon-containing by-product of pyrolysis of carbon-rich feedstocks to produce bioenergy. Biosolid is a by-product of wastewater treatment plant. Use of these by-products as amendments to agricultural soils is beneficial to improve soil properties, soil quality, and nutrient retention and enhance carbon sequestration. In this study, the adsorption of NH4-N, P, and K by a sandy soil (Quincy fine sand (QFS)) and a silty clay loam soil (Warden silty loam (WSL)) with BC (0, 22.4, and 44.8 mg ha−1) and biosolid (0 and 22.4 mg ha−1) amendments were investigated. Adsorption of NH4-N by the QFS soil increased with BC application at lower NH4-N concentrations in equilibrium solution. For the WSL soil, NH4-N adsorption peaked at 22.4 mg ha−1 BC rate. Biosolid application increased NH4-N adsorption by the WSL soil while decreased that in the QFS soil. Adsorption of P was greater by the WSL soil as compared to that by the QFS soil. Biosolid amendment significantly increased P adsorption capacity in both soils, while BC amendment had no significant effects. BC and biosolid amendments decreased K adsorption capacity by the WSL soil but had no effects on that by the QFS soil. Ca release with increasing addition of K was greater by the WSL soil as compared to that by the QFS soil. In both the soils, Ca release was not influenced by BC amendment while it increased with addition of biosolid. The fit of adsorption data for NH4-N, P, and K across all treatments and in two soils was better with the Freundlich model than that with the Langmuir model. The nutrients retained by BC or biosolid amended soils are easily released, therefore are readily available for the root uptake in cropped soils.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alva, A. K., Hodges, T., Boydston, R. A., & Collins, H. P. (2002). Effects of irrigation and tillage practices on yield of potato under high production conditions in the Pacific northwest. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 33, 1451–1460.
Bera, T., Purakayastha, T. J., & Patra, A. K. (2014). Spectral, chemical and physical characterisation of mustard stalk biochar as affected by temperature. Clay Research, 33, 36–45.
Bera, T., Collins, H. P., Alva, A. K., Purakayastha, T. J., & Patra, A. K. (2016). Biochar and manure effluent effects on soil biochemical properties under corn production. Applied Soil Ecology, 71, 360–367.
Bera, T., Purakayastha, T. J., Patra, A. K., & Datta, S. C. (2017). Comparative analysis of physicochemical, nutrient, and spectral properties of agricultural residue biochars as influenced by pyrolysis temperatures. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-017-0675-4.
Cao, X., Ma, L., Gao, B., & Harris, W. (2009). Dairy-manure derived BC effectively sorbs lead and atrazine. Environmental Science and Technology, 43, 3285–3291.
Chan, K. Y., Van Zwieten, L., Meszaros, I., Downie, A., & Joseph, S. (2008). Using poultry litter BCs as soil amendments. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 46, 437.
Chen, B., Zhou, D., & Zhu, L. (2008). Transitional adsorption and partition of nonpolar and polar aromatic contaminants by biochars of pine needles with different pyrolytic temperature. Environmental Science and Technology, 42, 5137–5143.
Chen, B., Chen, Z. (2009). Sorption of naphthalene and 1-naphthol by biochars of orange peels with different pyrolytic temperatures. Chemosphere 76, 127–133.
Chen, B. L., Chen, Z. M., & Lv, S. F. (2011). A novel magnetic biochar efficiently sorbs organic pollutants and phosphate. Bioresource Technology, 102, 716–723.
Cheng, C. H., Lehmann, J., & Engelhard, M. H. (2008). Natural oxidation of black carbon in soils: changes in molecular form and surface charge along a climosequence. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 72, 1598–1610.
Dempster, D. N., Jones, D. L., & Murphy, D. M. (2012). Clay and biochar amendments decreased inorganic but not dissolved organic nitrogen leaching in soil. Soil Research, 50, 216–221.
Ding, Y., Liu, Y. X., Wu, W. X., Shi, D. Z., Yang, M., & Zhong, Z. K. (2010). Evaluation of BC effects on nitrogen retention and leaching in multi-layered soil columns. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 213, 47–55.
Drechsel, P., Scott C. A., Raschid-Sally, L., Redwood, M., & Bahri, A. (2010). Wastewater irrigation and health: assessing and mitigating risk in low-income countries. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in the UK and USA.
Elliot, H. A., O’Connor, G. A., & Brinton, S. (2002). Phosphorous leaching from biosolids amended sandy soils. Journal of Environmental Quality, 31, 681–689.
Gaskin, J. W., Speir, R. A., Harris, K., Das, K. C., Lee, R. D., Morris, L. A., & Fisher, D. S. (2010). Effect of peanut hull and pine Chip biochar on soil nutrients, corn nutrient status, and yield. Agronomy Journal, 102, 623–633.
Hale, S. E., Alling, V., Martinsen, V., Mulder, J., Breedveld, G. D., & Cornelissen, G. (2013). The adsorption and desorption of phosphate-P, ammonium-N and nitrate-N in cacao shell and corn cob biochars. Chemosphere, 91, 1612–1619.
Hollister, C. (2011). Ammonium, nitrate and phosphate sorption to water-rinsed and non-rinsed biochars. Master’s thesis: Cornell University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Kameyama, K., Miyamoto, T., Shiono, T., & Shinogi, Y. (2012). Influence of sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar application on nitrate leaching in calcaric dark red soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 41, 1131–1137.
Knowles, O. A., Robinson, B. H., Contangelo, A., & Clucas, L. (2011). Biochar for the mitigation of nitrate leaching from soil amended with biosolids. Science of the Total Environment, 409(17), 3206–3210.
Krogmann, U., Boyles, L. S., Bamka, W. J., Chaiprapat, S., & Martel, C. J. (1999). Biosolids and sludge management. Water Environment Research, 71, 692–714.
Laird, D., Fleming, P., Wang, B. Q., Horton, R., & Karlen, D. (2010). Biochar impact on nutrient leaching from a Midwestern agricultural soil. Geoderma, 158(3–4), 436–442.
Lehmann, J., & Joseph, S. (2008). Biochar for environmental management science and technology. Earthscan: Sterling.
Lehmann, J., Gaunt, J., & Rondon, M. (2006). Biochar sequestration in terrestrial cosystems—a review. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2, 403–427.
Liang, B., Lehmann, J., Solomon, D., Kinyangi, J., Grossman, J., & O'Neill, B. (2006). Black carbon increases cation exchange capacity in soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 70(22), 1719–1730.
Liu, Z. Zhang, F.S. (2009). Removal of lead from water using biochars prepared from hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 167, 933–939.
Mitra, S., Singh, P., Manzoor, S., Bhattacharyya, P., Bera, T., Patra, A. K., Rangan, L., & Borah, P. (2016). Can rice and wheat biochar amendment protect the carbon loss from tropical soils—an experimental study. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, 35, 183–188.
Mohan Jr, D., Pittman, C.U., Bricka, M., Smith, F., Yancey, B., Mohammad, J., Steele, P.H., Alexandre-Franco, M.F., Gomez-Serrano, V., Gong, H. (2007). Sorption of arsenic, cadmium and lead by chars produced from fast pyrolysis of wood and bark during bio-oil production. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 310, 57–73.
Mortula, M., Gibbons, M., Gagnon, G.A. (2007). Phosphorus adsorption by naturall y-occurring materials and industrial by-products. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science. 6(2), 157–164.
Mukherjee, A., Zimmerman, A. R., & Harris, W. G. (2011). Surface chemistry variations among a series of laboratory-produced biochars. Geoderma, 163(3–4), 247–255.
Novak, J. M., Busscher, W. J., Laird, D. L., Ahmedna, M., Watts, D. W., & Niandou, M. A. S. (2009a). Impact of biochar amendment on fertility of a southeastern coastal plain soil. Soil Science, 174, 105–112.
Novak, J. M., Lima, I. M., Xing, B., Gaskin, J. W., Steiner, C., Das, K. C., Ahmedna, M., Rehrah, D., Watts, D. W., Busscher, W. J., & Schomberg, H. (2009b). Characterization of designer biochar produced at different temperatures and their effects on a loamy sand. Annals of Environmental Science, 3, 195–206.
Qiu, Y., Zheng, Z., Zhou, Z., Sheng, G.D. (2009). Effectiveness and mechanisms of dye adsorption on a straw-based biochar. Bioresource Technology. 100, 5348–5351.
Sanyal, S. K., & DeDatta, S. K. (1991). Chemistry of phosphorus transformations in soil. Advances in Soil Sciences, 16, 1–120.
Sarkhot, D. V., Berhe, A. A., & Ghezzehei, T. A. (2012). Impact of biochar enriched with dairy manure effluent on carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Journal of Environmental Quality, 41, 1107–1114.
Singh, B. P., & Agrawal, M. (2008). Potential benefits and risks of land application of sewage sludge. Waste Management, 28, 347–358.
Spokas, K. A., Koskinen, W. C., Baker, J. M., & Reicosky, D. C. (2009). Impacts of woodchip biochar additions on greenhouse gas production and sorption/degradation of two herbicides in a Minnesota soil. Chemosphere, 77(4), 574–581.
Streubel, J. D., Collins, H. P., Garcia-Perez, M., Tarara, J., Granatstein, D., & Kruger, C. E. (2011). Influence of biochar on soil pH, water holding capacity, nitrogen and carbon dynamics. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 75, 1402–1413.
Tian, G., Granato, T. C., Pietz, R. I., Carslon, C. R., & Abedin, Z. (2006). Effect of long-term application of biosolid for land reclamation on surface water chemistry. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35, 101–113.
Vogeler, I., Green, S. R., Mills, T., & Clothier, B. E. (2006). Modelling nitrate and bromide leaching from sewage sludge. Soil & Tillage Research, 89, 117–184.
Yao, Y., Gao, B., Inyang, M., Zimmerman, A. R., Cao, X., Pullammanappallil, P., & Yang, L. (2011). Biochar derived from anaerobically digested sugar beet tailings: characterization and phosphate removal potential. Bioresource Technology, 102(10), 6273–6278.
Yao, Y., Gao, B., Zhang, M., Inyang, M., & Zimmerman, A. R. (2012). Effect of biochar amendment on sorption and leaching of nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate in a sandy soil. Chemosphere, 89, 1467–1471.
Yao, Y., Gao, B., Chen, J., Zhang, M., Inyang, M., Li, Y., Alva, A., Yang, L. (2013). Engineered carbon (biochar) prepared by direct pyrolysis of Mg-accumulated tomato tissues: characterization and phosphate removal potential. Bioresource Technology. 138, 8–13.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rens, H., Bera, T. & Alva, A.K. Effects of Biochar and Biosolid on Adsorption of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium in Two Soils. Water Air Soil Pollut 229, 281 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-3925-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-3925-8