This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Global climate is undergoing significant changes due to extensive release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO2 and methane in the atmosphere. These gases are produced and released as a result of anthropogenic activities and fossil fuel burnings which also result in depletion of soil carbon resources. Biochar has various distinctive properties, which contribute to make it an effective, economical, and eco-friendly approach for soil carbon sequestration. The versatility in physicochemical properties of biochar provides an opportunity to optimize its efficacy to obtain desired benefits. A critical review of the literature indicates that biochar and plant growth–promoting microbes have the potential to improve soil organic carbon (SOC). Recent studies have depicted a significant role of the combined application of plant growth–promoting microbes and biochar on SOC dynamics. In future, these areas need to be explored as these have the potential to improve SOC dynamics and it could be a better strategy to sustain natural resources and ultimately mitigation of the climate change.
Rubab Sarfraz; Azhar Hussain; Asma Sabir; Ibtissem Ben Fekih; Allah Ditta; Shihe Xing. Role of biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to enhance soil carbon sequestration—a review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 2019, 191, 251 .
AMA StyleRubab Sarfraz, Azhar Hussain, Asma Sabir, Ibtissem Ben Fekih, Allah Ditta, Shihe Xing. Role of biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to enhance soil carbon sequestration—a review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2019; 191 (4):251.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRubab Sarfraz; Azhar Hussain; Asma Sabir; Ibtissem Ben Fekih; Allah Ditta; Shihe Xing. 2019. "Role of biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to enhance soil carbon sequestration—a review." Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 191, no. 4: 251.
The prime objective of biochar production is to contribute to nutrients recycling, reducing waste and converting useful bio-wastes into carbon rich products in the environment. The present study was intended to systematically evaluate the effect of pyrolysis conditions and characteristics of feedstock influencing the generation of biochar. The study revealed the nutritional importance of waste mushroom substrate (WMS) biochar which may elevate soil nutritional status and soil quality. The results showed that the yields and properties of WMS biochar depended principally on the applied temperature where pyrolysis at higher temperatures, that is, 600 °C and 700 °C produced biochar having high ash, P and K contents. Moreover, numerous useful macro and micro nutrients such as Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn were observed to positively correlate with the increase in temperature. The WMS biochar in our study is highly alkaline which can be used to rectify acidic soil pH. Overall our results suggest that WMS biochar being a rich source of nutrients can be the best remedy to maintain and further enhance the soil nutritional status. Thus by interpreting biochar feedstock characteristics and pyrolysis conditions, the regulation of tailored WMS biochar manufacturing and application in soil can be facilitated.
Rubab Sarfraz; Siwei Li; Wenhao Yang; Biqing Zhou; Shihe Xing. Assessment of Physicochemical and Nutritional Characteristics of Waste Mushroom Substrate Biochar under Various Pyrolysis Temperatures and Times. Sustainability 2019, 11, 277 .
AMA StyleRubab Sarfraz, Siwei Li, Wenhao Yang, Biqing Zhou, Shihe Xing. Assessment of Physicochemical and Nutritional Characteristics of Waste Mushroom Substrate Biochar under Various Pyrolysis Temperatures and Times. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (1):277.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRubab Sarfraz; Siwei Li; Wenhao Yang; Biqing Zhou; Shihe Xing. 2019. "Assessment of Physicochemical and Nutritional Characteristics of Waste Mushroom Substrate Biochar under Various Pyrolysis Temperatures and Times." Sustainability 11, no. 1: 277.
Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is recognized as an important nitrogen (N) pool in soil N cycling, but its role in the N cycling of paddy soils, which are intensively fertilized, is not fully predicted. In this study, we investigated DON in flooded layer and soil solution along soil profiles with suction cups in fertilized paddy fields. The DON concentration showed a relative decrease in the deeper layer of paddy soil, while free amino acid N (FAA-N) exhibited a drastic increase along with nutrient profiles of soil. In the upper layer (0–20 cm), DON accounted for 54–64% of total dissolved N (TDN), but this value increased up to 63–97% in the deeper layer (40–60 cm). Low concentrations (9.6–15.0 μg L−1) of FAA-N and low percentage of FAA-N/DON (0.1–0.2%) were observed in the upper layer, but higher concentrations (111–307 μg L−1) and increased percentage (8–36%) were examined in the deeper layer. The high percentage of DON/TDN indicated that DON was the predominant N pool in the deeper layer. Concentrations of DON were significantly and positively correlated with organic matter, total N, and electrical conductivity (EC), while negatively related to soil pH. Additionally, capillary porosity, air porosity, bulk density and particle density were also found to be significantly associated with DON. We suggest the DON and FAA in the paddy field could be an important source for N leaching, which is most strongly related with soil nutrient profiles and physical properties. It is estimated that a total loss of 4.0 kg N ha−1 yr−1 is potentially linked to DON in the paddy field, which implied that ca. 3.35% of the applied N fertilizers could be lost via DON.
San’An Nie; Lixia Zhao; Xiumei Lei; Rubab Sarfraz; Shihe Xing. Dissolved organic nitrogen distribution in differently fertilized paddy soil profiles: Implications for its potential loss. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2018, 262, 58 -64.
AMA StyleSan’An Nie, Lixia Zhao, Xiumei Lei, Rubab Sarfraz, Shihe Xing. Dissolved organic nitrogen distribution in differently fertilized paddy soil profiles: Implications for its potential loss. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2018; 262 ():58-64.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSan’An Nie; Lixia Zhao; Xiumei Lei; Rubab Sarfraz; Shihe Xing. 2018. "Dissolved organic nitrogen distribution in differently fertilized paddy soil profiles: Implications for its potential loss." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 262, no. : 58-64.
M W K Tarin; L Fan; M Tayyab; R Sarfraz; T He; J Rong; L Chen; Y Zheng. EFFECTS OF BAMBOO BIOCHAR AMENDMENT ON THE GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FOKIENIA HODGINSII. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 2018, 16, 8055 -8074.
AMA StyleM W K Tarin, L Fan, M Tayyab, R Sarfraz, T He, J Rong, L Chen, Y Zheng. EFFECTS OF BAMBOO BIOCHAR AMENDMENT ON THE GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FOKIENIA HODGINSII. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research. 2018; 16 (6):8055-8074.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM W K Tarin; L Fan; M Tayyab; R Sarfraz; T He; J Rong; L Chen; Y Zheng. 2018. "EFFECTS OF BAMBOO BIOCHAR AMENDMENT ON THE GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FOKIENIA HODGINSII." Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 16, no. 6: 8055-8074.
Biochar application has been considered as a rich source of carbon which helps to improve the physico-chemical properties and fertility of the soil. In Pakistan, excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer is considered a serious problem, so it is of vital importance to examine the effect of biochar on soil with varying doses of nitrogen fertilizer. We hypothesized that addition of biochar to an alkaline calcareous soil could improve not only soil quality and crop yield but also nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), reducing the loss of nitrogen (N) in the form of denitrification, ammonia volatilization, and nitrate leaching. A pot experiment was conducted under 2-factorial completely randomized design having three replications to evaluate the NUE in biochar amended calcareous soil. Biochar was applied at the rate of 0%, 1% and 2% (w/w) in pots filled with 17 kg of soil using various levels of N (0%, 50% and 100% of recommended dose) on maize (Zea mays L.). Several soil quality indicators, uptake, and yield of maize were monitored. Biochar application significantly decreased soil pH, increased water-holding capacity, total organic carbon, maize yield, stomatal conductance, and nitrogen uptake in plant. The results of the study indicated that addition of biochar could not only decrease the use of inorganic fertilizers by improving its quality and yield as in our case biochar at the rate of 1% and N at the rate of 50% provided optimum output minimizing the economic cost eventually.
Rubab Sarfraz; Awais Shakoor; Muhammad Abdullah; Ammara Arooj; Azhar Hussain; Shihe Xing. Impact of integrated application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizers on maize growth and nitrogen recovery in alkaline calcareous soil. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 2017, 63, 488 -498.
AMA StyleRubab Sarfraz, Awais Shakoor, Muhammad Abdullah, Ammara Arooj, Azhar Hussain, Shihe Xing. Impact of integrated application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizers on maize growth and nitrogen recovery in alkaline calcareous soil. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 2017; 63 (5):488-498.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRubab Sarfraz; Awais Shakoor; Muhammad Abdullah; Ammara Arooj; Azhar Hussain; Shihe Xing. 2017. "Impact of integrated application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizers on maize growth and nitrogen recovery in alkaline calcareous soil." Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 63, no. 5: 488-498.