Abstract
Biochar is the carbonized material produced from biomass and is used in several environmental applications. The biochar characteristics depend on the carbonization conditions and feedstock. The suitability of a given biochar for soil improvement depends on the biochar characteristics, soil properties, and target plants. Biochar has been applied at 1–20% (w/w) in the soil, but currently there is a lack of information on what type and concentration of biochar are most suitable for a specific plant and soil quality. Too much biochar will reduce plant growth because of the high alkalinity of biochar, which will cause long-term soil alkalinity. In contrast, too little biochar might be insufficient to enhance plant productivity. In this study, a suitable concentration of cassava stem (an abundant agricultural waste in Thailand) biochar produced at 350 °C was evaluated for green bean (Vigna radiata L.) growth from germination to seed production in pots over 8 weeks. The soil fertility was increased with increasing biochar concentration. At 5% (w/w) biochar, the soil fertility and plant growth were significantly enhanced, while 10% (w/w) biochar significantly enhanced bean growth and bean pod production. The increased biochar concentration in the soil significantly increased the soil total nitrogen and extractable potassium (K) levels but did not affect the amount of available phosphorous. Biochar at 10% (w/w) significantly induced the accumulation of K in the stems, leaves, nut shells, and roots but not in nut seeds. Moreover, biochar not only increased the K concentration in soil but also increased the plant nutrient use efficiency of K, which is important for plant growth.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agegnehua G, Nelsona PN, Birda MI (2016) Crop yield, plant nutrient uptake and soil physicochemical properties under organic soil amendments and nitrogen fertilization on Nitisols. Soil Tillage Res 160:1–13
Ahmad M, Zahir ZA, Khalid M, Nazli F, Arshad M (2013) Efficacy of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains to improve physiology, ionic balance and quality of mung bean under salt-affected conditions on farmer’s fields. Plant Physiol Biochem 63:170–176. doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.11.024
Ameloot N, Sleutel S, Das KC, Kanagaratnam J, DeNeve S (2013) Biochar amendment to soils with contrasting organic matter level: effects on N mineralization and biological soil properties. GCB Bioenergy. doi:10.1111/gcbb.12119
Atilio JB, Causin HF (1996) The central role of amino acids on nitrogen utilization and plant growth. J Plant Physiol 149:358–362. doi:10.1016/S0176-1617(96)80134-9
Baligar VC, Fageria NK, He ZL (2007) Nutrient use efficiency in plants. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 32:921–950. doi:10.1081/CSS-100104098
Bass AM, Bird MI, Kay G, Muirhead B (2016) Soil properties, greenhouse gas emissions and crop yield under compost, biochar and co-composted biochar in two tropical agronomic systems. Sci Total Environ 550:459–470
Biederman LA, Harpole WS (2013) Biochar and its effects on plant productivity and nutrient cycling: a meta-analysis. GCB Bioenergy 5:202–214. doi:10.1111/gcbb.12037
Bolan N et al (2014) Review remediation of heavy metal(loid)s contaminated soils: to mobilize or to immobilize? J Hazard Mater 266:141–166
Cantrell KB, Hunt PG, Uchimiya M, Novak JM, Ro KS (2012) Impact of pyrolysis temperature and manure source on physicochemical characteristics of biochar. Bioresour Technol 107:419–428. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.11.084
Chia J, Liu H (2016) Effects of biochars derived from different pyrolysis temperatures ongrowth of Vallisneria spiralis and dissipation of polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons in sediments. Ecol Eng 93:199–206
DeLuca TH, MacKenzie MD, Gundale MJ (2009) Biochar effects on soil nutrient transformations. In: Lehmann J, Joseph S (eds) Biochar for environmental management: science and technology. Earthscan, London, UK, pp 251–270
DeSmet I et al (2012) Analyzing lateral root development: how to move forward. Plant Cell 24:15–20
Ding Y et al. (2016) Biochar to improve soil fertility. A review Agronomy for Sustainable Development 36:36 doi:10.1007/s13593-016-0372-z
Dobermann A, Cassman KG, Sta. Cruz PC, Adviento MAA, Pampolino MF (1996) Fertilizer inputs, nutrient balance and soil nutrient supplying power in intensive, irrigated rice system. III Phosphorus. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 46:111–125. doi:10.1007/BF00704311
Fageria NK, Baligar VC (2005) Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants. In: Advances in agronomy, vol Volume 88. Academic Press, pp 97-185. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(05)88004-6
Gaskin JW, Speir RA, Harris K, Das KC, Lee RD, Morris LA, Fisher DS (2010) Effect of peanut hull and pine chip biochar on soil nutrients, corn nutrient status, and yield. Agron J 102:623–633
Golzarian MR, Frick RA, Rajendran K, Berger B, Roy S, Tester M, Lun DS (2011) Accurate inference of shoot biomass from high-throughput images of cereal plants. Plant Methods 7:1–11. doi:10.1186/1746-4811-7-2
Hao Z, Zhengyu W, Xia D, Baoshan X (2013) Impact of pyrolysis temperature on nutrient properties of biochar. In: Xu J, Wu J, He Y (eds) Functions of natural organic matter in changing environment. Springer Netherlands, Netherlands, pp 975–978. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5634-2_179
Ibrahim EA, Ramadan WA (2015) Effect of zinc foliar spray alone and combined with humic acid or/and chitosan on growth, nutrient elements content and yield of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants sown at different dates. Sci Hortic 184:101–105. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2014.11.010
Ingold M, Al-Kindi A, Jordan G, Dietz H, Schlecht E, Buerkert A (2015) Effects of activated charcoal and quebracho tannins added to feed or as soil conditioner on manure quality in organic agriculture. Org Agric 5:245–261. doi:10.1007/s13165-015-0104-8
Jien S-H, Wang C-S (2013) Effects of biochar on soil properties and erosion potential in a highly weathered soil. CATENA 110:225–233. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2013.06.021
Jindo K, Mizumoto H, Sawada Y, Sanchez-Monedero MA, Sonoki T (2014) Physical and chemical characterization of biochars derived from different agricultural residues. Biogeosciences 11:6613–6621. doi:10.5194/bg-11-6613-2014
Karer J, Wimmer B, Zehetner F, Kloss S, Soja G (2013) Biochar application to temperate soils: effect on nutrient uptake and crop yield under field conditions. Agric Food Sci 22:390–403
Laird DA, Fleming P, Davis DD, Horton R, Wang B, Karlen DL (2010) Impact of biochar amendments on the quality of a typical Midwestern agricultural soil. Geoderma 158:443–449. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.05.013
Lehmann J (2007) A handful of carbon. Nature 447:143–144
Lehmann J, Joseph S (2009) Biochar for environmental management: an introduction. In: Lehmann J, Joseph S (eds) Biochar for environmental management: science and technology. Earthscan Publishers, London, United Kingdom, p 12
Lehmann J, Rillig MC, Thies J, Masiello CA, Hockaday WC, Crowley D (2011) Biochar effects on soil biota—a review. Soil Biol Biochem 43:1812–1836. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.04.022
Liu Z, Hoekman SK, Balasubramanian R, Zhang F-S (2015) Improvement of fuel qualities of solid fuel biochars by washing treatment. Fuel Process Technol 134:130–135. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2015.01.025
Mclatchey GP, Reddy KR (1998) Regulation of organic matter decomposition and nutrient release in a wet soil. J Environ Qual 27:1268–1274
Mukherjee A, Zimmerman AR (2013) Organic carbon and nutrient release from a range of laboratory-produced biochars and biochar–soil mixtures. Geoderma 193–194:122–130
Omondi MO, Xia X, Nahayo A, Liu X, Korai PK, Pan G (2016) Quantification of biochar effects on soil hydrological properties using meta-analysis of literature data. Geoderma 274:28–34. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.03.029
Oram NJ, van de Voorde TFJ, Ouwehand G-J, Bezemer TM, Mommer L, Jeffery S, Groenigen JWV (2014) Soil amendment with biochar increases the competitive ability of legumes via increased potassium availability. Agr Ecosyst Environ 191:92–98. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2014.03.031
Park JH, Choppala G, Bolan N, Chung JW, Chuasavathi T (2011) Biochar reduces the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of heavy metals. Plant Soil 348:439–451
Prapagdee S, Piyatiratitivorakul S, Petsom A, Tawinteung N (2014) Application of biochar for enhancing cadmium and zinc phytostabilization in Vigna radiata L cultivation. Water Air Soil Pollut 225:1–13
Rees F, Simonnot MO, Morela JL (2014) Short-term effects of biochar on soil heavy metal mobility are controlled by intra-particle diffusion and soil pH increase. Eur J Soil Sci 65:149–161
Regmi P, Moscoso JLG, Kumar S, Cao X, Mao J, Schafran G (2012) Removal of copper and cadmium from aqueous solution using switchgrass biochar produced via hydrothermal carbonization process. J Environ Manage 109:61–69
Rondon MA, Lehmann J, Ramírez J, Hurtado M (2007) Biological nitrogen fixation by common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) increases with bio-char additions. Biol Fertil Soils 43:699–708
Rosolem CA, Silva RH, Esteves JAF (2003) Potassium supply to cotton roots as affected by potassium fertilization and liming. Pesq Agrop Brasileira 38:635–641
Roy RC, Coelho BRB, Reeleder RD, Bruin AJ, Grohs R, White P, Capell B (2008) Effect of planting bed shape, mulch and soil density on root yield and shape in North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.). Can J Plant Sci 88:937–949
Schulz H, Glaser B (2012) Effects of biochar compared to organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil quality and plant growth in a greenhouse experiment. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 174:410–422
Segura ML, París JIC, Plaza BM, Lao MT (2012) Assessment of the nitrogen and potassium fertilizer in green bean irrigated with disinfected urban wastewater. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 43:426–433. doi:10.1080/00103624.2011.638604
Shashidhar HE, Henry A, Hardy B (2012) Methodologies for root drought studies in rice. IRRI, International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philipines
Suppadit T, Kitikoon V, Phubphol A, Neumnoi P (2012) Effect of quali litter biochar on productivity of four new physic nut varieties planted in cadmium-contaminated soil Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research 72:125-132.
Trakal L, Sigut R, Sillerova H, Faturikova D, Komarek M (2014) Copper removal from aqueous solution using biochar: effect of chemical activation. Arab J Chem 7:43–52
Uchimiya M, Lima IM, Klasson KT, Chang S, Wartelle LH, Rodgers JE (2010) Immobilization of heavy metal ions (Cu, Cd, Ni, and Pb) by broiler litter-derived biochars in water and soil. J Agric Food Chem 58:5538–5554
Uchimiya M, Wartelle LH, Klasson KT, Fortier CA, Lima IM (2011) Influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar property and function as a heavy metal sorbent in soil. J Agric Food Chem 59:2501–2510
Upadhyay KP, George D, Swift RS, Galea V (2014) The influence of biochar on growth of lettuce and potato. J Integr Agric 13:541–546
Xu CY, Hosseini-Bai S, Hao Y, Rachaput RCN, Wang HL, Xu Z, Wallace H (2015) Effect of biochar amendment on yield and photosynthesis of peanut on two types of soils. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:6112–6125
Zhang H, Voroney RP, Price GW (2014a) Effects of biochar amendments on soil microbial biomass and activity. J Environ Qual 43:2104–2114. doi:10.2134/jeq2014.03.0132
Zhang Q-z, Dijkstra FA, X-r L, Wang Y-d, Huang J, Lu N (2014b) Effects of biochar on soil microbial biomass after four years of consecutive application in the north China plain. PLoS One 9, e102062. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102062
Zheng H, Wang Z, Deng X, Herbert S, Xing B (2013) Impacts of adding biochar on nitrogen retention and bioavailability in agricultural soil. Geoderma 206:32–39
Zwieten LV, Rose T, Herridge D, Kimber S, Rust J, Cowie A, Morris S (2015) Enhanced biological N2 fixation and yield of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in an acid soil following biochar addition: dissection of causal mechanisms. Plant Soil 395:7–20
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
ESM 1
(DOCX 54 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Prapagdee, S., Tawinteung, N. Effects of biochar on enhanced nutrient use efficiency of green bean, Vigna radiata L.. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 9460–9467 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8633-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8633-1