Abstract
Glycophyte biomass − derived biochars have proven to be effective in the amelioration of acidic soil. However, there is scarce information on the characteristics and soil amelioration effects of halophyte-derived biochars. In this study, a typical halophyte Salicornia europaea, which is mainly distributed in the saline soils and salt-lake shores of China, and a glycophyte Zea mays, which is widely planted in the north of China, were selected to produce biochars with a pyrolysis process at 500 °C for 2 h. S. europaea-derived and Z. mays-derived biochars were characterized in elemental content, pores, surface area, and surface functional groups, and then by using a pot experiment their potential utilizable value as acidic soil conditioner was evaluated. The results showed that compared with Z. mays-derived biochar, S. europaea-derived biochar displayed higher pH, ash contents, base cations (K+, Ca2+, Na+, and Mg2+) contents and exhibited more larger surface area and pore volume than Z. mays-derived biochar. Both biochars had abundant oxygen-containing functional groups. Upon treating the acidic soil, the pH of acidic soil was increased by 0.98, 2.76, and 3.36 units after the addition of 1%, 2%, and 4% S. europaea-derived biochar, while it was increased only by 0.10, 0.22, and 0.56 units at 1%, 2%, and 4% Z. mays-derived biochar. High alkalinity in S. europaea-derived biochar was the main reason for the increase of pH value and base cations in acidic soil. Thus, application of halophyte biochar such as S. europaea-derived biochar is an alternative method for the amelioration of acidic soils.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.
References
Al Marzooqi F, Youself LF (2017) Biological response of a sandy soil treated with biochar derived from a halophyte (Salicornia bigelovii). Appl Soil Ecol 114:9–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.02.012
Alhdad GM, Seal CE, Al Azzawi MJ, Flowers TJ (2013) The effect of combined salinity and waterlogging on the halophyte Suaedamaritima: the role of antioxidants. Environ Exp Bot 87:120–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2012.10.010
Bolan NS, Adriano DC, Curtin D (2003) Soil acidification and liming interactions with nutrientand heavy metal transformationand bioavailability. Adv Agron 78:215–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(02)78006-1
Bolan N, Sarmah AK, Bordoloi S, Bolan S, Padhye LP, Van Zwieten L, Sooriyakumar P, Khan BA, Ahman M, Solaiman ZM, Rinklebe J, Wang HL, Singh BP, Siddique KHM (2023) Soil acidification and the liming potential of biochar. Environ Pollut 317:120632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120632
Cai JF, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Zhang MX, Li HL, Xia HJ, Kong WJ, Yu FH (2020) Remediation of cadmium-contaminated coastal saline-alkaline soil by Spartinaalterniflora derived biochar. Ecotox Environ Safe 205:111172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111172
Cao XD, Harris W (2010) Properties of dairy-manure-derived biochar pertinent to its potential use in remediation. Bioresour Technol 101:5222–5228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.02.052
Cecchini G, Andreetta A, Marchetto A, Carnicelli S (2019) Atmospheric deposition control of soil acidification in central Italy. Catena. 182:104102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2019.104102
Cui LQ, Li LQ, Bian RJ, Ippolito JA, Yan JL, Quan GX (2021) Physicochemical disintegration of biochar: a potentially important process for long-term cadmium and lead sorption. Biochar 3:511–518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-021-00108-z
Dai ZM, Zhang XJ, Tang C, Muhammad N, Wu JJ, Brookes PC, Xu JM (2017) Potential role of biochars in decreasing soil acidification-a critical review. Sc Total Environ 581:601–611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv2016.12.169
Dong XL, Wang JT, Liu XJ, Singh BP, Sun HY (2022) Characterization of halophyte biochar and its effects on water and salt contents in saline soil. Environ Sci Pollut R 29:11831–11842. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16526-2
Glenn EP, Anday T, Chaturvedi R, Martinez-Garcia R, Pearlstein S, Soliz D, Nelson SG, Felger RS (2013) Three halophytes for saline-water agriculture: an oilseed, a forage and a grain crop. Environ Exp Bot 92:110–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2012.05.002
Goulding KWT (2016) Soil acidification and the importance of liming agricultural soils with particular reference to the United Kingdom. Soil Use Manage 32:390–399. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12270
Graber ER, Harel YM, Kolton M, Cytryn E, Silber A, David DR, Tsechansky L, Borenshtein M, Elad Y (2010) Biochar impact on development and productivity of pepper and tomato grown in fertigated soilless media. Plant Soil 337:481–496. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0544-6
He L, Zhong H, Liu G, Dai Z, Brookes PC, Xu J (2019) Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils by biochar: mechanisms, potential risks and applications in China. Environ Pollut 252:846–855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.05.151
Holland JE, White PJ, Glendining MJ, Goulding KWT, McGrath SP (2019) Yield responses of arable crops to liming – an evaluation of relationships between yields and soil pH from a long-term liming experiment. Eur J Agron 105:176–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2019.02.016
Ippolito JA, Cui LQ, Kammann C, Wrage-Monnig N, Estavillo JM, Fuertes-Mendizabal T, Cayuela ML, Sigua G, Novak J, Spokas K, Borchard N (2020) Feedstock choice, pyrolysis temperature and type influence biochar characteristics: a comprehensive meta-data analysis review. Biochar 2:421–438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-020-00067-x
Jia MY, Yu JP, Li Z, Wu LH, Christie P (2021) Effects of biochar on the migration and transformation of metal species in a highly acid soil contaminated with multiple metals and leached with solutions of different pH. Chemosphere 278:130344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130344
Jiang L, Tanveer M, Han W, Tian CY, Wang L (2020) High and differential strontium tolerance in germinating dimorphic seeds of Salicornia europaea. Seed Sci Technol 48:231–239. https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2020.48.2.10
Jin ZW, Chen C, Chen XM, Jiang F, Hopkins I, Zhang XL, Han ZQ, Billy G, Benavides J (2019) Soil acidity, available phosphorus content, and optimal biochar and nitrogen fertilizer application rates: a five-year field trial in upland red soil. China Field Crop Res 232:77–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2018.12.013
Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards (JCPDS) (1980) Mineral powder diffraction file search manual or data book, vol 215. The Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards, International Center for Diffraction Data, Pennsylvania, USA, pp 328−9400. https://doi.org/10.1017/S088571560001280X
Khan ZH, Gao ML, Qiu WW, Islam MS, Song ZG (2020) Mechanisms for cadmium adsorption by magnetic biochar composites in an aqueous solution. Chemosphere 246:125701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125701
Kluepfel L, Keiluweit M, Kleber M, Sander M (2014) Redox properties of plant biomass-derived black carbon (biochar). Environ Sci Technol 48:5601–5611. https://doi.org/10.1021/es500906d
Krug EC, Frink CR (1983) Acid rain on acid soil: a new perspective. Science 221:520–525. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.221.4610.520
Laccarino A, Gautam R, Sarathy SM (2021) Bio-oil and biochar production from halophyte biomass: effects of pre-treatment and temperature on Salicornia bigelovii pyrolysis. Sustain Energ Fuels 5:2234. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0se01664k
Lehmann J (2007) A handful of carbon. Nature 447:143–144. https://doi.org/10.1038/447143a
Lehmann J, Skjemstad J, Sohi S, Carter J, Barson M, Falloon P, Coleman K, Woodbury P, Krull E (2008) Australian climate-carbon cycle feedback reduced by soil black carbon. Nat Geosci 1:832–835. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo358
Li SM, Harris S, Anandhi A, Chen G (2019) Predicting biochar properties and functions based on feedstock and pyrolysis temperature: a review and data syntheses. J Clean Prod 215:890–902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.106
Lin QY, Zhang L, Riaz M, Zhang MY, Xia H, Lv B, Jiang CC (2018) Assessing the potential of biochar and aged biochar to alleviate aluminum toxicity in an acid soil for achieving cabbage productivity. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 161:290–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.06.010
Liu J, Yang XY, Liu HH, Jia XP, Bao YC (2021) Mixed biochar obtained by the co-pyrolysis of shrimp shell with corn straw: co-pyrolysis characteristics and its adsorption capability. Chemosphere 282:131116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131116
Lu GQ, Low JCF, Liu CY, Lua AC (1995) Surface area development of sewage sludge during pyrolysis. Fuel 3:344–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-2361(95)93465-P
Lu SG, Zong YT (2018) Pore structure and environmental serves of biochars derived from different feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions. Environ Sci Pollut R 25:30401–30409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3018-7
Makkawi Y, El Sayed Y, Lyra DA, Pour FH, Khan M, Badrelzaman M (2021) Assessment of the pyrolysis products from halophyte Salicornia bigelovii cultivated in a desert environment. Fuel 290:119518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119518
Moghaieb REA, Saneoka H, Fujita K (2004) Effect of salinity on osmotic adjustment, glycinebetaine accumulation and the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase gene expression in two halophytic plants, Salicornia europaea and Suaeda maritima. Plant Sci 5:1345–1349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2004.01.016
Mori S, Akiya M, Yamamura K, Murano H, Arao T, Kawasaki A, Higuchi K, Maeda Y, Yoshiba M, Tadano T (2010) Physiological role of sodium in the growth of the halophyte Suaeda salsa (L.) Pall. under high-sodium conditions. Crop Sci 50:2492–2498. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2010.02.0119
Novak JM, Busscher WJ, Laird DL, Ahmedna M, Watts DW, Niandou MAS (2009) Impact of biochar amendment on fertility of a southeastern coastal plain soil. Soil Sci 174:105–112. https://doi.org/10.1097/SS.0b013e3181981d9a
Panta S, Flowers T, Lane P, Doyle R, Haros G, Shabala S (2014) Halophyte agriculture: success stories. Environ Exp Bot 107:71–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2014.05.006
Qian L, Chen B (2013) Dual role of biochars as adsorbents for aluminum: the effects of oxygen-containing organic components and the scattering of silicate particles. Environ Sci Technol 47:8759–8768. https://doi.org/10.1021/es401756h
Sheng YQ, Zhu LZ (2018) Biochar alters microbial community and carbon sequestration potential across different soil pH. Sci Total Environ 622:1391–1399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.337
Shetty R, Vidya CSN, Prakash NB, Lux A, Vaculik M (2021) Aluminum toxicity in plants and its possible mitigation in acid soils by biochar: a review. Sci Total Environ 765:142744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142744
Shi RY, Hong ZN, Li JY, Jiang J, Kamran MA, Xu RK, We Q (2018) Peanut straw biochar increases the resistance of two Ultisols derived from different parent materials to acidification: a mechanism study. J Environ Manage 210:171–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.01.028
Shi RY, Ni N, Nkoh JN, Dong Y, Zhao WR, Pan XY, Li JY, Xu RK, Qian W (2020) Biochar retards Al toxicity to maize (Zea mays L.) during soil acidification: the effects and mechanisms. Sci Total Environ 719:137448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137448
Tarkalson DD, Payero JO, Hergert GW, Cassman KG (2006) Acidification of soil in a dry land winter wheat-sorghum/corn-fallow rotation in the semiarid US Great Plains. Plant Soil 283:367–379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-006-0027-y
UIrich B (1986) Natural and anthropogenic components of soil acidification. Z Pflanzenernahr Bodenk 149:702–717. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.19861490607
Venegas A, Rigol A, Vidal M (2015) Viability of organic wastes and biochars as amendments for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. Chemosphere 119:190–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.06.009
Ventura Y, Eshel A, Pasternak D, Sagi M (2015) The development of halophyte-based agriculture: past and present. Ann Bot-London 115:529–540. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcu173
Xiao X, Chen ZM, Chen BL (2020) Proton uptake behaviors of organic and inorganic matters in biochars prepared under different pyrolytic temperatures. Sci Total Environ 746:140853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140853
Xiao HY, Lin QM, Li GT, Zhao XR, Li JZ, Li EZ (2022) Comparison of biochar properties from 5 kinds of halophyte produced by slow pyrolysis at 500 °C. Biochar 4:12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-022-00141-6
Xu RK, Coventry DR (2003) Soil pH changes associated with lupin and wheat plant materials incorporated in a red–brown earth soil. Plant Soil 250:113–119. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022882408133
Xu XY, Kan Y, Zhao L, Cao XD (2016) Chemical transformation of CO2 during its capture by waste biomass derived biochars. Environ Pollut 213:533–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.03.013
Yao FX, Arbestain MC, Virgel S, Blanco F, Arostegui J, Macia-Agullo JA, Macíasf F (2010) Simulated geochemical weathering of a mineral ash-rich biochar in a modified Soxhlet reactor. Chemosphere 80:724–732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.05.026
Yan P, Wu LQ, Wang DH, Fua JY, Shen C, Li X, Zhang LP, Zhang L, Fan LC, Han WY (2020) Soil acidification in Chinese tea plantations. Sci Total Environ 715:136936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136963
Yuan JH, Xu RK, Zhang H (2011) The forms of alkalis in the biochar produced from crop residues at different temperatures. Bioresour Technol 102:3488–3497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.11.018
Zhang K, Zhang DY, Wang L, Zhang LY, Tian CY (2007) Study on the ionic absorption and transport in Salicornia europaea L. growing in natural habitats in Xinjiang. Arid Zone Res 24:480–486
Zhang GX, Zhang Q, Sun K, Liu XT, Zheng WJ, Zhao Y (2011) Sorption of simazine to corn straw biochars prepared at different pyrolytic temperatures. Environ Pollut 159:2594–2601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.06.012
Zhang HZ, Chen CR, Gray EM, Boyd SE (2017) Effect of feedstock and pyrolysis temperature on properties of biochar governing end use efficacy. Biomass Bioenerg 105:136–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2017.06.024
Zhao KF, Zhou S, Fan H (2002) Addendum of halophyte species in China. Chinese Bull Botany 19(611–613):628
Zhao KF, Song J, Feng G, Zhao M, Liu JP (2010) Species, types, distribution, and economic potential of halophytes in China. Plant Soil 342:495–509. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0470-7
Zhao Z, Zhang L, Yuan L, Bouma TJ (2021) Saltmarsh seeds in motion: the relative importance of dispersal units and abiotic conditions. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 678:63–79. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13891
Zhu QC, de Vries W, Liu XJ, Hao TX, Zeng MF, Shen JB, Zhang FS (2018) Enhanced acidification in Chinese croplands as derived from element budgets in the period 1980–2010. Sci Total Environ 618:1497–1505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.289
Zhu QC, Liu XJ, Hao TX, Zeng MF, Shen JB, Zhang FS, de Vries W (2020) Cropland acidification increases risk of yield losses and food insecurity in China. Environ Pollut 256:113145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113145
Funding
This study was funded by the Key Special Project of Intergovernmental International Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation of China;s National Key R & D Plan (Grant No. 2021YFE0101100), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U1803233), Xinjiang Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design Administration Bureau (Grant No. SQ20200528151870).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study conception and design. SG and CT: material preparation, designed experiments. SG and SW: performed experimental work, analyzed data. SG and LW: first draft of the manuscript. SG, SW, WM, KZ, LW, and MT: supervised the interpretation of results, corrected the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
Not applicable.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent to publish
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Zhihong Xu
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Ge, S., Wang, S., Mai, W. et al. Characteristics and acidic soil amelioration effects of biochar derived from a typical halophyte Salicornia europaea L. (common glasswort). Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 66113–66124 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27182-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27182-z