Soil and Plant yield
responses to biochar
(BC) application on
temperate soils
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
1,2Stefanie
Kloss, 2F. Zehetner, 1B. Wimmer, 1A. Watzinger, 2S.
Zechmeister-Boltenstern, 3B. Kitzler, 4M. Lauer, 2M.H. Gerzabek, 1G. Soja
1 AIT Austrian
Institute of Technology GmbH, Department for Health and Environment,
Tulln, Austria.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Institute of Soil Research, Vienna,
Austria
3 Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape,
Vienna, Austria
4Joanneum Research, Graz, Austria
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1
outline
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The Biochar Project
Experimental design/ research questions
Materials and Methods
Results and Discussion
Conclusion
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
The Biochar project
“Biochar for Carbon Sequestration in Soils: Analysis of
production, biological effects in the soil and
economics”
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Cooperation of
 University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)
 Austrian Institute of Technology, Tulln (AIT)
 Federal Research and Training Center for Forests, Natural hazards and Landscape,
Vienna (BFW)
 Joanneum Research (Graz)
 Project period: April 2010- March 2013
The Biochar project
“Biochar for Carbon Sequestration in Soils: Analysis of
production, biological effects in the soil and
economics”
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Cooperation of
 University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)
 Austrian Institute of Technology, Tulln (AIT),
 Federal Research and Training Center for Forests, Natural hazards and Landscape,
Vienna (BFW)
 Joanneum Research (Graz)
 Project period: April 2010- March 2013
The Biochar project
Divided into 8 work packages
Pyrolysis conditions and BC
characterization
Field- and pot trials
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Effects of BC on soil
fertility and plant yield
BC for carbon sequestration
(incubation experiment)
Effects on microbial
communities in the soil
BIOCHAR
Effects of BC on greenhouse
gas emissions
Economical evaluation
The Biochar project
Divided into 8 work packages
Pyrolysis conditions and BC
characterization
Field- and pot trials
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Effects of BC on soil
fertility and plant yield
BC for carbon sequestration
(incubation experiment)
Effects on microbial
communities in the soil
BIOCHAR
Effects of BC on greenhouse
gas emissions
Economical evaluation
Pot dimensions: height 40 cm / 16’’; Ø 23. 5cm / 9’’;
siphon-like effluent to collect leachate water
- 4 different biochars (Straw [525°C]; mixed woodchips [525°C],
Vineyard pruning [400°C, 525°C]) at 2 BC concentrations (1 w.-% and
3 w.-%)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Boden- Crops: mustard (Sinapis Alba); Nov 23rd 2010– Feb 2nd, 2011
wissenschaften
barley (Hordeum vulgare); Feb 18th – June 20th, 2011
red clover (Trifolium pratense); Jul 26th – Dec 13th, 2011
- N fertilization (0 bis 200 kg N ha-1; standard fertilization: 40 kg N ha-1 for mustard; 100 kg N
ha-1 for barley)
 125 pots (n=5)
mustard
barley
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Austrian Institute of Technology, Tulln
Start in November 2010
Three agricultural soils (0-30cm): Planosol, Cambisol, Chernozem
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
GEOLOGY
Bohemian Massif
Tertiary
Tertiary- Quarternary
Planosol
VIENNA
Chernozem
soil
texture
pH (CaCl 2)
EC
Planosol
loamy sand
5.4 ± 0.0 a
(μS cm-1)
41.2 ± 12.3 a
Cambisol
clay loam
6.6 ± 0.1 b
103.9 ± 0.1 b
Chernozem
silt loam
7.4 ± 0.1 c
173.6 ± 5.2 c
CEC
C/N ratio
carbonate
-1
(mmolc kg )
Cambisol
(w.-%)
Planosol
75.1 ± 0.4 a
14.9 ± 1.6 b
0.0 ± 0.0 a
Cambisol
209.4 ± 2.2 b
13.8 ± 0.8 ab
0.0 ± 0.0 a
Chernozem
208.6 ± 3.6 b
11.9 ± 0.7 a
15.8 ± 0.1 b
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Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Investigated soil parameters:
- pH
- C/N
- Electrical conductivity (EC)
- cation exchange capacity (CEC)
-Nitrogen supplying potential (anaerobic
incubation; NSP in µg g-1 DM d-1)
-“plant-available” P and K (Calcium
Acetate Lactate/ CAL- extraction)
Crop parameters:
- Above ground biomass (g m-2)
- elemental composition after digesting
with HNO3: HClO4 = 20 + 4 mL
- N concentration
-Effect of different BC types on
Planosol + crops
- Effect of BC (woodchips) on
different soil types and crops
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pH
El. conductivity
VOC
Cation exchange
capacity
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
C/N
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Effects of different BCs on the Planosol (after 7 months)
pH
CEC
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
 Significant increase
of pH and CEC for all
BC types on the sandy
Planosol
potassium
phosphorus
Increase in P and K
availability (esp. straw)
No influence of
pyrolysis temperature!
(Second soil sampling)
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Effects of woodchips BC (3%) on different soil types (after 7
months)
pH
P
CEC
C/N
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Planosol showed
most distinct reactions
on BC application
(pH, CEC, P)
(Second soil sampling)
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Effects of different BC types (Planosol)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
- Initially detrimental effect (except for straw!)
- Effect of pyrolysis temperature
- no statistical difference for clover
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“BC application to soil causes N
deficiency in plants” (Rondon et
al., 2007; Collison et al., 2009,…)
“BC application to soil increases
osmotic potential due to Na and
causes toxic effects”
(Rajkovich et al., 2011)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
N concentration in mustard
No or negligible N-immobilization
( + increased nitrogen suppyling
potential)
No toxic effect
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“pH increase may cause micronutrient deficiencies”
(Marschner and Rengel, 2012)
(mustard)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Yield inhibitions caused
by micronutrient
deficiencies???
 Does not explain
straw BC
Lower micronutrient
content also present for
the third crop clover that
showed no decreased
plant yield
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“pH increase may cause micronutrient deficiencies”
(Marschner and Rengel, 2012)
Mo
(mustard)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Yield inhibitions caused
Massive
in Mo
by increase
micronutrient
concentration
in mustard
deficiencies???
after BC application
 Does not explain
straw BC
Lower micronutrient
content also present for
the third crop clover that
showed no decreased
plant yield
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- N-immobilization if yes, only short-term
- toxic effects due to salt input  highest salt input
caused by straw BC
- micronutrient deficiency likely, but probably not the only
reason
- Mo toxicity Mo concentration in straw was highest
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
17
Volatile organic compounds (VOC): “Depending on the amount of
VOCs they may either have plant growth promoting or inhibiting
properties” (Deenik et al., 2010; Spokas et al., 2011)
“If effects are detrimental, it’s only temporary” (Deenik et al., 2011)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Temporary effect consistent with our findings
Straw BC apparently more favorable in terms of VOC
content than any other BC
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Volatile organic compounds (VOC): “Depending on the amount of
VOCs they may either have plant growth promoting or inhibiting
properties” (Deenik
VOC et al., 2010; Spokas et al., 2011)
“If effects are detrimental, it’s only temporary” (Deenik et al., 2011)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Temporary effect consistent with our findings
Straw BC apparently more favorable in terms of VOC
content than any other BC
Lowest Volatile organic content found in Straw BC!
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Volatile organic compounds (VOC): “Depending on the amount of
VOCs they may either have plant growth promoting or inhibiting
Dry mass
properties” (Deenik
VOC et al., 2010; Spokas et al., 2011)
“If effects are detrimental, it’s only temporary” (Deenik et al., 2011)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
Temporary effect consistent with our findings
Straw BC apparently more favorable in terms of VOC
content than any other BC
Lowest Volatile organic content found in Straw BC!
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- All BCs showed a liming effect
- BC application to soil increased CEC, especially on
the sandy Planosol with the originally lowest pH
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
- All BCs increased P and K availability, especially
wheat straw BC
- no influence of pyrolysis temperature on soil
parameters
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- Plant yield was significantly inhibited by BC application except for
Wheat straw BC
- Plant yield was significantly influenced by pyrolysis
temperature (higher pyrolysis temperature lower plant yield)
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
- Wheat straw BC significantly increased plant yield of the second
crop (barley) compared to control
- C/N in the soil increased after BC application, but N immobilization
may not play any or only a short-term role
- Micronutrient deficiencies may be partly responsible for
decreased plant yields, as well as VOCs
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Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
-The whole Biochar research team for their support
- Akio Enders (Cornell University)
- Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)/ New Energies 2020
project number: 825438
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Thank you for your attention!
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften
stefanie.kloss@boku.ac.at
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