Biochar effects on soil water infiltration and erosion under seal formation conditions: rainfall simulation experiment

Biochar effects on soil water infiltration and erosion under seal formation conditions: rainfall simulation experiment

Purpose Soil amendment with biochar can result in decreased bulk density and soil penetration resistance, and increased water-holding capacity. We hypothesized that adding biochar could moderate the reductions in infiltration rates (IR) that occur during high-intensity rainstorms in seal-prone soils...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of soils and sediments Vol. 16; no. 12; pp. 2709 - 2719
Main Authors: Abrol, Vikas, Ben-Hur, Meni, Verheijen, Frank G. A., Keizer, Jacob J., Martins, Martinho A. S., Tenaw, Haim, Tchehansky, Ludmilla, Graber, Ellen R
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-12-2016
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Arid zones
Charcoal
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Environmental Physics
Erosion control
Erosion rates
Infiltration
Infiltration rate
Loam
Moisture content
Rain
Rainfall
Rainstorms
Sand
Sec 3 • Remediation and Management of Contaminated or Degraded Lands • Research Article
Soil amendment
Soil conditioners
Soil conservation
Soil erosion
Soil infiltration
Soil Science & Conservation
Soil solution
Soil water
Soils
Wood
Israel
Rainfall
Crust
Infiltration
Seal
Biochar
Soil loss
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Summary:Purpose Soil amendment with biochar can result in decreased bulk density and soil penetration resistance, and increased water-holding capacity. We hypothesized that adding biochar could moderate the reductions in infiltration rates (IR) that occur during high-intensity rainstorms in seal-prone soils, and hence result in reduced runoff and erosion rates. The objectives were to (i) evaluate biochar potential to improve infiltration and control soil erosion, and (ii) investigate the mechanisms by which biochar influences infiltration rate and soil loss. Materials and methods Rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on two physicochemically contrasting, agriculturally significant, erosion-prone soils of Israel that are candidates for biochar amendment: (i) non-calcareous loamy sand, and (ii) calcareous loam. Biochar produced from mixed wood sievings from wood chip production at a highest treatment temperature of 620 °C was used as the amendment at concentrations from 0 to 2 wt%. Results and discussion In the non-calcareous loamy sand, 2 % biochar was found to significantly increase final IR (FIR) by 1.7 times, and significantly reduce soil loss by 3.6 times, compared with the 0 % biochar control. These effects persisted throughout a second rainfall simulation, and were attributed to an increase in soil solution Ca and decrease in Na, and a subsequently decreased sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). In the calcareous loam, biochar addition had no significant effect on FIR but did reduce soil loss by 1.3 times. There were no biochar-related chemical changes in the soil solution of the calcareous loam, which corresponds to the lack of biochar impact on FIR. Surface roughness of the calcareous loam increased as a result of accumulation of coarse biochar particles, which is consistent with decreased soil loss. Conclusions These results confirm that biochar addition may be a tool for soil conservation in arid and semi-arid zone soils.
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ISSN:1439-0108
1614-7480
DOI:10.1007/s11368-016-1448-8