Hagemann, N; Joseph, S; Schmidt, HP; Kammann, CI; Harter, J; Borch, T; Young, RB; Varga, K; Taherymoosavi, S; Elliott, KW; McKenna, A; Albu, M; Mayrhofer, C; Obst, M; Conte, P; Dieguez-Alonso, A; Orsetti, S; Subdiaga, E; Behrens, S; Kappler, A: Organic coating on biochar explains its nutrient retention and stimulation of soil fertility, Nature Communications, 8, 1089 1-11 (2017), online: 20.10.2017, doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01123-0 [Link] | |
Abstract: Amending soil with biochar (pyrolized biomass) is suggested as a globally applicable approach to address climate change and soil degradation by carbon sequestration, reducing soil-borne greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing soil nutrient retention. Biochar was shown to promote plant growth, especially when combined with nutrient-rich organic matter, e.g., co-composted biochar. Plant growth promotion was explained by slow release of nutrients, although a mechanistic understanding of nutrient storage in biochar is missing. Here we identify a complex, nutrient-rich organic coating on co-composted biochar that covers the outer and inner (pore) surfaces of biochar particles using high-resolution spectro (micro)scopy and mass spectrometry. Fast field cycling nuclear magnetic resonance, elec- trochemical analysis and gas adsorption demonstrated that this coating adds hydrophilicity, redox-active moieties, and additional mesoporosity, which strengthens biochar- water interactions and thus enhances nutrient retention. This implies that the functioning of biochar in soil is determined by the formation of an organic coating, rather than biochar surface oxidation, as previously suggested. |
BayCEER-Kolloquium: |
---|
Do. 18.04.2024 The Canvas of Change: Creative Marketing for Behaviour Change, Sustainability and Social Good |
Do. 18.04.2024 Survival, 'dormancy', and resuscitation of microorganisms in water-limited environments: insights from coastal salt flats and desert soil crusts |
BayCEER Short Courses: |
Di. 16.04.2024 Geographical information system and R environment for conservation biology |
Ökologisch-Botanischer Garten: |
So. 07.04.2024 Führung | Talking Tree: Was Bäume über´s Klima erzählen |
Fr. 19.04.2024 Führung | Gesteine im Ökologisch-Botanischen Garten |