Hydrochar reduced NH₃ volatilization from rice paddy soil: microbial-aging rather than water-washing is recommended before application

Date

2020

Authors

Yu, S.
Xue, L.
Feng, Y.
Liu, Y.
Song, Z.
Mandal, S.
Yang, L.
Sun, Q.
Xing, B.

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Journal article

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Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020; 268(122233):1-11

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Abstract

Soil amendments (e.g., hydrochar) have recently gained increasing research interest because of their potential application in agricultural soils to reduce nutrient loss to the environment. In order to improve the surface properties of hydrochar, we herein used the microbial-aging approach to produce microbially-aged hydrochar (M-SHC), which was applied in rice paddy soil columns to investigate nitrogen transformation processes and gaseous nitrogen losses by NH₃ volatilization. The aim of this research was mainly to explore and understand the mechanisms by which sawdust hydrochar (SHC), MSHC,and water-washed hydrochar (W-SHC) influence NH₃ volatilization in rice paddy fields. Compared with the control, M-SHC treatment considerably reduced both cumulative NH₃ and yield-scale NH₃ volatilization by 11.52% and 24.40% (p< 0:05), respectively. This reduction could be attributed to a decrease in NH⁺₄-N concentrations and an alteration of floodwater pH, following the application of MSHC.The results showed that changes in floodwater pH could considerably affect the NH₃ volatilization rate. When floodwater was slightly alkaline (pH > 7.25), even a minor alteration of pH following the application of hydrochar could increase NH₃ volatilization rapidly. The application of hydrochar substantially inhibited the soil urease activity and increased the soil amoA gene abundance, which, in turn, decreased the floodwater NH⁺₄-N concentrations. These results offer strong theoretical support for the application of hydrochar in agricultural systems to decrease NH₃ volatilization in rice paddy fields.

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Data source: Supplementary data, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122233. Link to a related website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/am/pii/S0959652620322800, Open Access via Unpaywall

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Copyright 2020 Elsevier

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