Biochar Used As Soil Amendment

Abstract

Soil degradation is defined as the loss of present or potential productivity as the result of natural or antropogenic factors, causing strong impacts on agricultural sustainability, environmental quality, and social (poverty) and political aspects of human society. In Chile, eroded surface currently reaches 36.8 million hectares, representing 49.1% of the total national territory. Recuperation of degraded soils could be reversed through the promotion of improved land use systems and land management practices. These would provide win-win effects in terms of economic gains and environmental benefits: greater agro-biodiversity, improved conservation and environmental management and increased carbon sequestration. Application of by-products produced by environmentally-friendly agricultural systems can be considered as soil amendment materials. However, labile organic matter contained in these organic materials produce an intensive C mineralization and low N use efficiency. Because of this, the use of more stable C-applications could be considered as an alternative to decrease the risk of pollution in the ecosystems. In this sense, thermal decomposition of organic material under limited supply of oxygen (O2) combined with relatively low temperatures (less than 700ºC) produce a carbon-rich product named biochar. However, few studies are found in the literature that investigate degraded soils of volcanic origin and the effect biochar additions on soil properties and/or their influence on C sequestration, and reduction on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from soils. Through this study we expect to contribute to finding answers about interactions of different types of biochar with soil matrix (volcanic and no volcanic soils) to ameliorate degraded soils in Chile; evaluating environmental benefits as the contribution in C sequestration and GHG emissions. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Proyect Fondecyt N° 1160795