Effect of biochar application on the carbon stock and fertility of the soil under laboratory and tropical field conditions

• Grant number: 15/10108-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2015
• End date: October 04, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri
• Grantee: Tatiana Francischinelli Rittl
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/00921-0 - Long-term effects of biochar application on soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gases emissions under different environmental and experimental conditions, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Biochar is the solid material obtained from the carbonization of biomass, deliberately produced to be applied into soil. Biochar has been applied into soil to enhance soil carbon sequestration, contributing to mitigate climate change and increase the soil organic carbon content. This practice may also contribute to improve crop yield in the tropics where the low soil organic carbon content limits the agriculture. Although, these benefits of biochar use can be "simultaneously obtained", they cannot be "simultaneously maximized". Improved crop performance over time will be a consequence of partial decomposition of biochar, decreasing the soil C stocks and releasing CO2 to the atmosphere. Therefore, it is not clear if it is possible to sequester C through biochar addition and profit from its decay at the same time, or if it is need to choose one or other. The objective of this project is to study the biochar dynamic into soil and its interaction with the native soil organic carbon under field and laboratory conditions. Furthermore, this project will also evaluate the effects of biochar on the sugar-cane yield. If succeeded this project will address questions related to the use of biochar to increase soil C stocks and improve soil fertility in the (sub) tropical regions

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RITTL, TATIANA F.; BUTTERBACH-BAHL, KLAUS; BASILE, CAMILA M.; PEREIRA, LORENA A.; ALMS, VICTORIA; DANNENMANN, MICHAEL; COUTO, EDUARDO G.; CERRI, CARLOS E. P.. Greenhouse gas emissions from soil amended with agricultural residue biochars: Effects of feedstock type, production temperature and soil moisture. BIOMASS & BIOENERGY, v. 117, p. 1-9, OCT 2018. (15/10108-9)

SCHELLEKENS, JUDITH; SILVA, CARLOS ALBERTO; BUURMAN, PETER; RITTL, TATIANA F.; DOMINGUES, RIMENA R.; JUSTI, MARINA; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO; TRUGILHO, PAULO FERNANDO. Molecular characterization of biochar from five Brazilian agricultural residues obtained at different charring temperatures. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS, v. 130, p. 106-117, MAR 2018. (15/10108-9, 13/03953-9)

RITTL, TATIANA F.; OLIVEIRA, DENER M. S.; CANISARES, LUIZA P.; SAGRILO, EDVALDO; BUTTERBACH-BAHL, KLAUS; DANNENMANN, MICHAEL; CERRI, CARLOS E. P.. High Application Rates of Biochar to Mitigate N2O Emissions From a N-Fertilized Tropical Soil Under Warming Conditions. FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, v. 8, JAN 13 2021. (15/10108-9)

RITTL, TATIANA F.; CANISARES, LUIZA; SAGRILO, EDVALDO; BUTTERBACH-BAHL, KLAUS; DANNENMANN, MICHAEL; CERRI, CARLOS E. P.. Temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition varies with biochar application and soil type. Pedosphere, v. 30, n. 3, p. 336-342, JUN 2020. (15/10108-9)

RITTL, TATIANA F.; OLIVEIRA, DANIELE; CERRI, CARLOS E. P.. Soil carbon stock changes under different land uses in the Amazon. GEODERMA REGIONAL, v. 10, p. 138-143, SEP 2017. (15/10108-9, 14/21273-8)