Biochar from crop residues mitigates N₂O emissions and increases carbon content in tropical soils

Autor(es)

Gabetto, Fernanda Palmeira ; Tenelli, Sarah ; Netto-Ferreira, Julia Barra ; Martins Junior, Joaquim ; Almeida, Octavio Augusto Costa ; Cosenza, Marcela Lamas ; Strauss, Mathias ; Carvalho, Joao Luis Nunes

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: BIOFUELS BIOPRODUCTS & BIOREFINING-BIOFPR; v. N/A, p. 17-pg., 2025-02-02.

Resumo

The application of biochar may offer a cost-effective solution to decrease nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in agriculture soils while having the potential to enhance soil carbon (C) accumulation. Biochar can be produced primarily from a range of agricultural and woody residual biomass, potentially resulting in biochar types with distinct properties. This study evaluated the effects of four different biochar types on soil N2O emissions, C storage, and diversity of the soil microbial community in a tropical environment. A greenhouse experiment with sugarcane plants was conducted with six treatments: soil only (CTR); soil + N fertilizer (NF); NF + sugarcane straw biochar (NF+SB); NF + sugarcane bagasse biochar (NF+BB); NF + Pinus residue biochar (NF+PB); and NF + eucalyptus residue biochar (NF+EB). Regardless of the origin of the feedstock, all biochar reduced the cumulative N2O emissions by 25% to 50% in comparison with the nitrogen-fertilized treatment. Only NF+EB registered higher N2O emissions than NF+SB. The feedstock material also influenced the chemical properties of biochar, showing a negative correlation between oxidized functional groups and N2O emissions. Variations in the physicochemical properties of biochar did not affect soil C levels or microbial diversity, as all treatments with biochar presented similar results. All biochar types increased soil C levels, but only those derived from wood residues showed higher C content than CTR and NF. Despite biochar having no effects on overall soil microbiome diversity, the amendment tended to increase the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, while suppressing the ammonia-oxidizing phylum Thaumarchaeota. Biochar application had no significant effect on ammonium availability; however, it exhibited the capacity to retain nitrate. The application of biochar in tropical soils can therefore be considered a nature-based solution to decrease N2O emissions and increase C levels without changing microbial diversity. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 21/11995-0 - Uso de biochar na agricultura: implicações nas emissões de N2O e na comunidade microbiana do solo
• Beneficiário: Fernanda Palmeira Gabetto
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado
• Processo FAPESP: 16/50403-2 - Valorização da cadeia produtiva descentralizada de biomassa visando a produção de biocombustíveis avançados: desenvolvimento e avaliação de rotas termoquímicas integradas à produção de biomassas e a rotas bioquímicas
• Beneficiário: Antonio Maria Francisco Luiz Jose Bonomi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Parceria para Inovação Tecnológica - PITE
• Processo FAPESP: 22/07665-7 - Sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária como estratégia para estocar e estabilizar carbono no solo na agricultura Brasileira
• Beneficiário: Sarah Tenelli
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 21/10573-4 - Centro de Pesquisa de Carbono em Agricultura Tropical (CCARBON)
• Beneficiário: Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs
• Processo FAPESP: 21/02691-7 - Implicações da aplicação de biochar nas emissões N2O do solo e na produção de biomassa
• Beneficiário: Fernanda Palmeira Gabetto
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Programa Capacitação - Treinamento Técnico