title: Chicken manure biochar as liming and nutrient source for acid Appalachian soil.
abstract: Acid weathered soils often require lime and fertilizer application to overcome nutrient deficiencies and metal toxicity to increase soil productivity. Slow-pyrolysis chicken manure biochars, produced at 350 and 700°C with and without subsequent steam activation, were evaluated in an incubation study as soil amendments for a representative acid and highly weathered soil from Appalachia. Biochars were mixed at 5, 10, 20, and 40 g kg into a Gilpin soil (fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludult) and incubated in a climate-controlled chamber for 8 wk, along with a nonamended control and soil amended with agronomic dolomitic lime (AgLime). At the end of the incubation, soil pH, nutrient availability (by Mehlich-3 and ammonium bicarbonate diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid [AB-DTPA] extractions), and soil leachate composition were evaluated. Biochar effect on soil pH was process- and rate-dependent. Biochar increased soil pH from 4.8 to 6.6 at the high application rate (40 g kg), but was less effective than AgLime. Biochar produced at 350°C without activation had the least effect on soil pH. Biochar increased soil Mehlich-3 extractable micro- and macronutrients. On the basis of unit element applied, increase in pyrolysis temperature and biochar activation decreased availability of K, P, and S compared to nonactivated biochar produced at 350°C. Activated biochars reduced AB-DTPA extractable Al and Cd more than AgLime. Biochar did not increase NO in leachate, but increased dissolved organic carbon, total N and P, PO, SO, and K at high application rate (40 g kg). Risks of elevated levels of dissolved P may limit chicken manure biochar application rate. Applied at low rates, these biochars provide added nutritional value with low adverse impact on leachate composition.
authors: Agricultural and Environmental Research Station, West Virginia State University, WV, USA. amirhass@wvstateu.edu
authors: Amir
authors: A
authors: Hass
authors: Javier M
authors: JM
authors: Gonzalez
authors: Isabel M
authors: IM
authors: Lima
authors: Harry W
authors: HW
authors: Godwin
authors: Jonathan J
authors: JJ
authors: Halvorson
authors: Douglas G
authors: DG
authors: Boyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001061:Appalachian Region; D002606:Charcoal; D002645:Chickens; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008372:Manure; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D012987:Soil; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal