title: Molecular characterization of biochars and their influence on microbiological properties of soil.
abstract: The tentative connection between the biochar surface chemical properties and their influence on microbially mediated mineralization of C, N, and S with the help of enzymes is not well established. This study was designed to investigate the effect of different biomass conversion processes (microwave pyrolysis, carbon optimized gasification, and fast pyrolysis using electricity) on the composition and surface chemistry of biochar materials produced from corn stover (Zea mays L.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), and Ponderosa pine wood residue (Pinus ponderosa Lawson and C. Lawson) and determine the effect of biochars on mineralization of C, N, and S and associated soil enzymatic activities including esterase (fluorescein diacetate hydrolase, FDA), dehydrogenase (DHA), β-glucosidase (GLU), protease (PROT), and aryl sulfatase (ARSUL) in two different soils collected from footslope (Brookings) and crest (Maddock) positions of a landscape. Chemical properties of biochar materials produced from different batches of gasification process were fairly consistent. Biochar materials were found to be highly hydrophobic (low H/C values) with high aromaticity, irrespective of biomass feedstock and pyrolytic process. The short term incubation study showed that biochar had negative effects on microbial activity (FDA and DHA) and some enzymes including β-glucosidase and protease.
authors: Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA. Electronic address: rajesh.chintala@sdstate.edu.
authors: Rajesh
authors: R
authors: Chintala
authors: Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: Thomas E
authors: TE
authors: Schumacher
authors: Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: Sandeep
authors: S
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: Douglas D
authors: DD
authors: Malo
authors: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Rice
authors: Department of Biology & Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Bleakley
authors: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Chilom
authors: Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Clay
authors: Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: James L
authors: JL
authors: Julson
authors: USDA-ARS, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: Sharon K
authors: SK
authors: Papiernik
authors: Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
authors: Zheng Rong
authors: ZR
authors: Gu
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000032:analysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D008897:Panicum / Q000737:chemistry; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D013455:Sulfur; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Aryl sulfatase; Dehydrogenase; FDA; NMR; Protease; SEM