title: Impacts of biochar on physical properties and erosion potential of a mudstone slopeland soil.
abstract: Food demand and soil sustainability have become urgent issues recently because of the global climate changes. This study aims to evaluate the application of a biochar produced by rice hull, on changes of physiochemical characteristics and erosion potential of a degraded slopeland soil. Rice hull biochar pyrolized at 400°C was incorporated into the soil at rates of 2.5%, 5%, and 10% (w/w) and was incubated for 168 d in this study. The results indicated that biochar application reduced the Bd by 12% to 25% and the PR by 57% to 92% after incubation, compared with the control. Besides, porosity and aggregate size increased by 16% to 22% and by 0.59 to 0.94 mm, respectively. The results presented that available water contents significantly increased in the amended soils by 18% to 89% because of the obvious increase of micropores. The water conductivity of the biochar-amended soils was only found in 10% biochar treatment, which might result from significant increase of macropores and reduction of soil strength (Bd and PR). During a simulated rainfall event, soil loss contents significantly decreased by 35% to 90% in the biochar-amended soils. In conclusion, biochar application could availably raise soil quality and physical properties for tilth increasing in the degraded mudstone soil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Zeng-Yei
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2294-7935
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Hseu
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Hao
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0703-6316
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jien
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Hsin
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ruei-Cheng
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Liou
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005843:Geography; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013624:Taiwan; D014866:Waste Products; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014866:Waste Products; C540010:biochar; D014867:Water; D002606:Charcoal; D002244:Carbon