title: Rice (Oryza sativa L) plantation affects the stability of biochar in paddy soil.
abstract: Conversion of rice straw into biochar for soil amendment appears to be a promising method to increase long-term carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The stability of biochar in paddy soil, which is the major determining factor of carbon sequestration effect, depends mainly on soil properties and plant functions. However, the influence of plants on biochar stability in paddy soil remains unclear. In this study, bulk and surface characteristics of the biochars incubated without rice plants were compared with those incubated with rice plants using a suite of analytical techniques. Results showed that although rice plants had no significant influence on the bulk characteristics and decomposition rates of the biochar, the surface oxidation of biochar particles was enhanced by rice plants. Using (13)C labeling we observed that rice plants could significantly increase carbon incorporation from biochar into soil microbial biomass. About 0.047% of the carbon in biochar was incorporated into the rice plants during the whole rice growing cycle. These results inferred that root exudates and transportation of biochar particles into rice plants might decrease the stability of biochar in paddy soil. Impact of plants should be considered when predicting carbon sequestration potential of biochar in soil systems.
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China [2] Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety.
authors.forename: Mengxiong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China [2] Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety.
authors.forename: Qibo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China [2] Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A &F University, Lin'an Hangzhou 311300, PR China.
authors.forename: Hailong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Scion, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Gerty
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gielen
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China [2] Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety.
authors.forename: Weixiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D002606:Charcoal / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal