Understanding the biochar’s role in ameliorating soil acidity

Extensive acidic soils,which suffer from accelerated soil acidification,are found in southern China.Soil acidity,aluminum toxicity,and nutrient deficiencies severely limited crop productivity in acidic soils.It has been widely reported that crop residue biochars can ameliorate acidic soils and increase crop productivity.Here,we summarized the positive effects and mechanisms involved in the correction of soil acidity,the alleviation of aluminum toxicity and the increase of soil pH buffering capacity by crop residue biochars.The carbonate,oxygen-containing functional groups and silicates in biochars are the major components responsible for their efficacy in amending acidic soils and resisting soil re-acidification.We conclude that application of crop residue biochars may be a better option than traditional liming to ameliorate acidic soils.Nonetheless,further researches into soil acidification are still required to address some issues that are controversial and poorly understood.

酸性土壤改良技术领域专利情报分析

土壤过度酸化是导致全球土壤退化的主要因素之一,土壤酸化会降低土壤肥力,危害作物生长发育,加重土壤重金属污染等。中国农田土壤酸化问题严重,改良酸性土壤以实现农田可持续发展备受关注。基于incoPat专利数据库对2020年前酸性土壤改良技术领域的专利进行计量学统计,探讨该领域技术研发的现状、应用和趋势。结果表明,中国在该领域专利申请数量整体呈现快速增长的态势,国内申请占全球总申请量的85%。酸性土壤改良技术以综合型改良为主,在改良土壤酸度的同时更加关注土壤养分的缺乏;土壤酸化模拟预测方法、采用土壤酸化改良装置可以提高改良效果,更加高效、环保、多功能的改良技术不断涌现;当前,高校和科研机构的专利转化率较低,企业研发实力尚需加强。酸性土壤改良技术市场前景广阔,应加强新技术、新材料的研发,促进专利技术产业化发展。

Hydrolysis of Aluminum Ions in Kaolinite and Oxisol Suspensions as Influenced by Organic Anions

To evaluate the role of kaolinite and variable charge soils on the hydrolytic reaction of Al, the hydrolysis of Al ions in suspensions of a kaolinite and an Oxisol influenced by organic anions was investigated using changes of pH, Al adsorption, and desorption of pre-adsorbed Al. Kaolinite and the Oxisol promoted the hydrolytic reaction of Al above a certain initial Al concentration (0.1 mmol L-1 for kaolinite and 0.3 mmol L-1 for the Oxisol). The Al hydrolysis accelerated by kaolinite and the Oxisol increased with an increase in initial concentration of Al and was observed in the range of pH from 3.7 to 4.7 for kaolinite and 3.9 to 4.9 for the Oxisol. The acceleration of Al hydrolysis also increased with the increase of solution pH, reached a maximum value at pH 4.5, and then decreased sharply. Al hydrolysis was promoted mainly through selective adsorption for hydroxy-Al. Soil free iron oxides compensated a portion of the soil negative charge or masked some soil surface negative sites leading to a decrease in Al adsorption, which retarded acceleration to some extent. For the Oxisol organic anions increased the proportion of adsorbed Al3+ in total adsorbed Al with the increase in soil negative surface charge and eliminated or reduced the acceleration of Al hydrolysis. Different organic anions inhibited the hydrolysis of Al in the order: citrate > oxalate > acetate (under initial pH of 4.5). The formation of Al-organic complexes in solution also inhibited the hydrolysis of Al.

质子源定量区分方法可准确评估水稻根系的致酸因子

【目的】探究植物根系养分吸收,以及根系分泌有机物等过程中土壤酸化效应的差异与质子释放的定量区分,以期为通过优化农田养分管理调控土壤酸化提供科学依据。【方法】以‘深两优3206’水稻为试验材料,采用水培方式,设置3组试验:在总氮浓度3 mmol/L下,设4个铵硝比(1:3、2:2、3:1、4:0);3个磷水平,浓度分别为0、0.08、0.32 mmol/L;3个镉水平,浓度分别为0、2.5、5μmol/L。每组试验均设2个pH处理(4.5和6.5),培养时间为48 h,定量分析营养液中养分含量、质子量(pH)及培养前后养分含量和质子量差异,计算各项指标。【结果】1)除初始pH为4.5的铵硝1:3处理外,不同铵硝比条件下水稻培养48 h后的培养液pH均低于初始培养液,根系表现为净质子释放,这种酸化作用随着营养液中铵硝比增加而增强,且根系释放的质子主要源于铵态氮吸收,在铵硝比为3:1和4:0时,氮素吸收过程的质子源贡献率均大于70%;2)缺磷会诱导水稻对无机矿质养分中的阳离子吸收相对增加,从而促进根系净质子释放,而镉污染胁迫下会抑制水稻根系吸收无机氮素营养和净质子释放;3)水稻根系有机分泌物在低pH的溶液中主要表现出对质子缔合的酸缓冲作用,这种作用随溶液pH的下降和磷素缺乏程度的增加而增强,因此根系有机分泌物的致酸效应主要发生在中碱性土壤。【结论】利用水稻根系养分吸收与诱导质子产消的耦合关系,将质子源分为无机氮素吸收、其他矿质养分吸收以及根系有机物分泌。发现铵硝比、缺磷和镉胁迫等环境因素关联的质子源差异可以显著地体现在其致酸效应中,因此,本研究提出的质子定量区分方法可以准确评估作物根系氮素吸收、其他矿质养分吸收,以及根系有机物分泌等主要过程诱导的根际致酸效应。

Dissolution of Aluminum in Variably Charged Soils as Affected by Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids

Low-molecular-weight （LMW） organic acids exist widely in soils and play an important role in soil processes such as mineral weathering, nutrient mobilization and A1 detoxification. In this research, a batch experiment was conducted to examine the effects of LMW organic acids on dissolution of aluminum in two variably charged soils, an Ultisol and an Oxisol. The results showed that the LMW organic acids enhanced the dissolution of A1 in the two investigated soils in the following order： citric 〉 oxalic 〉 malonic 〉 malic 〉 tartaric 〉 salicylic 〉 lactic 〉 maleic. This was generally in agreement with the magnitude of the stability constants for the Al-organic complexes. The effects of LMW organic acids on Al dissolution were greater in the Ultisol than in the Oxisol as compared to their controls. Also, the accelerating effects of citric and oxalic acids on dissolution of A1 increased with an increase in pH, while the effects of lactic and salicylic acids decreased. Additionally, when the organic acid concentration was less than 0.2 mmol L-I, the dissolution of A1 changed Iittle with increase in acid concentration. However, when the organic acid concentration was greater than 0.2 mmol L^-1,the dissolution of A1 increased with increase in acid concentration. In addition to the acid first dissociation constant and stability constant of Al-organic complexes, the promoting effects of LMW organic acids on dissolution of A1 were also related to their sorption-desorption equilibrium in the soils.

基于数字图像相关技术的非均匀受限状态下土遗址的锚固性能

为研究锚固工程中处于非均匀受限状态锚杆的锚固特性,利用数字图像技术建立室内缩尺半锚模型.基于拉拔试验,研究锚固系统的荷载位移关系及破坏模式,在观察面上布设横向、纵向测线,分析夯土的位移情况.结果表明,锚固系统的极限锚固力为1.3 kN/m,锚固系统表现为弹脆性破坏;横向测线各点的位移呈现围绕锚杆轴线对称的分布特征;脱黏前,距锚杆较近的纵向测线位移自上而下递减,此后呈单峰形分布,随着荷载增加峰值下移.在此特殊受限状态下,锚杆的锚固性能主要取决于锚固系统的弹性变形,锚杆变径特征对锚固性能的增强作用不明显.

Potential of Industrial Byproducts in Ameliorating Acidity and Aluminum Toxicity of Soils Under Tea Plantation

It is imperative to choose some low cost, available and effective ameliorants to correct soil acidity in southern China for sustainable agriculture. The present investigation dealt with the possible role of industrial byproducts, i.e., coal fly ash （CFA）, alkaline slag （AS）, red mud （RM） and phosphogypsum （PG） in correcting acidity and aluminum （Al） toxicity of soils under tea plantation using an indoor incubation experiment. Results indicated that CFA, AS and RM increased soil pH, while PG decreased the pHs of an Ultisol and an Alfisol. The increment of soil pH followed the order of RM 〉 AS 〉 CFA. All the industrial byproducts invariably decreased exchangeable Al and hence increased exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na and effective cation exchange capacity. RM, AS and lime decreased total soluble Al, exchangeable Al and organically bound Al. Formation and retention of hydroxyl-Al polymers were the principal mechanism through which Al phytotoxicity was alleviated by application of these amendments. In addition, the heavy metal contents in the four industrial byproducts constituted a limited environmental hazard in a short time at the rates normally used in agriculture. Therefore, the short-term use of the byproducts, especially AS and RM, as amendments for soil acidity and AI toxicity in acid soils may be a potential alternative to the traditional use of mined gypsum and lime.

Effect of Fe/Al Hydroxides on Desorption of K^+ and NH_4^+ from Two Soils and Kaolinite

Potassium （K） and nitrogen （N） are essential nutrients for plants. Adsorption and desorption in soils affect K＋ and NH4＋ avail- abilities to plants and can be affected by the interaction between the electrical double layers on oppositely charged particles because the interaction can decrease the surface charge density of the particles by neutralization of positive and negative charges. We studied the effect of iron （Fe）/aluminum （Al） hydroxides on desorption of K＋ and NH4＋ from soils and kaolinite and proposed desorption mechanisms based on the overlapping of diffuse layers between negatively charged soils and mineral particles and the positively charged Fe/Al hydroxide particles. Our results indicated that the overlapping of diffuse layers of electricM double layers between positively charged Fe/Al hydroxides, as amorphous Al（OH）3 or Fe（OH）3, and negatively charged surfaces from an Ultisol, an Alfisol, and a kaolinite standard caused the effective negative surface charge density on the soils and kaolinite to become less negative. Thus the adsorption affinity of these negatively charged surfaces for K＋ and NH4＋ declined as a result of the incorporation of the Fe/Al hydroxi- des. Consequently, the release of exchangeable K＋ and NH4＋ from the surfaces of the soils and kaolinite increased with the amount of the Fe/A1 hydroxides added. The greater the positive charge on the surfaces of Fe/Al hydroxides, the stronger was the interactive effect between the hydroxides and soils or kaolinite, and thus the more release of K＋ and NH4＋. A decrease in pH led to increased positive surface charge on the Fe/Al hydroxides and enhanced interactive effects between the hydroxides and soils/kaolinite. As a result, more K＋ and NH4＋ were desorbed from the soils and kaolinite. This study suggests that the interaction between oppositely charged particles of variable charge soils can enhance the mobility of K＋ and NH4＋ in the soils and thus increase their leaching loss.

Use of Alkaline Slag and Crop Residue Biochars to Promote Base Saturation and Reduce Acidity of an Acidic Ultisol

This investigation was conducted by using alkaline slag and crop straw biochars to reduce acidity of an acidic Ultisol through incubation and pot experiments with lime as a comparison. The soil was amended with different liming materials: lime(1 g kg-1),alkaline slag(2 and 4 g kg-1), peanut straw biochar(10 and 20 g kg-1), canola straw biochar(10 and 20 g kg-1) and combinations of alkaline slag(2 g kg-1) and biochars(10 g kg-1) in the incubation study. A pot experiment was also conducted to observe the soybean growth responses to the above treatments. The results showed that all the liming materials increased soil p H and decreased soil exchangeable acidity. The higher the rates of alkaline slag, biochars, and alkaline slag combined with biochars, the greater the increase in soil p H and the reduction in soil exchangeable acidity. All the amendments increased the levels of one or more soil exchangeable base cations. The lime treatment increased soil exchangeable Ca2+, the alkaline slag treatment increased exchangeable Ca2+and Mg2+levels, and the biochars and combined applications of alkaline slag with biochars increased soil exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+and K+and soil available P. The amendments enhanced the uptake of one or more nutrients of N, P, K, Ca and Mg by soybean in the pot experiment. Of the different amendments, the combined application of alkaline slag with crop straw biochars was the best choice for increasing base saturation and reducing soil acidity of the acidic Ultisol. The combined application of alkaline slag with biochars led to the greatest reduction in soil acidity, increased soil Ca, Mg, K and P levels, and enhanced the uptake of Ca, Mg, K and P by soybean plants.

Amendment of Acid Soils with Crop Residues and Biochars

The liming potential of some crop residues and their biochars on an acid Ultisol was investigated using incubation experiments. Rice hulls showed greater liming potential than rice hull biochar, while soybean and pea straws had less liming potential than their biochars. Due to their higher alkalinity, biochars from legume materials increased soil pH much compared to biochars from non-legume materials. The alkalinity of biochars was a key factor affecting their liming potential, and the greater alkalinity of biochars led to greater reductions in soil acidity. The incorporation of biochars decreased soil exchangeable acidity and increased soil exchangeable base cations and base saturation, thus improving soil fertility.