Biochar addition to agricultural soil increased CH4 uptake and water holding capacity – Results from a short-term pilot field study
Abstract
Biochar addition to agricultural soil has been suggested to mitigate climate change through increased biogenic carbon storage and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We measured the fluxes of N₂O, CO₂, and CH₄ after adding 9tha⁻¹ biochar on an agricultural soil in Southern Finland in May 2009. We conducted these measurements twice a week for 1.5 months, between sowing and canopy closure, to capture the period of highest N₂O emissions, where the potential for mitigation would also be highest. Biochar addition increased CH₄ uptake (96% increase in the average cumulative CH₄ uptake), but no statistically significant differences were observed in the CO₂ and N₂O emissions between the biochar amended and control plots. Added biochar increased soil water holding capacity by 11%. Further studies are needed to clarify whether this may help balance fluctuations in water availability to plants in the future climate with more frequent drought periods.
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Biochar addition increased water-holding capacity by 11% compared to the unamended control.
“In a field study with Birch (Betula spp.) biochar incorporated into a silt loam soil in Finland, biochar addition increased water-holding capacity by 11% compared to the unamended control (Karhu et al., 2011).”
From Biochar implications for sustainable agriculture and environment: A review (2019) · cites this paper as Karhu et al., 2011
The effects of biochar addition on CH4 and N2O were inconsistent and have shown variability with crop and soil types, site condition, and the origin of the biochar.
“However, the effects of biochar addition on CH 4 and N 2 O were inconsistent and have shown variability with crop and soil types, site condition, and the origin of the biochar (Karhu et al., 2011;Kimetu and Lehmann, 2010;Lehmann et al., 2011b;Spokas et al., 2009;Zimmerman et al., 2011).”
From Biochar implications for sustainable agriculture and environment: A review (2019) · cites this paper as Karhu et al., 2011
Biochar application was reported to decrease emissions of CH4 and N2O from soils.
“In addition to the beneficial effects of drawing CO 2 from the atmosphere, biochar application was reported to decrease emissions of CH 4 and N 2 O from soils (Cavigelli and Robertson, 2001;Karhu et al., 2011;Liu et al., 2011;Rogovska et al., 2011;Rondon et al., 2006Rondon et al., , 2005;;Zhang et al., 2012a).”
From Biochar implications for sustainable agriculture and environment: A review (2019) · cites this paper as Karhu et al., 2011
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Biochar organic fertilizers from natural resources as substitute for mineral fertilizers
Glaser, B., Wiedner, K., Seelig, S., Schmidt, H., & Gerber, H. (2014) · Agronomy for Sustainable Development · doi:10.1007/s13593-014-0251-4 · Cited by 267 · see citing works
Mitchell, P. J., Simpson, A. J., Soong, R., & Simpson, M. J. (2015) · Soil Biology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.11.017 · Cited by 261 · see citing works
Role and multi-scale characterization of bamboo biochar during poultry manure aerobic composting
Liu, N., Zhou, J., Han, L., Ma, S., Sun, X., & Huang, G. (2017) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2017.03.144 · Cited by 258 · see citing works
A review on biochar-mediated anaerobic digestion with enhanced methane recovery
Qiu, L. F., Deng, Y., Wang, F.-P., Davaritouchaee, M., & Yao, Y. (2019) · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.rser.2019.109373 · Cited by 260 · see citing works
Abhishek, K., Shrivastava, A., Vimal, V., Gupta, A. K., Bhujbal, S. K., Biswas, J. K., Singh, L., Ghosh, P., Pandey, A., Sharma, P., et al. (2022) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158562 · Cited by 265 · see citing works
Shen, J., Tang, H., Liu, J., Wang, C., Li, Y., Ge, T., Jones, D. L., & Wu, J. (2014) · Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · doi:10.1016/j.agee.2014.03.002 · Cited by 257 · see citing works
Impact of biochar field aging on laboratory greenhouse gas production potentials
Spokas, K. A. (2012) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/gcbb.12005 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
“…activity, which is in contrast to the cited reports of increased CH4 oxidation inferred from field flux sampling after biochar additions (e.g., Karhu et al., 2011; Feng et al., 2012; Yu et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2012b) and the assessment of methanotrophic activities using qPCR techniques…”
BackgroundSri Shalini, S., Palanivelu, K., Ramachandran, A., & Raghavan, V. (2021) · Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery · doi:10.1007/s13399-020-00604-5 · Cited by 257 · see citing works
Effect of different biochar and fertilizer types on N2O and NO emissions
Nelissen, V., Saha, B. K., Ruysschaert, G., & Boeckx, P. (2014) · Soil Biology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.12.026 · Cited by 249 · see citing works
Effects of biochar on soil fertility and crop productivity in arid regions: a review
Diatta, A. A., Fike, J. H., Battaglia, M. L., Galbraith, J. M., & Baig, M. B. (2020) · Arabian Journal of Geosciences · doi:10.1007/s12517-020-05586-2 · Cited by 262 · see citing works
“In addition, biochar can enhance soil water holding capacity (Karhu et al. 2011; Sun and Lu 2014; Wang et al. 2013) and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (Singh et al. 2010; Spokas et al. 2009b; Woolf et al. 2010), as well as control the mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity of contaminants…”
BackgroundInfluentialStewart, C. E., Zheng, J., Botte, J., & Cotrufo, M. F. (2012) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/gcbb.12001 · Cited by 244 · see citing works
“However, a 9 t ha 1 BC addition to agricultural field soils increased CH4 uptake by 96% (Karhu et al., 2011).”
BackgroundInfluentialZhang, J., Lü, F., Zhang, H., Shao, L., Chen, D., & He, P. (2015) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep09406 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
Biochar implications for sustainable agriculture and environment: A review
Semida, W. M., Beheiry, H. R., Sétamou, M., Simpson, C. R., Abd El-Mageed, T. A., Rady, M. M., & Nelson, S. D. (2019) · South African Journal of Botany · doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2019.11.015 · Cited by 234 · see citing works
A scientometric review of biochar research in the past 20 years (1998–2018)
Wu, P., Ata-Ul-Karim, S. T., Singh, B. P., Wang, H., Wu, T., Liu, C., Fang, G., Zhou, D., Wang, Y., & Chen, W. (2019) · Biochar · doi:10.1007/s42773-019-00002-9 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Biochar applications and modern techniques for characterization
Amin, F. R., Huang, Y., He, Y., Zhang, R., Liu, G., & Chen, C. (2016) · Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy · doi:10.1007/s10098-016-1218-8 · Cited by 231 · see citing works
“…(N2), (CO2) (m 2g-1) SSA of the high nano/micro-pore may increase the sorptive property of organic compounds to biochars and increase water-holding capacity of soil (Beesley et al. 2011; Karhu et al. 2011) Electric conductivity (EC) (mS m-1) EC shows the quantity of salt enclosed in the biochar.”
BackgroundHale, L. E., Luth, M. R., & Crowley, D. E. (2014) · Soil Biology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.11.023 · Cited by 230 · see citing works
“When used as a soil amendment, biochar has been shown to condition soils, effectively decreasing the bulk density and improving aggregate formation, soil water holding capacity, and nutrient retention (Lehmann et al., 2003; Chan et al., 2008; Karhu et al., 2011; Major et al., 2012).”
MethodBiochar suppresses N2O emissions while maintaining N availability in a sandy loam soil
Case, S. D. C., McNamara, N. P., Reay, D. S., Stott, A. W., Grant, H. K., & Whitaker, J. (2015) · Soil Biology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.11.012 · Cited by 229 · see citing works
Gurwick, N. P., Moore, L. A., Kelly, C. N., & Elias, P. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0075932 · Cited by 232 · see citing works
“Three found no significant effect of biochar on N2O emissions [29,69,70], contrary to common assertions that biochar decreases N2O flux [21,60].”
BackgroundImpact of biochar on the water holding capacity of loamy sand soil
Yu, O.-Y., Raichle, B. W., & Sink, S. (2013) · International journal of energy and environmental engineering · doi:10.1186/2251-6832-4-44 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
“Biochar has been also shown to reduce the amount of methane (CH4) released from agricultural fields that utilize cover crops as a nutrient supply [15].”
BackgroundInfluentialPandit, N. R., Mulder, J., Hale, S. E., Martinsen, V., Schmidt, H. P., & Cornelissen, G. (2018) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.022 · Cited by 227 · see citing works
BIOCHAR: PYROGENIC CARBON FOR AGRICULTURAL USE - A CRITICAL REVIEW
Novotny, E. H., Maia, C. M. B. D. F., Carvalho, M. T. D. M., & Madari, B. E. (2015) · Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo · doi:10.1590/01000683rbcs20140818 · Cited by 231 · see citing works
“, 2010b), as well as some evidence of a neutral effect (Karhu et al., 2011; Scheer et al., 2011).”
BackgroundKammann, C. I., Ippolito, J. A., Hagemann, N., Borchard, N., Cayuela, M. L., Estavillo, J. M., Fuertes‐Mendizábal, T., Jeffery, S., Kern, J., NOVAK, J., et al. (2017) · Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management · doi:10.3846/16486897.2017.1319375 · Cited by 234 · see citing works
Biochar addition indirectly affects N2O emissions via soil moisture and plant N uptake
Saarnio, S., Heimonen, K., & Kettunen, R. (2012) · Soil Biology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.10.035 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Wang, C., Wang, Y., & Herath, H. M. S. K. (2017) · Organic Geochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2017.09.001 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Anion exchange capacity of biochar
Lawrinenko, M., & Laird, D. A. (2015) · Green Chemistry · doi:10.1039/c5gc00828j · Cited by 219 · see citing works
“1996), water holding capacity (Karhu et al. 2011), reduce bulk density (Case et al.”
BackgroundLiang, J., Li, Y., Si, B., Wang, Y., Chen, X., Wang, X., Chen, H., Wang, H., Zhang, F., Bai, Y., et al. (2021) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144802 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
Zhang, D., Pan, G., Wu, G., Kibue, G. W., Li, L., Zhang, X., Zheng, J., Zheng, J., Cheng, K., Joseph, S. D., et al. (2015) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.04.088 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Haider, G., Koyro, H.-W., Azam, F., Steffens, D., Müller, C., & Kammann, C. (2015) · Plant and Soil · doi:10.1007/s11104-014-2294-3 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
“With regard to water supply, it was reported that biochar improved the structure and water holding capacity (WHC) (Brodowski et al. 2006; Clough et al. 2013; Laird et al. 2010; Kammann et al. 2011) and soil hydraulic conductivity of the soil (Steiner et al. 2007; Karhu et al. 2011).”
BackgroundInfluentialJeong, C. Y., Dodla, S. K., & Wang, J. J. (2016) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.05.084 · Cited by 210 · see citing works
“Significantly greater WEOC of raw materials as compared to the converted biochar samples indicated that incorporation of crop residues without converting to biochar lead to the high potential of greenhouse gas emission and fast degradation of C from fields (Karhu et al., 2011; Zhang et al., 2012).”
Biochar impact on Midwestern Mollisols and maize nutrient availability
Rogovska, N., Laird, D. A., Rathke, S. J., & Karlen, D. L. (2014) · Geoderma · doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.04.009 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
“Soil moisture responsesmeasured in this studywere consistentwith previous laboratory and field studies (Karer et al., 2013; Karhu et al., 2011; Laird et al., 2010b) and suggest that biochar may help increase crop yields during periods of moisture stress.”
ResultEffects of biochar amendment on ammonia emission during composting of sewage sludge
Malinska, K. A., Zabochnicka-Świątek, M., & Dach, J. (2014) · Ecological Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.012 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Monlau, F., Francavilla, M., Sambusiti, C., Antoniou, N., Solhy, A., Libutti, A., Zabaniotou, A. A., Barakat, A., & Monteleone, M. (2016) · Applied Energy · doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.02.084 · Cited by 201 · see citing works
Changes in microstructural behaviour and hydraulic functions of biochar amended soils
Ajayi, A. E., Holthusen, D., & Horn, R. (2015) · Soil and Tillage Research · doi:10.1016/j.still.2015.08.007 · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Qin, X., Li, Y., Wang, H., Liu, C., Li, J., Wan, Y., Gao, Q., Fan, F., & Liao, Y. (2016) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.222 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
“Biochar provides a larger surface area, better aeration, and increased porosity, making the conditions in biochar-amended soils more favorable for methanotrophs than in soils without added biochar (Karhu et al., 2011).”
Recent developments in biochar as an effective tool for agricultural soil management: a review
Laghari, M., Naidu, R., Xiao, B., Hu, Z., Mirjat, M. S., Hu, M., Kandhro, M. N., Chen, Z., Guo, D., Jogi, Q., et al. (2016) · Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture · doi:10.1002/jsfa.7753 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Yin, Y., Yang, C., Li, M., Zheng, Y., Ge, C., Gu, J., Li, H., Duan, M., Wang, X., & Chen, R. (2021) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149294 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
Quantifying the influence of biochar on the physical and hydrological properties of dissimilar soils
Peake, L. R., Reid, B. J., & Tang, X. (2014) · Geoderma · doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.07.002 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
“, 2013) and on silt loams with much lower doses of BC (Herath et al., 2013; Karhu et al., 2011).”
BackgroundMajumder, S., Neogi, S., Dutta, T., Powel, M. A., & Banik, P. (2019) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109466 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
Tammeorg, P., Simojoki, A., Mäkelä, P., Stoddard, F. L., Alakukku, L., & Helenius, J. (2014) · Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · doi:10.1016/j.agee.2014.01.007 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Nelissen, V., Ruysschaert, G., Manka’abusi, D., D’Hose, T., Beuf, K. D., Al‐Barri, B., Cornelis, W., & Boeckx, P. (2014) · European Journal of Agronomy · doi:10.1016/j.eja.2014.09.006 · Cited by 178 · see citing works
Liu, C., Wang, H., Tang, X., Guan, Z., Reid, B. J., Rajapaksha, A. U., Ok, Y. S., & Sun, H. (2016) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-015-4885-9 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
“As many previous studies have indicated that biochar addition can increase the soil organic matter (SOM), which is partially contributed from the labile fraction of the biochar carbon (Karhu et al. 2011), we obtained similar results that the SOM in the plough layer was increased by 2.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialSchimmelpfennig, S., Müller, C., Grünhage, L., Koch, C., & Kammann, C. (2014) · Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment · doi:10.1016/j.agee.2014.03.027 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
“However, biochar field studies with agricultural crop se or ploughing reported no effects on soil respiration at levels p to 20 t ha−1 (Castaldi et al., 2011; Karhu et al., 2011; Zhang t al., 2012), or increased CO2 emissions from soils amended with 0 t biochar ha−1 (Zhang et al.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialTowards a carbon-negative sustainable bio-based economy
Vanholme, B., Desmet, T., Ronsse, F., Rabaey, K., Breusegem, F. V., Mey, M. D., Soetaert, W., & Boerjan, W. (2013) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi:10.3389/fpls.2013.00174 · Cited by 172 · see citing works
“This work has been supported by the Multidisciplinary Research Partnership Ghent Bio-Economy.”
BackgroundMethodImpact of biochar application on yield-scaled greenhouse gas intensity: A meta-analysis
Liu, X., Mao, P., Li, L., & Ma, J. (2018) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.396 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Nepal, J., Ahmad, W., Munsif, F., Khan, A., & Zou, Z. (2023) · Frontiers in Environmental Science · doi:10.3389/fenvs.2023.1114752 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
“It may have an impact on crop development both directly and indirectly depending on its natural nutritional content and capability for nutrient and water retention as well as the reduction of moisture stress (Karhu et al., 2011; Vaccari et al., 2011; Verheijen et al., 2019; Diatta et al., 2020; Kang et al., 2022).”
BackgroundToková, L., Igaz, D., Horák, J., & Aydın, E. (2020) · Agronomy · doi:10.3390/agronomy10071005 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
“The application of biochar positively affected bulk density [22], soil porosity [23–25], soil water capacity [26] and soil hydraulic conductivity [27,28].”
Background
- Authors
- Karhu, K., Mattila, T., Bergström, I., & Regina, K.
- Affiliations
- Finnish Environment Institute (FI)
- Agrifood Research Finland (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Karhu, Kristiina
- Venue
- Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-01
- Volume
- 140
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 309-313
- ISSN
- 0167-8809 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2059577926
- Cited by
- 941
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 61 · 2023: 69 · 2022: 67 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 98 · 2018: 61 · 2017: 69 · 2016: 73 · 2015: 64 · 2014: 57 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 67.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment (publishedVersion)
- Jukuri (Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Soil and Unsaturated Flow
- Keywords
- biochar, agricultural soils, methane uptake, soil methane flux, nitrous oxide emissions, CO2 emissions, soil water holding capacity, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, biogenic carbon storage, soil amendment, drought
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