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1 February 2015 Carbon dynamics in a biochar-amended loamy soil under switchgrass
Suzanne E. Allaire, Benjamin Baril, Anne Vanasse, Sébastien F. Lange, John MacKay, Donald L. Smith
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Abstract

Allaire, S. E., Baril, B., Vanasse, A., Lange, S. F., MacKay, J. and Smith, D. L. 2015. Carbon dynamics in a biochar-amended loamy soil under switchgrass. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 1–13. The environmental impacts of switchgrass production for bioenergy could be reduced through the use of biofertilizers rather than mineral fertilizers and through soil amendment with biochar. The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess the impact of biochar and biofertilizer on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) yield and parameters related to carbon dynamics, (2) to correlate carbon parameters with soil physico-chemical properties over the first two growing seasons, and (3) to develop a C budget. A complete randomized block design was installed in a sandy loam with split plot treatment design, the main plots receiving 0 or 10 t ha-1 of biochar and the sub - plots receiving no fertilization, mineral N fertilization, or biofertilizers. Biofertilizers had no significant impact on plant and soil. Biochar increased yield relative to the control treatment by about 10% during the first year and root biomass by up to 50% after 2 yr (P>0.1). Mineral N fertilization also increased yield resulting in higher plant C sequestration after 2 yr. Biochar increased CO2 soil concentration (CO2-soil) by up to 50% but its impact on CO2 emission flux (CO2-flux) changed over time. The impact of mineral fertilization on CO2-flux also varied with time. Soil CO2 dynamics was mostly influenced by temperature, N and water content. Biochar and fertilization treatments showed interactions on some plant and soil parameters. The highest C sequestration budget was obtained with a combination of biochar and mineral N fertilization. The equivalent of about one-third of the increase in soil C content associated with biochar treatments was respired away by soil microorganisms. Nearly one-fourth of C sequestered by plants remained in or at the soil surface (root and crop residues).

Suzanne E. Allaire, Benjamin Baril, Anne Vanasse, Sébastien F. Lange, John MacKay, and Donald L. Smith "Carbon dynamics in a biochar-amended loamy soil under switchgrass," Canadian Journal of Soil Science 95(1), 1-13, (1 February 2015). https://doi.org/10.1139/CJSS-2014-042
Received: 7 May 2014; Accepted: 1 November 2014; Published: 1 February 2015
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KEYWORDS
carbon sequestration
carbone du sol
CO2 emissions
concentration de gaz du sol
émissions de CO2
Panicum virgatum L.
Panicum virgatum L.
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