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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385086
Research Project: Improvement of Soil Management Practices and Manure Treatment/Handling Systems of the Southern Coastal Plain

Location: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research

Title: The occurrence of legacy P soils and potential mitigation practices using activated biochars

Author
item CERVEN, VASILE - Orise Fellow
item Novak, Jeffrey
item Szogi, Ariel
item PANTUCK, KEN - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
item Watts, Donald - Don
item JOHNSON, MARK - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Submitted to: Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2021
Publication Date: 6/25/2021
Citation: Cerven, V., Novak, J.M., Szogi, A.A., Pantuck, K., Watts, D.W., Johnson, M.G. 2021. The occurrence of legacy P soils and potential mitigation practices using activated biochars. Agronomy. 11:1289. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071289.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071289

Interpretive Summary: Long-term application of manures in watersheds with dense animal production has increased soil phosphorus (P) concentration, exceeding plant and soil assimilative capacities. The P accumulated in soils heavily manured and containing excess soluble soil P concentrations is known as legacy P. Runoff, and leaching can transport legacy P to groundwater and surface water bodies contributing to water quality impairment and environment pollution, such as eutrophication. This article reviews innovative management practices for soil legacy P focused on biochar as an emerging technology to reduce P movement in legacy P soils. We illustrate that the properties of biochar can be affected by pyrolysis temperature and by various activating chemical compounds and byproducts. Our approach consists of engineering biochars using an activation process on poultry litter feedstock before pyrolysis to enhance binding or precipitation of legacy P. Finally, this review article describes previous examples of biochar activation. It offers new approaches to produce biochars with enhanced P sorption capabilities.

Technical Abstract: Long-term application of manures in watersheds with dense animal production has increased soil phosphorus (P) concentration, exceeding plant and soil assimilative capacities. The P accumulated in soils heavily manured and containing excess extractable soil P concentrations is known as legacy P. Runoff and leaching can transport legacy P to ground water and surface water bodies contributing to water quality impairment and environment pollution, such as eutrophication. This review article analyzes and discusses current and innovative management practices for soil legacy P. Specifically, we address using biochar as an emerging novel technology to reduce P movement and bioavailability reductions in legacy P soils. We illustrate that properties of biochar can be affected by pyrolysis temperature and by various activating chemical compounds and byproducts. Our approach consists of engineering biochars using activation process on poultry litter feedstock before pyrolysis to enhance binding or precipitation of legacy P. Finally, this review article will describe previous examples of biochar activation and will offer new approaches to produce biochars with enhanced P sorption capabilities.