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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #387355
Research Project: Develop Water Management Strategies to Sustain Water Productivity and Protect Water Quality in Irrigated Agriculture

Location: Water Management Research

Title: Biochar significantly reduced fumigant emissions and benefited germination and plant growth under field conditions

Author
item WANG, QIUXIA - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item Gao, Suduan
item Wang, Dong
item CAO, AOCHENG - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences

Submitted to: Environmental Pollution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2022
Publication Date: 3/7/2022
Citation: Wang, Q., Gao, S., Wang, D., Cao, A. 2022. Biochar significantly reduced fumigant emissions and benefited germination and plant growth under field conditions. Environmental Pollution. 303. Article 119113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119113.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119113

Interpretive Summary: Production of many high value crops require soil fumigation for controlling soil borne pests and diseases. However air emission of toxic fumigant gases has led to restrictions for agricultural use. Biochar has high surface area and adsorption capacity for fumigant gases. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of three biochar products on reducing air emissions of fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin. A bioassay test was also carried out to evaluate cucumber seed germination and seedling growth. The research clearly demonstrated that biochars made from almond shells reduced fumigant emissions and enhanced seed germination and plant growth.

Technical Abstract: Soil fumigation continues to play an important role in soil disinfection, but tools to significantly reduce emissions while providing environmental benefits are lacking. This study determined the effects of three biochar products on fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP) emissions, their distribution and persistence in soil, nematode control, and potential toxicity to plants in a field trial. Treatments included three biochar products [two derived from almond shells (ASB) at either 550 or 900 °C pyrolysis temperature and one from coconut shells (CSB) at 550 °C] at 30 and 60 t ha-1, a surface covering with a low permeability film (TIF), and no surface covering (control). A mixture of 1,3-D (~65%) and CP (~35%) was injected to ~60 cm soil depth at a combined rate of 640 kg ha-1. All biochar treatments significantly reduced emissions by 38–100% compared to the control. The ASB (900 °C) at both rates reduced emissions as effectively as the TIF (by 99-100%). Both fumigant emission reduction and residue in surface soil were positively correlated with biochar’s adsorption capacity while cucumber germination rate and dry biomass were negatively correlated with residual fumigant concentrations in surface soil. This research demonstrated the potential and benefits of using biochar produced from local orchard feedstocks to control fumigant emissions. Additional research is needed to maximize the benefits of biochar on fumigant emission reductions without impacting plant growth.