Investigating the Two-Dimensional Distribution of Soil pH and Phosphorus in the Charosphere: A Short-Term Incubation Experiment

Biochar, which contains abundant nutrients like phosphorus (P), is considered a potential source of nutrients for plant use after its application in soil. However, the localized distribution of P in the vicinity of biochar (that is, the charosphere) is poorly understood. In this study, the biochars...

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Main Authors: Xuejiao Chen, Feng Gu, Dongdong Zhang, Wei Lin, Jie Tang, Bin Zhang, Xuan Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2907
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author Xuejiao Chen
Feng Gu
Dongdong Zhang
Wei Lin
Jie Tang
Bin Zhang
Xuan Yu
author_facet Xuejiao Chen
Feng Gu
Dongdong Zhang
Wei Lin
Jie Tang
Bin Zhang
Xuan Yu
author_sort Xuejiao Chen
collection DOAJ
description Biochar, which contains abundant nutrients like phosphorus (P), is considered a potential source of nutrients for plant use after its application in soil. However, the localized distribution of P in the vicinity of biochar (that is, the charosphere) is poorly understood. In this study, the biochars derived from pinewood (PWB), maize straw (MSB), and chicken manure (CMB) were granulated and investigated for their short-term charosphere effect, using an integrated imaging technique in situ. The results showed that biochars significantly elevated the soil pH and P concentration around their granules, leading to the development of a charosphere over several days. Both pH and P were distributed in a gradient in the charosphere: the values were highest where the biochars were located and declined with increasing distance from the biochar. A highly positive correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.01) was found between the pH, electric conductivity (EC), ash content of the biochar, and the scope of the pH gradient in the charosphere. Moreover, the scope of the P gradient was positively related to the pH and EC values of the biochar as well (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The charosphere effect was prominent around the CMB and MSB granules because of their high ash content, an especially soluble component. The P diffusion in the charosphere was inferred to be influenced by the soil pH as well as the endogenous P species in the biochars. These findings provide new insight into the localized effect of biochars in soil, which is conducive to understanding the nutrient availability to plants after biochar application.
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spelling doaj-art-daff881ded1f4d648a0d26b181f280b02024-12-27T14:04:21ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-12-011412290710.3390/agronomy14122907Investigating the Two-Dimensional Distribution of Soil pH and Phosphorus in the Charosphere: A Short-Term Incubation ExperimentXuejiao Chen0Feng Gu1Dongdong Zhang2Wei Lin3Jie Tang4Bin Zhang5Xuan Yu6School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, ChinaSichuan Academy of Environmental Policy and Planning, Chengdu 610093, ChinaInstitute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, ChinaInstitute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, ChinaSchool of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, ChinaSchool of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, ChinaSchool of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, ChinaBiochar, which contains abundant nutrients like phosphorus (P), is considered a potential source of nutrients for plant use after its application in soil. However, the localized distribution of P in the vicinity of biochar (that is, the charosphere) is poorly understood. In this study, the biochars derived from pinewood (PWB), maize straw (MSB), and chicken manure (CMB) were granulated and investigated for their short-term charosphere effect, using an integrated imaging technique in situ. The results showed that biochars significantly elevated the soil pH and P concentration around their granules, leading to the development of a charosphere over several days. Both pH and P were distributed in a gradient in the charosphere: the values were highest where the biochars were located and declined with increasing distance from the biochar. A highly positive correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.01) was found between the pH, electric conductivity (EC), ash content of the biochar, and the scope of the pH gradient in the charosphere. Moreover, the scope of the P gradient was positively related to the pH and EC values of the biochar as well (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The charosphere effect was prominent around the CMB and MSB granules because of their high ash content, an especially soluble component. The P diffusion in the charosphere was inferred to be influenced by the soil pH as well as the endogenous P species in the biochars. These findings provide new insight into the localized effect of biochars in soil, which is conducive to understanding the nutrient availability to plants after biochar application.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2907charosphereplanar optodepH gradientphosphorus diffusionbiochar properties
spellingShingle Xuejiao Chen
Feng Gu
Dongdong Zhang
Wei Lin
Jie Tang
Bin Zhang
Xuan Yu
Investigating the Two-Dimensional Distribution of Soil pH and Phosphorus in the Charosphere: A Short-Term Incubation Experiment
Agronomy
charosphere
planar optode
pH gradient
phosphorus diffusion
biochar properties
title Investigating the Two-Dimensional Distribution of Soil pH and Phosphorus in the Charosphere: A Short-Term Incubation Experiment
title_full Investigating the Two-Dimensional Distribution of Soil pH and Phosphorus in the Charosphere: A Short-Term Incubation Experiment
title_fullStr Investigating the Two-Dimensional Distribution of Soil pH and Phosphorus in the Charosphere: A Short-Term Incubation Experiment
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Two-Dimensional Distribution of Soil pH and Phosphorus in the Charosphere: A Short-Term Incubation Experiment
title_short Investigating the Two-Dimensional Distribution of Soil pH and Phosphorus in the Charosphere: A Short-Term Incubation Experiment
title_sort investigating the two dimensional distribution of soil ph and phosphorus in the charosphere a short term incubation experiment
topic charosphere
planar optode
pH gradient
phosphorus diffusion
biochar properties
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2907
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