0000000000343905

AUTHOR

Stephen Joseph

showing 3 related works from this author

Organic coating on biochar explains its nutrient retention and stimulation of soil fertility

2017

Amending soil with biochar (pyrolized biomass) is suggested as a globally applicable approach to address climate change and soil degradation by carbon sequestration, reducing soil-borne greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing soil nutrient retention. Biochar was shown to promote plant growth, especially when combined with nutrient-rich organic matter, e.g., co-composted biochar. Plant growth promotion was explained by slow release of nutrients, although a mechanistic understanding of nutrient storage in biochar is missing. Here we identify a complex, nutrient-rich organic coating on co-composted biochar that covers the outer and inner (pore) surfaces of biochar particles using high-resoluti…

ScienceSettore AGR/13 - Chimica AgrariaGeneral Physics and AstronomyBiomass010501 environmental sciencesCarbon sequestrationengineering.materialcomplex mixtures01 natural sciencesArticleGeneral Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular BiologyPhysics and Astronomy (all)NutrientCoatingSoil retrogression and degradationBiocharOrganic matterlcsh:Science0105 earth and related environmental sciences2. Zero hungerchemistry.chemical_classificationBiochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology (all)MultidisciplinaryQChemistry (all)fungi04 agricultural and veterinary sciencesGeneral Chemistry15. Life on landchemistryAgronomy13. Climate actionEnvironmental chemistry040103 agronomy & agricultureengineering0401 agriculture forestry and fisherieslcsh:QChemistry (all); Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology (all); Physics and Astronomy (all)Soil fertilityNature Communications
researchProduct

Microstructural and associated chemical changes during the composting of a high temperature biochar: Mechanisms for nitrate, phosphate and other nutr…

2018

Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of the nutrient status of biochar and soils prior to its inclusion in particular agricultural systems. Pre-treatment of nutrient-reactive biochar, where nutrients are loaded into pores and onto surfaces, gives improved yield outcomes compared to untreated biochar. In this study we have used a wide selection of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to investigate the mechanisms of nutrient retention in a high temperature wood biochar, which had negative effects on Chenopodium quinoa above ground biomass yield when applied to the system without prior nutrient loading, but positive effects when applied after composting. We have compared non-co…

Environmental EngineeringSettore AGR/13 - Chimica AgrariaBiochar nutrient interactions; Composted biochar; Phosphorus and nitrogen capture; Soil amendmentsBiomasschemistry.chemical_element010501 environmental sciencesPhosphorus and nitrogen capturecomplex mixtures01 natural scienceschemistry.chemical_compoundNutrientNitrateBiocharEnvironmental ChemistryCharcoalWaste Management and Disposal0105 earth and related environmental sciences2. Zero hungerChemistryPhosphorusBiochar nutrient interaction04 agricultural and veterinary sciences15. Life on landSoil amendmentsPollutionSoil conditionerAgronomyEnvironmental chemistryvisual_artSoil water040103 agronomy & agriculturevisual_art.visual_art_medium0401 agriculture forestry and fisheriesComposted biocharScience of The Total Environment
researchProduct

Plant growth improvement mediated by nitrate capture in co-composted biochar

2015

AbstractSoil amendment with pyrogenic carbon (biochar) is discussed as strategy to improve soil fertility to enable economic plus environmental benefits. In temperate soils, however, the use of pure biochar mostly has moderately-negative to -positive yield effects. Here we demonstrate that co-composting considerably promoted biochars’ positive effects, largely by nitrate (nutrient) capture and delivery. In a full-factorial growth study with Chenopodium quinoa, biomass yield increased up to 305% in a sandy-poor soil amended with 2% (w/w) co-composted biochar (BCcomp). Conversely, addition of 2% (w/w) untreated biochar (BCpure) decreased the biomass to 60% of the control. Growth-promoting (BC…

MultidisciplinaryChemistryAmendmentcomplex mixturesArticlechemistry.chemical_compoundNutrientAgronomyNitratevisual_artSoil waterBiocharvisual_art.visual_art_mediumSoil fertilityLeaching (agriculture)CharcoalScientific Reports
researchProduct