Characteristics of biochar produced from yak manure at different pyrolysis temperatures and its effects on the yield and growth of highland barley

• Published in: Chemical speciation and bioavailability Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 57 - 67
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jianghong, Huang, Bing, Chen, Liang, Li, Yang, Li, Wei, Luo, Zhuanxi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: St. Albans Taylor & Francis 01.01.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Analytical methods; Barley; biochar; Biological traits; Calcium; Charcoal; Electron microscopy; Farmyard manure; field experimentation; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Fourier transforms; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Magnesium; Manures; Nutrients; pH effects; physicochemical property; potassium; Pyrolysis; Scanning electron microscopy; Soil; soil amendment; Soil conditioners; Soil conditions; Soil improvement; Soils; Surface area; temperature; X-ray diffraction; Yak manure; yaks
• ISSN: 0954-2299; 2639-5932; 2047-6523; 2639-5940
• DOI: 10.1080/09542299.2018.1487774

The yak manure based biochar was produced at different temperatures of 300, 500 and 700 ℃ held for 3 h, which was characterized by BET surface area, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared  spectroscopy, pH measurement, analysis, scanning electron microscopy and ultimate analysis. The resultant biochar had characteristics of high surface area, high pH, porous structure and rich nutrients such as N, P, Ca, Mg, and K, inferring that the yak manure-derived biochar could be used as a soil conditioner. The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of yak manure derived biochar amendment on the yield and biological traits of highland barley, revealing that adding biochar to soil could increase the yield and growth of highland barley in short-term although the long-term benefits remain to be quantified. The present results can be useful to fill the knowledge gap regarding the potential of yak manure derived biochar to soil improvement.