Angela Joy Eykelbosh1, Mark S Johnson2, Eduardo Guimarães Couto3. 1. Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, 2202 Main Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: a.eykelbosh@alumni.ubc.ca. 2. Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, 2202 Main Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: mark.johnson@ubc.ca. 3. Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Fernando Corrêa da Costa, Boa Esperança, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso 78060-900, Brazil. Electronic address: couto@ufmt.br.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Sugarcane cultivation is associated with catchment-wide impacts related to application of vinasse, a nutrient-dense effluent with high eutrophication potential. We evaluated the potential for biochar (charcoal produced from pyrolyzed filtercake) to mitigate carbon and nutrient leaching in a cultivated Brazilian Ferralsol after vinasse application. METHODS: Twelve soil columns (soil alone [S], soil with vinasse [SV], soil with vinasse and biochar [SVB], and soil with biochar [SB]) were flushed with water and then treated with water or vinasse. Samples collected via vacuum filtration were examined via UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. RESULTS: Biochar attenuated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leaching in soil (S vs. SB) as well as in relation to vinasse application (SV vs. SVB). Biochar-amended soil preferentially retained high-molecular weight, humic-like DOC species, as revealed by fluorescence spectroscopy and optical indices, but did not retain low-weight amino acid-like species. Vinasse application also increased total NO3(-) flux, which may have been exacerbated by biochar co-application. CONCLUSIONS: Vinasse treatment strongly affects carbon and NO3(-) fluxes in this tropical soil. Biochar attenuated DOC leaching, likely through stabilization of complex compounds already present in soil, but did not lessen NO3(-) fluxes. Thus, biochar amendments in vinasse application areas may decrease carbon leaching.
OBJECTIVES:Sugarcane cultivation is associated with catchment-wide impacts related to application of vinasse, a nutrient-dense effluent with high eutrophication potential. We evaluated the potential for biochar (charcoal produced from pyrolyzed filtercake) to mitigate carbon and nutrient leaching in a cultivated Brazilian Ferralsol after vinasse application. METHODS: Twelve soil columns (soil alone [S], soil with vinasse [SV], soil with vinasse and biochar [SVB], and soil with biochar [SB]) were flushed with water and then treated with water or vinasse. Samples collected via vacuum filtration were examined via UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. RESULTS: Biochar attenuated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leaching in soil (S vs. SB) as well as in relation to vinasse application (SV vs. SVB). Biochar-amended soil preferentially retained high-molecular weight, humic-like DOC species, as revealed by fluorescence spectroscopy and optical indices, but did not retain low-weight amino acid-like species. Vinasse application also increased total NO3(-) flux, which may have been exacerbated by biochar co-application. CONCLUSIONS:Vinasse treatment strongly affects carbon and NO3(-) fluxes in this tropical soil. Biochar attenuated DOC leaching, likely through stabilization of complex compounds already present in soil, but did not lessen NO3(-) fluxes. Thus, biochar amendments in vinasse application areas may decrease carbon leaching.
Authors: Daniely Reis Santos; Otávio da Mata Cunha; Márcia Cristina Bisinoti; Odair Pastor Ferreira; Altair Benedito Moreira; Camila Almeida Melo Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2019-02-04 Impact factor: 4.223