Biochar Application: Essential Soil Microbial Ecology

outlines the cutting-edge research on the interactions of complex microbial populations and their functional, structural, and compositional dynamics, as well as the microbial ecology of biochar application to soil, the use of different phyto-chemical analyses, possibilities for future research, and recommendations for climate change policy.

Biochar, or charcoal produced from plant matter and applied to soil, has become increasingly recognized as having the potential to address multiple contemporary concerns, such as agricultural productivity and contaminated ecosystem amelioration, primarily by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and improving soil functions.

Biochar Application is the first reference to offer a complete assessment of the various impacts of biochar on soil and ecosystems, and includes chapters analyzing all aspects of biochar technology and application to soil, from ecogenomic analyses and application ratios to nutrient cycling and next generation sequencing. Written by a team of international authors with interdisciplinary knowledge of biochar, this reference will provide a platform where collaborating teams can find a common resource to establish outcomes and identify future research needs throughout the world.

Includes multiple tables and figures per chapter to aid in analysis and understandingIncludes a comprehensive table of the methods used within the contents, ecosystems, contaminants, future research, and application opportunities explored in the bookIncludes knowledge gaps and directions of future research to stimulate further discussion in the field and in climate change policyOutlines the latest research on the interactions of complex microbial populations and their functional, structural, and compositional dynamicsOffers an assessment of the impacts of biochar on soil and ecosystems

Biochar, a biomass that is burned at very high temperature in the absence of oxygen, has recently become an interesting subject of study. Biochar is highly stable and does not degrade; it possesses physical properties that assist in retention of nutrients in the soil. The use of biochar will undoubtedly have a significant impact not only on soil nutrients but also on soil organism communities and their functions.

This book focuses on how the ecology and biology of soil organisms is affected by the addition of biochar to soils. It takes into account direct and indirect effects of biochar addition to soils, on the soil carbon cycle, impact on plant resistance to foliar and soilborne disease, interactions with pathogenic, mycorhizal and saprophytic fungi. The stability of biochar in soil environment is also discussed. Special focus has been put on application of biochar to remediate polluted soils, taking into account possible toxic effects of biochar on soil fauna.

This book will be useful to students and researchers in agronomy, biology, ecology, and environmental managers from both academic as well as industrial organizations.

This user-friendly book introduces biochar to potential users in the professional sphere. It de-mystifies the scientific, engineering and managerial issues surrounding biochar for the benefit of audiences including policy makers, landowners and farmers, land use, agricultural and environmental managers and consultants, industry and lobby groups and NGOs. 

The book reviews state-of-the-art knowledge in an approachable way for the non-scientist, covering all aspects of biochar production, soil science, agriculture, environmental impacts, economics, law and regulation and climate change policy. Chapters provide ‘hands-on’ practical information, including how to evaluate biochar and understand what it is doing when added to the soil, how to combine biochar with other soil amendments (such as manure and composts) to achieve desired outcomes, and how to ensure safe and effective use. 

The authors also present research findings from the first coordinated European biochar field trial and summarize European field trial data. Explanatory boxes, infographics and concise summaries of key concepts are included throughout to make the subject more understandable and approachable.

This book addresses in detail multifaceted approaches to boosting nutrient use efficiency (NUE) that are modified by plant interactions with environmental variables and combine physiological, microbial, biotechnological and agronomic aspects. Conveying an in-depth understanding of the topic will spark the development of new cultivars and strains to induce NUE, coupled with best management practices that will immensely benefit agricultural systems, safeguarding their soil, water, and air quality. Written by recognized experts in the field, the book is intended to provide students, scientists and policymakers with essential insights into holistic approaches to NUE, as well as an overview of some successful case studies. In the present understanding of agriculture, NUE represents a question of process optimization in response to the increasing fragility of our natural resources base and threats to food grain security across the globe. Further improving nutrient use efficiency is a prerequisite to reducing production costs, expanding crop acreage into non-competitive marginal lands with low nutrient resources, and preventing environmental contamination. The nutrients most commonly limiting plant growth are N, P, K, S and micronutrients like Fe, Zn, B and Mo. NUE depends on the ability to efficiently take up the nutrient from the soil, but also on transport, storage, mobilization, usage within the plant and the environment. A number of approaches can help us to understand NUE as a whole. One involves adopting best crop management practices that take into account root-induced rhizosphere processes, which play a pivotal role in controlling nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. New technologies, from basic tools like leaf color charts to sophisticated sensor-based systems and laser land leveling, can reduce the dependency on laboratory assistance and manual labor. Another approach concerns the development of crop plants through genetic manipulations that allow them to take up and assimilate nutrients more efficiently, as well as identifying processes of plant responses to nutrient deficiency stress and exploring natural genetic variation. Though only recently introduced, the ability of microbial inoculants to induce NUE is gaining in importance, as the loss, immobilization, release and availability of nutrients are mediated by soil microbial processes.

Due to the threat of a possible global climate change and the greenhouse effect caused by constituents of anthropogenic origin in the atmosphere, air quality has become a major environmental issue. As a consequence, emissions into the atmosphere need to be monitored and controlled. Measurement of Atmospheric Emissions presents technologies for emission control and analysis from industrial and energy plants. The author explains the physical and chemical basis before proceeding to the practical performance. This publication provides the reader with the knowledge necessary to critically analyze and investigate emission measurement techniques. It will be of great interest to researchers and engineers in the fields of environmental technology and air pollution control. It will assist in the choice of the most appropriate instruments for various purposes and circumstances.

The German R+D program "Solares Testzentrum Almeria" (SOTA) provides the scientific basis for the realization of advanced solar technologies including facility modifications, component tests and new lines of development. One of the working packages, WP 300, addresses the "Scientific Support" by the performance of preparatory studies, exploratory laboratory acitivities and qualified expertise. Universities, Research Institutes and Company R + D Entities in Germany are enabled to treat the following aspects: - Meteorological, system and cost investigations, - Development of important components as concentrator, receiver, storage, - Utilization of solar energy for process heat and chemical reactions. In 1988 and 1989 the studies concentrated on the development of components. The reports of the activities were finalized recently and collected in the present volumes. The final reports were printed as received under the responsibility of the autors.

This book introduces aqueous geochemistry applied to geothermal systems. It is specifically designed for readers first entering into the world of geothermal energy from a variety of scientific and engineering backgrounds, and consequently is not intended to be the last word on geothermal chemistry. Instead it is intended to provide readers with sufficient background knowledge to permit them to subsequently understand more complex texts and scientific papers on geothermal energy. The book is structured into two parts. The first explains how geothermal fluids and their associated chemistry evolve, and shows how the chemistry of these fluids can be used to, deduce information about the resource. The second part concentrates on survey techniques explaining how these should be performed and the procedures which need to be adopted to ensure reliable sampling and analytical data are obtained. A geothermal system requires a heat source and a fluid which transfers the heat towards the surface. The fluid could be molten rock (magma) or water. This book concentrates on the chemistry of the water, or hydrothermal, systems. Consequently, magma-energy systems are not considered. Hot-dry rock (HDR) systems are similarly outside the scope of this text, principally because they contain no indigenous fluid for study. Both magma-energy and HDR systems have potential as energy sources but await technological developments before they can be exploited commercially. Geothermal systems based on water, however, are proven energy resources which have been successfully developed throughout the world.

Advances in Agronomy continues to be recognized as a leading reference and a first-rate source for the latest research in agronomy. As always, the subjects covered are varied and exemplary of the myriad of subject matter dealt with by this long-running serial. Maintains the highest impact factor among serial publications in agriculturePresents timely reviews on important agronomy issuesEnjoys a long-standing reputation for excellence in the field

This two-volume work is an effort to provide a common platform to environmental engineers, microbiologists, chemical scientists, plant physiologists and molecular biologists working with a common aim of sustainable solutions to varied environmental contamination issues. Chapters explore biological and non-biological strategies to minimize environmental pollution. Highly readable entries attempt to close the knowledge gap between plant - microbial associations and environmental remediation.
Volume 2 focuses on the non-biological/chemical approaches for the cleanup of contaminated soils. Important concepts such as the role of metallic iron in the decontamination of hexavalent chromium polluted waters are highlighted; in addition, nanoscale materials and electrochemical approaches used in water and soil remediation are discussed; and the synthesis and characterization of cation composite exchange material and its application in removing toxic metals are elaborated in detail. Readers will also discover the major advances in the remediation of environmental pollutants by adsorption technologies. 

Advances in Agronomy, Volume 141 carries on the stellar reputation of this leading reference and first-rate source for the latest research in agronomy. Each volume contains an eclectic group of reviews by leading scientists throughout the world. As always, the subjects covered are rich, varied, and exemplary of the abundant subject matter addressed by this long-running serial.Includes numerous, timely, state-of-the-art reviews on the latest advancements in agronomyFeatures distinguished, well recognized authors from around the worldBuilds upon this venerable and iconic review seriesCovers the extensive variety and breadth of subject matter in the crop and soil sciences