Biochar for Climate Change Mitigation: Tracing the in-situ Priming Effect on a Forest Site

Bruckman V. J., Terada T., Uzun B. B., Apaydin-Varol E., Liu J.

European Geosciences Union General Assembly, EGU 2015, Vienna, Austria, 12 - 17 April 2015, vol.76, pp.381-387 identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • Volume: 76
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.egypro.2015.07.845
  • City: Vienna
  • Country: Austria
  • Page Numbers: pp.381-387
  • Keywords: Biochar, carbon sequestration, priming effect, forestry, soil respiration, SOIL RESPIRATION, TEMPERATE, PYROLYSIS
  • Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2015 The Authors.A significant amount of Carbon (C) on global soils consists of black carbon or charred organic matter. Biochar amendment in soils is therefore seen as a potential geoengineering method for climate change mitigation and adaptation. We tested the effects of biochar amendment (10 t.ha-1) on soil respiration trace a potential priming effect until 15 months after amendment. Our results indicate that after a short period of initially weak positive priming, there was no significant difference between control and biochar plots during the entire project duration. From a carbon sequestration point of view, it can be concluded, that biochar amendment leads to higher stable C stocks in the organic horizon.