Biochar combined with gypsum reduces both nitrogen and carbon losses during agricultural waste composting and enhances overall compost quality by regulating microbial activities and functions

Jisong Qu; Lijuan Zhang; Xu Zhang; Lihong Gao; Yongqiang Tian

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123781

Biochar combined with gypsum reduces both nitrogen and carbon losses during agricultural waste composting and enhances overall compost quality by regulating microbial activities and functions

Bioresour Technol. 2020 Oct:314:123781. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123781. Epub 2020 Jul 5.

Authors

Jisong Qu¹, Lijuan Zhang², Xu Zhang³, Lihong Gao⁴, Yongqiang Tian⁵

Affiliations

¹ Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road No. 2, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China; Institute of Germplasm Resources, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Huanghe East Road No. 590, Jinfeng District, Yinchuan 750002, China.
² Institute of Germplasm Resources, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Huanghe East Road No. 590, Jinfeng District, Yinchuan 750002, China.
³ Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road No. 2, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China.
⁴ Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road No. 2, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: gaolh@cau.edu.cn.
⁵ Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road No. 2, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: tianyq1984@cau.edu.cn.

PMID: 32652451
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123781

Abstract

Composting is an efficient method for treating agricultural wastes. This study investigated the effects of the addition of biochar (B) and gypsum (G) to straw mixed with chicken manure (SC) (i.e. SC, SC + B, SC + G and SC + B + G) on composting performance at different initial C/N ratios (20, 25 and 30). In general, biochar combined with gypsum (BCG) efficiently shortened composting time and reduced N loss, C loss and potential ecological risk. It also enhanced lignocellulose decomposition, nutrient retention and the overall compost quality expressed by a compost quality index (CQI), and increased the biomass of four different test crops. The BCG-induced increase in CQI was closely associated with microbial enzyme activities and C catabolic profiles. These results indicated that the combination of biochar and gypsum is more effective than each single additive during composting, and emphasized that microbial activities and functions play pivotal roles in determining compost quality and thereby agronomic performance.

Keywords: Agronomic value; Biochar; Composting performance; Flue gas desulfurization gypsum; Overall compost quality; Potential ecological risk.

MeSH terms

Calcium Sulfate
Carbon
Charcoal
Composting*
Manure
Nitrogen / analysis
Soil

Substances

Manure
Soil
biochar
Charcoal
Carbon
Nitrogen
Calcium Sulfate