ORCID Profile
0000-0002-9567-095X
Current Organisations
University of Adelaide
,
La Trobe University
,
University of Queensland
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-12-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2018.07.221
Abstract: Glyphosate represents one quarter of global herbicide sales, with growing interest in both its fate in soils and potential to cause non-target phytotoxicity to plants. However, assessing glyphosate bioavailability to plants from soil residues remains challenging. Here we demonstrate that the diffusive gradient in thin-films technique (DGT) can effectively measure available glyphosate across boundary conditions typical of the soil environment: pH 4-9, P concentrations of 20-300 μg P L
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-09-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-022-32819-7
Abstract: The soil carbon (C) saturation concept suggests an upper limit to the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC). It is set by the mechanisms that protect soil organic matter from mineralization. Biochar has the capacity to protect new C, including rhizodeposits and microbial necromass. However, the decadal-scale mechanisms by which biochar influences the molecular ersity, spatial heterogeneity, and temporal changes in SOC persistence, remain unresolved. Here we show that the soil C storage ceiling of a Ferralsol under subtropical pasture was raised by a second application of Eucalyptus saligna biochar 8.2 years after the first application—the first application raised the soil C storage ceiling by 9.3 Mg new C ha −1 and the second application raised this by another 2.3 Mg new C ha −1 . Linking direct visual evidence from one-, two-, and three-dimensional analyses with SOC quantification, we found high spatial heterogeneity of C functional groups that resulted in the retention of rhizodeposits and microbial necromass in microaggregates (53–250 µm) and the mineral fraction ( µm). Microbial C-use efficiency was concomitantly increased by lowering specific enzyme activities, contributing to the decreased mineralization of native SOC by 18%. We suggest that the SOC ceiling can be lifted using biochar in (sub)tropical grasslands globally.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2008
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 03-01-2023
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-06-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-06-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-03-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-08-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2018.04.278
Abstract: Biochar has been shown to affect soil microbial ersity and abundance. Soil microbes play a key role in soil nutrient cycling, but there is still a dearth of knowledge on the responses of soil microbes to biochar amendments, particularly for longer-term or repeated applications. We s led soil from a field trial to determine the in idual and combined effects of newly applied (1 year ago), re-applied (1 year ago into aged biochar) and aged (9 years ago) biochar amendments on soil bacterial communities, with the aim of identifying the potential underlying mechanisms or consequences of these effects. Soil bacterial ersity and community composition were analysed by sequencing of 16S rRNA using a Miseq platform. This investigation showed that biochar in soil after 1 year significantly increased bacterial ersity and the relative abundance of nitrifiers and bacteria consuming pyrogenic carbon (C). We also found that the reapplication of biochar had no significant effects on soil bacterial communities. Mantel correlation between bacterial ersity and soil chemical properties for four treatments showed that the changes in soil microbial community composition were well explained by soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), extractable organic C and total extractable nitrogen (N). These results suggested that the effects of biochar amendment on soil bacterial communities were highly time-dependent. Our study highlighted the acclimation of soil bacteria on receiving repeated biochar amendment, leading to similar bacterial ersity and community structure among 9-years old applied biochar, repeated biochar treatments and control.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-08-2021
DOI: 10.1111/EJSS.13153
Abstract: Combatting subsoil acidity is a challenge as the incorporation of lime in subsurface layers may not be economically feasible. The use of nitrate to facilitate plant excess anion uptake has shown the potential to increase soil pH. A column experiment was carried out to demonstrate this root‐induced alkalization in various depths in an acid soil with pH 4.28 (0.01 M CaCl 2 ). It consisted of two types of nitrogen (N) fertilizers (urea and Ca(NO 3 ) 2 , both at 5 atom% 15 N enrichment) banded at a depth of 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm or 20–30 cm, with phosphorus (P) fertilizer (NaH 2 PO 4 ) at 150 mg P per column either applied to the N layers (N+P) or evenly mixed into the remaining layers without N addition (N‐P). Aluminium‐tolerant wheat (ET8) was used as test plants, receiving an initial N dose of 60 mg kg −1 soil at sowing and an additional dose of 30 mg kg −1 every 10 days from 40 days after sowing. Plants had a total N supply of 90 mg N kg −1 at 50 days and 180 mg N kg −1 at 80 days after sowing. The N+P treatments increased plant N uptake and increased rhizosphere and bulk soil pH. Nitrate placement increased pH of treated layers by up to 0.4 and 0.2 units in the rhizosphere and bulk soils, respectively, compared with the control at Day 80. Rhizosphere alkalization was greater with deeper N+P treatments as these encouraged the proliferation of deeper roots in the treated layer. The form of N and the application method of P fertilizer had no effect on shoot biomass over 80 days of growth. The N+P treatments had 7% higher 15 N recovery of fertilizer in plants than the N‐P treatments. The current study also showed that P fertilizer enhanced rhizosphere alkalization induced by calcium nitrate. The results suggest that the use of nitrate fertilizer with P treatments can facilitate alkalization of acid subsoils. Phosphorus facilitates amelioration of subsurface soil acidity with nitrate fertilizer Placement of nitrate induces alkalization of acid soil at various depths Combined addition of nitrate and P at depth enhances nitrate uptake by wheat Balanced nutrient supply enhances excess anion uptake and rhizosphere alkalization
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2018
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 26-09-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-04-2017
DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE3276
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-07-2023
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.16865
Abstract: To achieve long‐term increases in soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, it is essential to understand the effects of carbon management strategies on SOC formation pathways, particularly through changes in microbial necromass carbon (MNC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Using a 14‐year field study, we demonstrate that both biochar and maize straw lifted the SOC ceiling, but through different pathways. Biochar, while raising SOC and DOC content, decreased substrate degradability by increasing carbon aromaticity. This resulted in suppressed microbial abundance and enzyme activity, which lowered soil respiration, weakened in vivo turnover and ex vivo modification for MNC production (i.e., low microbial carbon pump “efficacy”), and led to lower efficiency in decomposing MNC, ultimately resulting in the net accumulation of SOC and MNC. In contrast, straw incorporation increased the content and decreased the aromaticity of SOC and DOC. The enhanced SOC degradability and soil nutrient content, such as total nitrogen and total phosphorous, stimulated the microbial population and activity, thereby boosting soil respiration and enhancing microbial carbon pump “efficacy” for MNC production. The total C added to biochar and straw plots were estimated as 27.3–54.5 and 41.4 Mg C ha −1 , respectively. Our results demonstrated that biochar was more efficient in lifting the SOC stock via exogenous stable carbon input and MNC stabilization, although the latter showed low “efficacy”. Meanwhile, straw incorporation significantly promoted net MNC accumulation but also stimulated SOC mineralization, resulting in a smaller increase in SOC content (by 50%) compared to biochar (by 53%–102%). The results address the decadal‐scale effects of biochar and straw application on the formation of the stable organic carbon pool in soil, and understanding the causal mechanisms can allow field practices to maximize SOC content.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-07-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-09-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-08-2021
DOI: 10.1111/GCBB.12885
Abstract: We synthesized 20 years of research to explain the interrelated processes that determine soil and plant responses to biochar. The properties of biochar and its effects within agricultural ecosystems largely depend on feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. We describe three stages of reactions of biochar in soil: dissolution (1–3 weeks) reactive surface development (1–6 months) and aging (beyond 6 months). As biochar ages, it is incorporated into soil aggregates, protecting the biochar carbon and promoting the stabilization of rhizodeposits and microbial products. Biochar carbon persists in soil for hundreds to thousands of years. By increasing pH, porosity, and water availability, biochars can create favorable conditions for root development and microbial functions. Biochars can catalyze biotic and abiotic reactions, particularly in the rhizosphere, that increase nutrient supply and uptake by plants, reduce phytotoxins, stimulate plant development, and increase resilience to disease and environmental stressors. Meta‐analyses found that, on average, biochars increase P availability by a factor of 4.6 decrease plant tissue concentration of heavy metals by 17%–39% build soil organic carbon through negative priming by 3.8% (range −21% to +20%) and reduce non‐CO 2 greenhouse gas emissions from soil by 12%–50%. Meta‐analyses show average crop yield increases of 10%–42% with biochar addition, with greatest increases in low‐nutrient P‐sorbing acidic soils (common in the tropics), and in sandy soils in drylands due to increase in nutrient retention and water holding capacity. Studies report a wide range of plant responses to biochars due to the ersity of biochars and contexts in which biochars have been applied. Crop yields increase strongly if site‐specific soil constraints and nutrient and water limitations are mitigated by appropriate biochar formulations. Biochars can be tailored to address site constraints through feedstock selection, by modifying pyrolysis conditions, through pre‐ or post‐production treatments, or co‐application with organic or mineral fertilizers. We demonstrate how, when used wisely, biochar mitigates climate change and supports food security and the circular economy.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 11-03-2022
No related grants have been discovered for Zhe (Han) Weng.