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Effect of biochar amended soils on infiltration processes
Citation Link: https://doi.org/10.15480/882.2470
Publikationstyp
Doctoral Thesis
Date Issued
2019
Sprache
English
Author(s)
Advisor
Referee
Title Granting Institution
Technische Universität Hamburg
Place of Title Granting Institution
Hamburg
Examination Date
2019-10-21
TORE-DOI
TORE-URI
Citation
Technische Universität Hamburg (2019)
Climate change imposes new challenges on agricultural practices due to extreme and rapid changes in the environmental conditions. Soil conservation becomes a primarily task due to its importance for supporting agricultural sustainability and food security. This thesis deals with the analysis and simulation of the effect of biochar amendments on soil water dynamics. In a microscale, infiltration at the topsoil is analyzed; in a macroscale, its impact in catchment hydrology is assessed.
An analysis of the main soil parameters affected by the biochar amendments is presented. The role of the biochar chemical characteristics on the soil amendments and the effect of the biochar dosage as a function of the soil type are exposed. The impact of biochar of two different soil materials is analyzed in terms of the effect of the main soil physical and hydraulic properties. Simulation of intense and repetitive extreme climate conditions (by means of wetting and drying periods) are considered as a critical environmental parameter influencing the dynamics of soil aggregate formation in the topsoil.
The effect of biochar amendments on the soil water balance equation considers the infiltration process as a key factor on the surface runoff formation. The water infiltration response by the amendments is tested by conventional infiltration equations and a statistical regression model in order to determine the main parameters and mechanisms that deals with the transport of water at the surface and in the soil matrix.
Several scenarios of the complexity of the addition of biochar, as a soil conservation management option, at a macroscale level are evaluated. In this case, all the soil water balance parameters are included and the discharge outputs reveal that biochar as a source of organic carbon alters soil aggregation and pore characteristics enhancing or reducing the capacity of the soil matrix to conduct water; and these bulk changes are a function of intense periods of wetting and drying. It is shown that application of biochar as amendment as an option for soil conservation and water management has a complex relation of the biomass composition, application dosage, soil type and environmental conditions.
An analysis of the main soil parameters affected by the biochar amendments is presented. The role of the biochar chemical characteristics on the soil amendments and the effect of the biochar dosage as a function of the soil type are exposed. The impact of biochar of two different soil materials is analyzed in terms of the effect of the main soil physical and hydraulic properties. Simulation of intense and repetitive extreme climate conditions (by means of wetting and drying periods) are considered as a critical environmental parameter influencing the dynamics of soil aggregate formation in the topsoil.
The effect of biochar amendments on the soil water balance equation considers the infiltration process as a key factor on the surface runoff formation. The water infiltration response by the amendments is tested by conventional infiltration equations and a statistical regression model in order to determine the main parameters and mechanisms that deals with the transport of water at the surface and in the soil matrix.
Several scenarios of the complexity of the addition of biochar, as a soil conservation management option, at a macroscale level are evaluated. In this case, all the soil water balance parameters are included and the discharge outputs reveal that biochar as a source of organic carbon alters soil aggregation and pore characteristics enhancing or reducing the capacity of the soil matrix to conduct water; and these bulk changes are a function of intense periods of wetting and drying. It is shown that application of biochar as amendment as an option for soil conservation and water management has a complex relation of the biomass composition, application dosage, soil type and environmental conditions.
Subjects
biochar amended
catchment hydrology
Infiltration process
soil properties
wetting and drying periods
DDC Class
500: Naturwissenschaften
630: Landwirtschaft, Veterinärmedizin
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Effect of Biochar Amended Soils on Infiltration Processes.pdf
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