Greenhouse gas emissions from a wastewater sludge-amended soil cultivated with wheat (Triticum spp. L.) as affected by different application rates of charcoal

Applying biochar to soil is an easy way to sequester carbon in soil, while it might reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and stimulate plant growth. The effect of charcoal application (0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5%) on GHG emission was studied in a wastewater sludge-amended arable soil (Typic Fragiudepts) cultivated with wheat (Triticum spp. L) in a greenhouse. The application of charcoal at >= 1.5% reduced the CO2 emission rate significantly >= 37% compared to unamended soil (135.3 g CO2 ha(-1) day(-1)) in the first two weeks, while the N2O emission rate decreased 44% when 4.5% charcoal was added (0.72 g N2O ha(-1) day(-1)). The cumulative GHG emission over 45 days was 2% lower when 1.5% charcoal, 34% lower when 3.0% charcoal and 39% lower when 4.5% charcoal was applied to the sludge-amended soil cultivated with wheat. Wheat growth was inhibited in the charcoal-amended soil compared to the unamended soil, but not yields after 135 days. It was found that charcoal addition reduced the emissions of N2O and CO2, and the cumulative GHG emissions over 45 days, without altering wheat yield. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.