Effects of biochar and organic amendment on soil C dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22597
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0604:Agricultural economics and rural sociology, agricultural engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University (2021); Tottori University (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Hamamoto Toru 東北大学, 農学研究科, 助教 (80877100)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 土壌炭素 / 土壌微生物 / ザンビア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The effects of organic amendment on carbon (C) and nitrogen dynamics, and the dynamics of the soil microbial communities, which drive them, were investigated in deficient C content soils (0-2%). First, we found that even in soils with low C content, microbial dynamics due to C inputs and the associated CO2 emissions were strongly influenced by differences in the original soil C content. We also found that biochar, which is a relatively less degradable C source, potentially suppresses the net C emissions and thus contributes to C sequestration.

Free Research Field

土壌生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は、作物残さなどの有機物の投入は、炭素貯留などの影響に対して、もともとの土壌炭素量によって大きく変化することを示した。また、この結果を炭素量が0-2%の極めて低い土壌で明らかにしたことは、貧栄養土壌に対する炭素貯留の可能性や土壌肥沃度改善に対処するための基礎的な理解につながる。