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<p>Adopting biochar as a soil amendment has a variable impact on soil structure and hydro-physical properties, depending on its feedstock and application rate. This study investigated the short-term effect of southern yellow pine-based biochar addition on soil pore and hydro-physical properties in the sandy-textured soil at four different application rates: (i) BC0: 0-Mg ha<sup>− 1</sup>, (ii) BC7.5: 7.5-Mg ha<sup>− 1</sup>, (iii) BC15: 15-Mg ha<sup>− 1</sup>, and (iv) BC30: 30-Mg ha<sup>− 1</sup>. Undisturbed soil cores (100&#xa0;mm deep and 76&#xa0;mm in diameter) were collected from each treatment and investigated for soil macropore characteristics estimated using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) technique. Biochar application showed no impact on soil macroporosity at 0–50&#xa0;mm and 50–100&#xa0;mm depth intervals. At 50–100&#xa0;mm depth, the macropore number density showed no significant difference under BC7.5, but reduced by 57% and 64% under BC15 and BC30, respectively, relative to BC0. Pore circularity also reduced significantly (~ 5%) under BC15 relative to BC0 at 0–50&#xa0;mm depth, signifying that moderate biochar application rate disrupts pore geometry. Results suggest that biochar particles at given rates may occupy existing soil pores (occupying effect); and a further increase in the biochar dose to greater than BC30 may expand the soil porous phase by inherited porosity of biochar (expansion effect). The difference in pore indices in the soil layer just below the incorporation depth (top 50&#xa0;mm) of biochar suggests the preferential movement of biochar particles from the 0–50&#xa0;mm to the 50–100&#xa0;mm depth zone via coarse soil pores. Soil hydro-physical properties (e.g., soil water retention characteristics, bulk density, total porosity, and wet aggregate stability) revealed no significant impact of biochar addition at any rate and depth zone. The coarse texture of soil having more than 85% sand content and low organic matter levels may have diminished the effect of biochar on the soil properties under investigation. This implies that the optimal biochar type and application rates should be selected to improve agricultural sustainability and address environmental concerns, such as nutrient leaching and greenhouse gas emissions.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Elucidating short-term impact of biochar addition on soil pore networks using X-ray computed tomography and soil water retention characteristics

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月23日

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  • Ranveer Singh,
  • Jasmeet Lamba,
  • Charles Y. Chen,
  • Sushil Adhikari

摘要

Adopting biochar as a soil amendment has a variable impact on soil structure and hydro-physical properties, depending on its feedstock and application rate. This study investigated the short-term effect of southern yellow pine-based biochar addition on soil pore and hydro-physical properties in the sandy-textured soil at four different application rates: (i) BC0: 0-Mg ha− 1, (ii) BC7.5: 7.5-Mg ha− 1, (iii) BC15: 15-Mg ha− 1, and (iv) BC30: 30-Mg ha− 1. Undisturbed soil cores (100 mm deep and 76 mm in diameter) were collected from each treatment and investigated for soil macropore characteristics estimated using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) technique. Biochar application showed no impact on soil macroporosity at 0–50 mm and 50–100 mm depth intervals. At 50–100 mm depth, the macropore number density showed no significant difference under BC7.5, but reduced by 57% and 64% under BC15 and BC30, respectively, relative to BC0. Pore circularity also reduced significantly (~ 5%) under BC15 relative to BC0 at 0–50 mm depth, signifying that moderate biochar application rate disrupts pore geometry. Results suggest that biochar particles at given rates may occupy existing soil pores (occupying effect); and a further increase in the biochar dose to greater than BC30 may expand the soil porous phase by inherited porosity of biochar (expansion effect). The difference in pore indices in the soil layer just below the incorporation depth (top 50 mm) of biochar suggests the preferential movement of biochar particles from the 0–50 mm to the 50–100 mm depth zone via coarse soil pores. Soil hydro-physical properties (e.g., soil water retention characteristics, bulk density, total porosity, and wet aggregate stability) revealed no significant impact of biochar addition at any rate and depth zone. The coarse texture of soil having more than 85% sand content and low organic matter levels may have diminished the effect of biochar on the soil properties under investigation. This implies that the optimal biochar type and application rates should be selected to improve agricultural sustainability and address environmental concerns, such as nutrient leaching and greenhouse gas emissions.

Graphical abstract