The effects of worms, clay and biochar on CO<sub>2</sub> emissions during production and soil application of co-composts
In this study we evaluated CO<sub>2</sub> emissions during composting of green wastes with clay and/or biochar in the presence and absence of worms (species of the genus <i>Eisenia</i>), as well as the effect of those amendments on carbon mineralization after application to s...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-12-01
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Series: | SOIL |
Online Access: | http://www.soil-journal.net/2/673/2016/soil-2-673-2016.pdf |
Summary: | In this study we evaluated CO<sub>2</sub> emissions during composting of green
wastes with clay and/or biochar in the presence and absence of worms (species
of the genus <i>Eisenia</i>), as well as the effect of those amendments on
carbon mineralization after application to soil. We added two different doses
of clay, biochar or their mixture to pre-composted green wastes and monitored
carbon mineralization over 21 days in the absence or presence of worms. The
resulting co-composts and vermicomposts were then added to a loamy Cambisol
and the CO<sub>2</sub> emissions were monitored over 30 days in a laboratory
incubation. Our results indicated that the addition of clay or clay/biochar
mixture reduced carbon mineralization during co-composting without worms by
up to 44 %. In the presence of worms, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions during
composting increased for all treatments except for the low clay dose. The
effect of the amendments on carbon mineralization after addition to soil was
small in the short term. Overall, composts increased OM mineralization,
whereas vermicomposts had no effect. The presence of biochar reduced OM
mineralization in soil with respect to compost and vermicompost without
additives, whereas clay reduced mineralization only in the composts. Our
study indicates a significant role of the conditions of composting on
mineralization in soil. Therefore, the production of a low CO<sub>2</sub>
emission amendment requires optimization of feedstocks, co-composting agents
and worm species. |
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ISSN: | 2199-3971 2199-398X |