Journal Article

FZJ-2019-04017

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Spectral Induced Polarization of Biochar in Variably Saturated Soil

Gao, Z.FZJ* ; Haegel, F.-H. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Esser, O.FZJ* ; Zimmermann, E.FZJ* ; Vereecken, H.FZJ* ; Huisman, J. A.FZJ*

2019
GeoScienceWorld Alexandria, Va.

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/22720  doi:10.2136/vzj2018.12.0213

Abstract: Biochar is considered a promising soil amendment, but an effective method to detect and characterize the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of biochar in soil is still missing. The aim of this study is to investigate the ability of the spectral induced polarization (SIP) method for the noninvasive detection of biochar in unsaturated sandy media. In particular, a pure sand and two sand–biochar mixtures with 1 and 2% biochar made from pine (Pinus spp.) wood by pyrolysis at 800°C were investigated. The measured SIP spectra as a function of saturation were interpreted by fitting a Cole–Cole model to the low-frequency part of the SIP measurements. The porous nature of the biochar particles strongly affected the SIP response of the partially saturated sand–biochar mixtures. Due to the high residual water content of the biochar in a dry background, the relationship between bulk electrical conductivity and water saturation was nonlinear in a log–log representation. This nonlinear behavior could adequately be explained with a dielectric mixing model that considered the drainage of the biochar particles. Both the measured phase and chargeability of the sand–biochar mixtures showed a complex dependence on water saturation. This was attributed to the decrease in polarization strength of the biochar particles with desaturation and the simultaneous increase in phase of the sand background. Overall, the results of this study suggest that field SIP measurements may be a promising tool for the characterization and monitoring of biochar amendments to agricultural soils.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Agrosphäre (IBG-3)
2. Zentralinstitut für Elektronik (ZEA-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 255 - Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction (POF3-255) (POF3-255)

Appears in the scientific report 2019

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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