Modelling the potential for soil carbon sequestration using biochar from sugarcane residues in Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) cultivation leaves behind around 20 t ha^-1 of biomass residue after harvest and processing. We investigated the potential for sequestering carbon (C) in soil with these residues by partially converting them into biochar (recalcitrant carbon-rich material). First, we modified the RothC model to allow changes in soil C arising from additions of sugarcane-derived biochar. Second, we evaluated the modified model against published field data, and found satisfactory agreement between observed and predicted soil C accumulation. Third, we used the model to explore the potential for soil C sequestration with sugarcane biochar in São Paulo State, Brazil. The results show a potential increase in soil C stocks by 2.35 ± 0.4 t C ha^-1 year^-

SUBMITTER: Lefebvre D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7655943 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature