Effect of Wood-Based Biochar and Sewage Sludge Amendments for Soil Phosphorus Availability

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of two biochars (pyrolysed wood chips and garden clippings) on phosphorus (P) availability in a heavy-metal contaminated soil poor in phosphorus. Short-term 14-days incubation experiments were conducted to study how applications of biochars at different rates (1 and 5 %) in combination with (1:1) and without dried sewage sludge from a municipal waste water treatment plant (WWTP) affected the content of soil extractable P. For P-availability analyses deionized water, calcium acetate lactate (CAL), Mehlich 3 and Olsen extraction protocols were applied. In addition, the content of total and mobile forms of potentially toxic heavy metals (PTHM) was studied. Application of both biochars caused a significant decrease of PTHM available forms in sewage sludge amended soil samples. The concentration of total and available P increased with higher biochar and sewage sludge application rates.