Surface albedo following biochar application in durum wheat

• Published in: Environmental research letters 2012-01, Vol.7 (1), p.14025-8
• Main Authors: Genesio, L, Miglietta, F, Lugato, E, Baronti, S, Pieri, M, Vaccari, F P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: carbon sequestration; geo-engineering; land-surface feedbacks; mitigation strategies; Triticum aestivum
• ISSN: 1748-9326; 1748-9326
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/7/1/014025

The agronomic use of charcoal from biomass pyrolysis (biochar) represents an interesting option for increasing soil fertility and sequestering atmospheric CO2. However, before moving toward large-scale biochar applications, additional research must evaluate all possible land-atmosphere feedbacks. Despite the increasing number of studies investigating the effect of biochar on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, only a few have been done on surface albedo variations on agricultural lands. The present work had the aim of characterizing the annual albedo cycle for a durum wheat crop in Central Italy, by means of a spectroradiometer measurement campaign. Plots treated with biochar, at a rate of 30-60 t ha−1, showed a surface albedo decrease of up to 80% (after the application) with respect to the control in bare soil conditions, while this difference tended to decrease during the crop growing season, because of the prevailing effect of canopy development on the radiometer response. After the post-harvesting tillage, the soil treated with biochar again showed a lower surface albedo value (