Earthworms regulate ability of biochar to mitigate CO2 and N2O emissions from a tropical soil
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Published on
26.04.19
- Challenges
Soils account for >80% and 20% of the total agricultural N2O and CO2 emissions respectively. Soil management activities that target improved soil health, such as enhancing earthworm activity, may also stimulate further emissions of CO2 and N2O. One recommended strategy for mitigating these soil emissions is biochar amendment. However greater clarity on the interaction between earthworm activity and biochar, and subsequent impact on CO2 and N2O are needed to evaluate the environmental impacts of management practice. We measured N2O and CO2 emissions from a kaolinitic Acrisol in the presence or absence of earthworms, with and without application of two different biochars in a microcosm study.