Controllability of runoff and soil loss from small plots treated by vinasse-produced biochar

Many different amendments, stabilizers, and conditioners are usually applied for soil and water conservation. Biochar is a carbon-enriched substance produced by thermal decomposition of organic material in the absence of oxygen with the goal to be used as a soil amendment. Biochar can be produced from a wide range of biomass sources including straw, wood, manure, and other organic wastes. Biochar has been demonstrated to restore soil fertility and crop production under many conditions, but less is known about the effects of its application on soil erosion and runoff control. Therefore, a rainfall simulation study, as a pioneer research, was conducted to evaluate the performance of the application of vinasse-produced biochar on the soil erosion control of a sandy clay loam soil packed in small-sized runoff 0.25-m2 plots with 3 replicates. The treatments were (i) no biochar (control), (ii) biochar (8tha−1) application at 24h before the rainfall simulation and (iii) biochar (8tha−1) application at 48h before the rainfall simulation. Rainfall was applied at 50mmh−1 for 15min. The mean change of effectiveness in time to runoff could be found in biochar application at 24 and 48h before simulation treatment with rate of +55.10% and +71.73%, respectively. In addition, the mean runoff volume 24 and 48h before simulation treatments decreased by 98.46% and 46.39%, respectively. The least soil loss (1.12±0.57g) and sediment concentration (1.44±0.48gl−1) occurred in the biochar-amended soil treated 48h before the rainfall simulation. In conclusion, the application of vinasse-produced biochar could effectively control runoff and soil loss. This study provided a new insight into the effects of biochar on runoff, soil loss, and sediment control due to water erosion in sandy clay loam soils.