%0 Journal Article %1 roberts_biochar_2015 %A Roberts, David A. %A Paul, Nicholas A. %A Dworjanyn, Symon A. %A Bird, Michael I. %A Nys, Rocky de %D 2015 %J Scientific Reports %K imported %P 9665 %R 10.1038/srep09665 %T Biochar from commercially cultivated seaweed for soil amelioration %U https://www.nature.com/articles/srep09665 %V 5 %X Seaweed cultivation is a high growth industry that is primarily targeted at human food and hydrocolloid markets. However, seaweed biomass also offers a feedstock for the production of nutrient-rich biochar for soil amelioration. We provide the first data of biochar yield and characteristics from intensively cultivated seaweeds (Saccharina, Undaria and Sargassum – brown seaweeds, and Gracilaria, Kappaphycus and Eucheuma – red seaweeds). While there is some variability in biochar properties as a function of the origin of seaweed, there are several defining and consistent characteristics of seaweed biochar, in particular a relatively low C content and surface area but high yield, essential trace elements (N, P and K) and exchangeable cations (particularly K). The pH of seaweed biochar ranges from neutral (7) to alkaline (11), allowing for broad-spectrum applications in diverse soil types. We find that seaweed biochar is a unique material for soil amelioration that is consistently different to biochar derived from ligno-cellulosic feedstock. Blending of seaweed and ligno-cellulosic biochar could provide a soil ameliorant that combines a high fixed C content with a mineral-rich substrate to enhance crop productivity.

@article{roberts_biochar_2015, abstract = {Seaweed cultivation is a high growth industry that is primarily targeted at human food and hydrocolloid markets. However, seaweed biomass also offers a feedstock for the production of nutrient-rich biochar for soil amelioration. We provide the first data of biochar yield and characteristics from intensively cultivated seaweeds (Saccharina, Undaria and Sargassum – brown seaweeds, and Gracilaria, Kappaphycus and Eucheuma – red seaweeds). While there is some variability in biochar properties as a function of the origin of seaweed, there are several defining and consistent characteristics of seaweed biochar, in particular a relatively low C content and surface area but high yield, essential trace elements (N, P and K) and exchangeable cations (particularly K). The pH of seaweed biochar ranges from neutral (7) to alkaline (11), allowing for broad-spectrum applications in diverse soil types. We find that seaweed biochar is a unique material for soil amelioration that is consistently different to biochar derived from ligno-cellulosic feedstock. Blending of seaweed and ligno-cellulosic biochar could provide a soil ameliorant that combines a high fixed C content with a mineral-rich substrate to enhance crop productivity.}, added-at = {2018-12-12T20:35:48.000+0100}, author = {Roberts, David A. and Paul, Nicholas A. and Dworjanyn, Symon A. and Bird, Michael I. and Nys, Rocky de}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2eef62af9f47cd86b3c0035c53e1588ec/climatemorrow}, copyright = {2015 Nature Publishing Group}, doi = {10.1038/srep09665}, file = {Full Text PDF:C\:\\Users\\dmorr\\Zotero\\storage\\YWVDGAV7\\Roberts et al. - 2015 - Biochar from commercially cultivated seaweed for s.pdf:application/pdf;Snapshot:C\:\\Users\\dmorr\\Zotero\\storage\\RAFQC5JN\\srep09665.html:text/html}, interhash = {d44790e0cc256f4d2c4055e00c7d8bca}, intrahash = {eef62af9f47cd86b3c0035c53e1588ec}, issn = {2045-2322}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, keywords = {imported}, language = {en}, month = apr, pages = 9665, timestamp = {2018-12-12T20:35:48.000+0100}, title = {Biochar from commercially cultivated seaweed for soil amelioration}, url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/srep09665}, urldate = {2018-10-11}, volume = 5, year = 2015 }