Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Soybean Cultivation Fertilized with Biochar from Various Utility Plants
Maciej Kuboń,
Marcin Niemiec,
Agnieszka Klimek-Kopyra,
Maciej Gliniak,
Jakub Sikora,
Urszula Sadowska,
Agnieszka Ewa Latawiec,
Rafał Kobyłecki,
Robert Zarzycki,
Andrzej Kacprzak,
Michał Wichliński
Affiliations
Maciej Kuboń
Department of Production Engineering, Logistics and Applied Computer Science, Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza Av. 21, 30-120 Krakow, Poland
Marcin Niemiec
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Economy, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza Av. 21, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
Agnieszka Klimek-Kopyra
Department of Agroecology and Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Economy, Mickiewicza Av. 21, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
Maciej Gliniak
Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, Power Engineering and Automation, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 116B, 30-149 Krakow, Poland
Jakub Sikora
Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, Power Engineering and Automation, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 116B, 30-149 Krakow, Poland
Urszula Sadowska
The Institute of Machinery Exploitation, Ergonomics and Production Processes, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 116B, 30-149 Krakow, Poland
Agnieszka Ewa Latawiec
Department of Production Engineering, Logistics and Applied Computer Science, Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza Av. 21, 30-120 Krakow, Poland
Rafał Kobyłecki
Department of Advanced Energy Technologies, Częstochowa University of Technology, Dąbrowskiego 69, 42-201 Częstochowa, Poland
Robert Zarzycki
Department of Advanced Energy Technologies, Częstochowa University of Technology, Dąbrowskiego 69, 42-201 Częstochowa, Poland
Andrzej Kacprzak
Department of Advanced Energy Technologies, Częstochowa University of Technology, Dąbrowskiego 69, 42-201 Częstochowa, Poland
Michał Wichliński
Department of Advanced Energy Technologies, Częstochowa University of Technology, Dąbrowskiego 69, 42-201 Częstochowa, Poland
Organic matter is an indispensable element of soil. Its quantity and quality affect its properties, e.g., structure, buffering, sorption capacity, air–water relations, and thermal properties. The purpose of the research was to assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in soybean cultivation, fertilized with biochar from various crops. Two experimental factors were included: the dose of biochar and the type of biochar used as per raw material used in its production. The adopted functional unit was 1 ton of soybeans. To reach the adopted goal, a strict field experiment was carried out. The total amount of GHG emitted by the cultivation was calculated according to the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The system boundaries included: GHG emissions from fertilizers and seeds used, GHG emissions related to biochar production, emissions related to fossil fuel combustion, and emissions related to the decomposition of crop residues and soil organic matter and the decomposition of biochar. The results of the research indicate a significant potential of biochar to reduce GHG emissions in agricultural production. From the environmental and production perspective, the addition of biochar at 60 Mg ha−1 is the most advantageous. A further increase in the addition of biochar was related to a decrease in plant yield and an increase in GHG emissions per functional unit of the product. The use of biochar in soybean cultivation resulted in a 25% reduction in GHG emissions compared to the object without the biochar addition. The amount of GHG emissions for soybeans ranged from 846.9 to 1260.1 kg of CO2/Mg. The use of biochar from forest biomass resulted in a higher yield, 12% on average, compared to sunflower husk biochar. The introduction of biochar to soils can be an effective improvement in the economic and environmental efficiency of plant production, as it increases the use of nutrients by the plant and intensifies carbon sequestration in soils.
