Estimation of Potential Nitrogen Losses from the Different Rates of High Carbon Char Amended Soils.

Western Nebraska is considered as semi-arid region, where soils are characterized by low in carbon (C) or soil organic matter due to intensive farming, wind erosion and ever present risk of drought. High carbon industry by products (HCP), such as high C char, a by-product from the Western Sugar Cooperative in Nebraska. Char contains around 30% total C in addition to many essential plant nutrients. Due to high C to nitrogen (N) in soil caused by HCP input, it can be a potential source of soil amendment to enhance soil N retention and thereby, minimize environmental N losses. In an effort to examine the magnitude of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, ammonia (NH₃) volatilization or nitrate (NO₃^-) leaching after the addition of char, a laboratory experiment will be conducted in June 2017 at UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Two different soil types, sandy loam and loam will be treated with 6 different rates of char: 0, 6.8, 13.6, 20.4, 27.2 and 34 t ha^-1 of C, and those will be quadruplicated. Treatments effect on N₂O emissions, NH₃ volatilization and NO₃^- leaching will be periodically measured for 30 days, while maintaining the soil columns at field conditions for moisture and temperature. Additionally, residual N in soil will be measured at the end of experiment. The results of this study will generate data for better understanding of soil N dynamics in terms of N losses and residual N from different rates of char application. Furthermore, this study will provide insights necessary to establish potential environmental benefits of industry HCP.

Keywords: Soil carbon, char, nitrous oxide emissions, soil amendments, soil laboratory incubation