Changes in microbial biomass, CH4 and CO2 emissions, and soil carbon content by fly ash co-applied with organic inputs with contrasting substrate quality under changing water regimes

Application of fine-textured and Ca-rich fly ash may be helpful in enhancing soil carbon content via protecting soil organic C (SOC) by organo-mineral complexation and via reducing CO2 emission by carbonation (e.g. formation of CaCO3). However, very limited information is available on the effects of fly ash application on gases loss of C and soil C content. In this study, to estimate the potential use of fly ash as a soil amendment for SOC enhancement purposes, the effects of fly ash application (0, 5, and 10 w/w %) on microbial biomass C (MBC), CH4 and CO2 emissions, and on soil C content were investigated. A 60-days incubation experiment was conducted with an acidic soil in the presence of organic input (pig manure compost, PMC; hairy vetch, HV) with contrasting substrate quality under changing water regime from water-logged to unsaturated via a transition period. Fly ash application did not affect MBC under water-unsaturated conditions, but reduced (P < 0.01) microbial growth under water-logged conditions, probably due to the increased solubility of a certain toxic element such as arsenic under the anaerobic conditions. Across the 60 days of incubation, the CO2 emission was reduced by fly ash regardless of organic input by 20.5-41.3%; meanwhile, a decline of CH4 emission by fly ash application was significant (P < 0.05) only in the HV treatment. Overall, fly ash application slowed down gases C loss and increased soil C content, probably due to the retardation of CH4 and CO2 emission as well as the addition of C contained in the fly ash. Biochemical (inhibition of microbial activity), chemical (formation of CaCO3 via carbonation), and physical (restriction of gas diffusion) mechanisms were suggested for the fly ash effects. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.