Influence of grass root density on gas permeability and water retention in water hyacinth-based biochar amended soil

The present study focuses on the effect of root density on gas permeability and water retention in biochar-amended soil used as a cover material in landfills. Biochar amendment of soil is important measurement in landfill cover, while vegetation is an important for ecological restoration. Despite its importance, little attention has been given to the adaptation of vegetated biochar-amended soil in landfill cover. The interactions between the biochar, vegetation, and soil concerning the gas permeability remain unknown, which may lead to unexpectedly increased waste gas emissions in landfill covers. To enhance the utilization efficiency of biochar amendment and vegetation techniques in landfill covers, further investigation of their coupled effects on gas permeability and water retention is necessary. Four different treatments were applied to manufacture series of soil columns: bare soil (BS), biochar-soil composite (BSC), vegetated biochar-soil composite with low planting density (VBSCL) and high planting density (VBSCH). The soil water characteristic curve and gas permeability were observed under natural wetting and drying cycles. The results showed that VBSCL increased gas permeability by 142% as compared to BSC. VBSCH enhanced gas permeability by 168% as compared to BSC. This was due to the spreading and decaying root systems forming preferential pathways for gas transfer. Additionally, VBSCL and VBSCH made around a 10% increase in volume water content at the whole suction range, while BSC just enhanced around 20% water content at the low suction range (less than 10 kPa). The combination of roots and biochar have significantly enhanced water retention during entire suction range due to capillarity.