Interactive effects of rice-residue biochar and N-fertilizer on soil functions and crop biomass in contrasting soils

Abstract

There is limited understanding of the effects of rice residue biochar, particularly when applied in combination with nitrogen (N) fertilizer on soil fertility, soil C sequestration and crop productivity. A one-year pot experiment was established to examine effects of rice residue biochar (0, 10, 20 and 40 t ha-1) and N (0, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1) in soils with contrasting texture (loamy sand and sandy clay loam) in a wheat(maize cropping sequence. Biochar was only applied once before sowing wheat. Biochar alone or in combination with N did not significantly increase wheat biomass in both soils, whereas biomass of maize (next crop) was significantly increased from the residual effect of biochar, alone or in combination with N fertilizer. In both soils, electrical conductivity (EC) and pH, oxidisable organic carbon (OC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and available nutrients (NPK) increased with increasing rates of biochar addition. However, addition of N with biochar (cf. biochar alone) did not change pH and oxidisable OC values but increased EC significantly. After one year, the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks increased beyond the input of biochar-C, that is, by 0.1-2.1 t ha-1 and 1.8-4.8 t ha-1 in loamy sand and sandy clay loam, respectively, across all treatments. It may be concluded that the potential benefits of rice residue biochar to soil functions and crop production may encourage growers to minimise open field burning of straw, which is a common practice in the region.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-95162018005000201
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > School of Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering > Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI)
?? 50811700Jl ??
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Systems analytics research institute (SARI)
Additional Information: Copyright: The Authors This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License: The Authors
Uncontrolled Keywords: Biochar rates,wheat-maize cropping system,nitrogen levels,C stocks,available nutrients,soil texture
Publication ISSN: 0718-9516
Last Modified: 30 Sep 2024 11:30
Date Deposited: 22 Mar 2018 08:40
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2018-03-01
Published Online Date: 2018-02-07
Accepted Date: 2017-10-28
Authors: Singh Mavi, Manpreet
Singh, Gurwinder
Singh, Bhupinder Pal
Singh Sekhon, Bharpoo
Choudhary, Om Prakash
Sagi, Sudhakar
Berry, Robert (ORCID Profile 0000-0003-3395-046X)

Download

[img]

Version: Published Version

License: Creative Commons Attribution

| Preview

Export / Share Citation


Statistics

Additional statistics for this record