Effects of biochar application on nitrogen leaching, ammonia volatilization and nitrogen use efficiency in two distinct soils

Zunqi Liu ^[1] ; Tianyi He ^[1] ; Ting Cao ^[1] ; Tiexing Yang ^[1] ; Jun Meng ^[2] ; Wenfu Chen ^[1]
1. [1] Shenyang Agricultural University
  
  Shenyang Agricultural University
  
  China
2. [2] Liaoning Biochar Engineering & Technology Research Centre
Localización: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition, ISSN-e 0718-9516, ISSN 0718-9508, Vol. 17, Nº. 2, 2017, págs. 515-528
Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
- This study was conducted to determine the effect of biochar application on nitrogen (N) leaching, ammonia (NH3) volatilization, and fertilizer N use efficiency (NUE) in two soils with different properties (loamy and sandy). Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) incubation experiments (with 15N-enriched urea applied) and an N loss simulation study were conducted at biochar application rates of 2% and 4%. The results showed that 15N utilization increasedby 8.83-9.06% following the addition of biochar to sandy soil during the first season compared with the control. However, this significant effect was not observed in the loamy soil, in which significantly more urea-N was retained in the soil following biochar application. Furthermore, based on the results of the N leaching and NH3 volatilization experiments, 29.19% and 28.65% NO3-N leaching reductions were induced by 2% and 4% biochar amendments in loamy soil, decreasing the total inorganic N that was leached (NH4+-N plus NO3-N) by 26.46% and 26.82%, respectively. However, although the amount of leached NH4+-N decreased in biochar-amended sandy soil, the cumulative NH3 volatilizations were 14.18-20.05% higher than in the control, and 22.55% more NO3--N was leached from biochar-amended sandy soil, resulting in a negative effect on N retention. According to this study, biochar can be effectively used to improve the NUE in sandy soil and reduce N loss from loamy soil.