Biochar and biochar with N-fertilizer affect soil N2O emission in Haplic Luvisol

Horak, J., Kondrlova, E., Igaz, D., Simansky, V., Felber, R., Lukac, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8535-6334, Balashov, E. and Bushkina, N. (2017) Biochar and biochar with N-fertilizer affect soil N2O emission in Haplic Luvisol. Biologia, 72 (9). pp. 995-1001. ISSN 0006-3088 doi: 10.1515/biolog-2017-0109

Abstract/Summary

The benefits of biochar application are well described in tropical soils, however there is a dearth of information on its effects in agricultural temperate soils. An interesting and little explored interaction may occur in an intensive agriculture setting; biochar addition may modify the effect of commonplace N-fertilization.We conducted a field experiment to study the effects of biochar application at the rate of 0, 10 and 20 t ha−1 (B0, B10 and B20) in combination with 0, 40 and 80 kg N ha−1 of N-fertilizer (N0, N40, N80).We followed nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, analysed a series of soil physicochemical properties and measured barley yield in a Haplic Luvisol in Central Europe. Seasonal cumulative N2O emissions from B10N0 and B20N0 treatments decreased by 27 and 25% respectively, when compared to B0N0. Cumulative N2O emissions from N40 and N80 combined with B10 and B20 were also lower by 21, 19 and 25, 32%, respectively compared to controls B0N40 and B0N80. Average pH was significantly increased by biochar addition. Increased soil pH and reduces NO−3 content seen in biochar treatments could be the two possible mechanisms responsible for reduced N2O emissions. There was a statistically significant increase of soil water content in B20N0 treatment compared to B0N0 control, possibly as a result of larger surface area and the presence of microspores having altered pore size distribution and water-holding capacity of the soil. Application of biochar at the rate of 10 t ha−1 had a positive effect on spring barley grain yield.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/72373
Identification Number/DOI	10.1515/biolog-2017-0109
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary Research Centres (IDRCs) > Walker Institute Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Sustainable Land Management > Centre for Agri-environmental Research (CAER)
Publisher	De Gruyter
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