Effects of biochar application on greenhouse gas emissions,carbon sequestration and crop growth in coastal saline soil

To evaluate the benefits of application of biochar to coastal saline soil for climate change mitigation, the effects on soil organic carbon (SOC), greenhouse gases (GHGs) and crop yields were investigated. Biochar was applied at 16 t ha^?1 to study its effects on crop growth (Experiment I). The effects of biochar (0, 3.2, 16 and 32 t ha^?1) and corn stalk (7.8 t ha^?1) on SOC and GHGs were studied using ¹³C stable isotope technology and a static chamber method, respectively (Experiment II). Biochar increased grain mass per plant of the wheat by 27.7% and increased SOC without influencing non‐biochar SOC. On average, 92.3% of the biochar carbon and 16.8% of corn‐stalk carbon were sequestered into the soil within 1 year. The cumulative emissions of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O were not affected significantly by biochar but cornstalk application increased N₂O emissions by 17.5%. The global warming mitigation potential of the biochar treatments (?3.84 to ?3.17 t CO₂‐eq. ha^?1 t^?1 C) was greater than that of the corn stalk treatment (?0.11 t CO₂‐eq ha^?1 t^?1 C). These results suggest that biochar application improves saline soil productivity and soil carbon sequestration without increasing GHG emissions.     

Effects of biochar addition on greenhouse gas emissions during freeze–thaw cycles in a black soil region,Northeast China

As global warming intensifies, the soil environment in middle to high latitudes will undergo more extensive and frequent freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs), which will significantly affect the carbon and nitrogen cycles of soil ecosystems and aggravate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Biochar can increase soil organic carbon storage and mitigate climate change. To effectively control GHG emissions, soil supplemented with biochar at different application rates (0%, 2%, 4% and 6% [w/w]) under different numbers of FTCs (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12) was selected as the research object. The soil GHG emission characteristics in different experimental treatments and their relationships with soil physical and chemical properties were determined. Our results showed that N₂O and CO₂ emissions were promoted during FTCs, with values of 3.13–50.37 and 16.22–135.50 μg m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. The order of N₂O and CO₂ emissions with respect to biochar application rate was as follows: 2% > 0% > 4% > 6%. CH₄ emissions were negative during FTCs, varying from −1.62 to −10.59 μg m⁻² h⁻¹, and negative CH₄ emissions were promoted by biochar. Correlation analysis showed that N₂O, CO₂ and CH₄ emissions were significantly correlated with pH, soil moisture and soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and ${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$–N contents (p < .01). The conceptual path model demonstrated that GHG emissions were significantly influenced by FTCs, moisture, SOM and biochar application rate. Our results indicate that the effects of FTCs on GHG emissions were greater than those of biochar application. Biochar application rates of 4% or 6% should be considered in the future to reduce soil GHG emissions in the black soil region of Northeast China. Our results can help provide a theoretical basis and effective strategy to reduce soil GHG emissions during FTCs in seasonally frozen regions.     

The effect of biochar addition on N2O and CO2 emissions from a sandy loam soil – The role of soil aeration

Biochar application to soil has significant potential as a climate change mitigation strategy, due to its recalcitrant C content and observed effect to suppress soil greenhouse gas emissions such as nitrous oxide (N₂O). Increased soil aeration following biochar amendment may contribute to this suppression.Soil cores from a Miscanthus X. giganteus plantation were amended with hardwood biochar at a rate of 2% dry soil weight (22 t ha⁻¹). The cores were incubated at three different temperatures (4, 10 and 16 °C) for 126 days, maintained field moist and half subjected to periodic wetting events. Cumulative N₂O production was consistently suppressed by at least 49% with biochar amendment within 48 h of wetting at 10 and 16 °C. We concluded that hardwood biochar suppressed soil N₂O emissions following wetting at a range of field-relevant temperatures over four months. We hypothesised that this was due to biochar increasing soil aeration at relatively high moisture contents by increasing the water holding capacity (WHC) of the soil; however, this hypothesis was rejected.We found that 5% and 10% biochar amendment increased soil WHC. Also, 10% biochar amendment decreased bulk density of the soil. Sealed incubations were performed with biochar added at 0–10 % of dry soil weight and wetted to a uniform 87% WHC (78% WFPS). Cumulative N₂O production within 60 h of wetting was 19, 19, 73 and 98% lower than the biochar-free control in the 1, 2, 5 and 10% biochar treatments respectively. We conclude that high levels of biochar amendment may change soil physical properties, but that the enhancement of soil aeration by biochar incorporation makes only a minimal contribution to the suppression of N₂O emissions from a sandy loam soil. We suggest that microbial or physical immobilisation of NO₃⁻ in soil following biochar addition may significantly contribute to the suppression of soil N₂O emissions.     

Impact of biochar addition to soil on greenhouse gas emissions following pig manure application

The application of biochar produced from wood and crop residues, such as sawdust, straw, sugar bagasse and rice hulls, to highly weathered soils under tropical conditions has been shown to influence soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, there is a lack of data concerning GHG emissions from soils amended with biochar derived from manure, and from soils outside tropical and subtropical regions. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect on emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) following the addition, at a rate of 18 t ha⁻¹, of two different types of biochar to an Irish tillage soil. A soil column experiment was designed to compare three treatments (n = 8): (1) non-amended soil (2) soil mixed with biochar derived from the separated solid fraction of anaerobically digested pig manure and (3) soil mixed with biochar derived from Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis). The soil columns were incubated at 10 °C and 75% relative humidity, and leached with 80 mL distilled water, twice per week. Following 10 weeks of incubation, pig manure, equivalent to 170 kg nitrogen ha⁻¹ and 36 kg phosphorus ha⁻¹, was applied to half of the columns in each treatment (n = 4). Gaseous emissions were analysed for 28 days following manure application. Biochar addition to the soil increased N₂O emissions in the pig manure-amended column, most likely as a result of increased denitrification caused by higher water filled pore space and organic carbon (C) contents. Biochar addition to soil also increased CO₂ emissions. This was caused by increased rates of C mineralisation in these columns, either due to mineralisation of the labile C added with the biochar, or through increased mineralisation of the soil organic matter.     

Biochar amendment of chromium-polluted paddy soil suppresses greenhouse gas emissions and decreases chromium uptake by rice grain

Purpose

Soil chromium (Cr) pollution has received substantial attention owing to related food chain health risks and possible promotion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The aim of the present study was to develop a promising remediation technology to alleviate Cr bioavailability and decrease GHG emissions in Cr-polluted paddy soil.

Materials and methods

We investigated the potential role of biochar amendment in decreasing soil CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emissions, as well in reducing Cr uptake by rice grains at application rates of 0 t ha^?1 (CK), 20 t ha^?1 (BC20), and 40 t ha^?1 (BC40) in Cr-polluted paddy soil in southeastern China. In addition, the soil aggregate size distribution, soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration of soil aggregates, soil available Cr concentration, and rice yield were analyzed after harvesting.

Results and discussion

Biochar amendment significantly reduced CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emission fluxes. Compared to CK, total C emissions in the BC20 and BC40 treatments decreased by 9.94% and 17.13% for CO₂-C, by 30.46% and 37.10% for CH₄-C, and by 34.24% and 37.49% for N₂O-N, respectively. Biochar amendment increased the proportion of both the 2000–200 μm and 200–20 μm size fractions in the soil aggregate distribution. Accordingly, the organic carbon concentration of these fractions increased, which increased the total SOC. Moreover, biochar amendment significantly decreased soil available Cr concentration and total Cr content of the rice grains by 33.6% and 14.81% in BC20 and 48.1% and 33.33% in BC40, respectively. Rice yield did not differ significantly between biochar amendment treatment and that of CK.

Conclusions

Biochar application reduced GHG emissions in paddy soil, which was attributed to its comprehensive effect on the soil properties, soil microbial community, and soil aggregates, as well as on the mobility of Cr. Overall, the present study demonstrates that biochar has a great potential to enhance soil carbon sequestration while reducing Cr accumulation in rice grains from Cr-polluted rice paddies.

     

Biochar suppresses N2O emissions while maintaining N availability in a sandy loam soil

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) from agricultural soil is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Biochar amendment can contribute to climate change mitigation by suppressing emissions of N₂O from soil, although the mechanisms underlying this effect are poorly understood. We investigated the effect of biochar on soil N₂O emissions and N cycling processes by quantifying soil N immobilisation, denitrification, nitrification and mineralisation rates using ¹⁵N pool dilution techniques and the FLUAZ numerical calculation model. We then examined whether biochar amendment affected N₂O emissions and the availability and transformations of N in soils.Our results show that biochar suppressed cumulative soil N₂O production by 91% in near-saturated, fertilised soils. Cumulative denitrification was reduced by 37%, which accounted for 85–95 % of soil N₂O emissions. We also found that physical/chemical and biological ammonium (NH₄⁺) immobilisation increased with biochar amendment but that nitrate (NO₃⁻) immobilisation decreased. We concluded that this immobilisation was insignificant compared to total soil inorganic N content. In contrast, soil N mineralisation significantly increased by 269% and nitrification by 34% in biochar-amended soil.These findings demonstrate that biochar amendment did not limit inorganic N availability to nitrifiers and denitrifiers, therefore limitations in soil NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ supply cannot explain the suppression of N₂O emissions. These results support the concept that biochar application to soil could significantly mitigate agricultural N₂O emissions through altering N transformations, and underpin efforts to develop climate-friendly agricultural management techniques.     

Effects of biochar addition on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions from two paddy soils

Impacts of biochar addition on nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from paddy soils are not well documented. Here, we have hypothesized that N₂O emissions from paddy soils could be depressed by biochar incorporation during the upland crop season without any effect on CO₂ emissions. Therefore, we have carried out the 60-day aerobic incubation experiment to investigate the influences of rice husk biochar incorporation (50 t ha⁻¹) into two typical paddy soils with or without nitrogen (N) fertilizer on N₂O and CO₂ evolution from soil. Biochar addition significantly decreased N₂O emissions during the 60-day period by 73.1% as an average value while the inhibition ranged from 51.4% to 93.5% (P < 0.05–0.01) in terms of cumulative emissions. Significant interactions were observed between biochar, N fertilizer, and soil type indicating that the effect of biochar addition on N₂O emissions was influenced by soil type. Moreover, biochar addition did not increase CO₂ emissions from both paddy soils (P > 0.05) in terms of cumulative emissions. Therefore, biochar can be added to paddy fields during the upland crop growing season to mitigate N₂O evolution and thus global warming.     

Effect of different biochar and fertilizer types on N2O and NO emissions

The use of biochar as soil improver and climate change mitigation strategy has gained much attention, although at present the effects of biochar on soil properties and greenhouse gas emissions are not completely understood. The objective of our incubation study was to investigate biochar's effect on N₂O and NO emissions from an agricultural Luvisol upon fertilizer (urea, NH₄Cl or KNO₃) application. Seven biochar types were used, which were produced from four different feedstocks pyrolyzed at various temperatures. At the end of the experiment, after 14 days of incubation, soil nitrate concentrations were decreased upon biochar addition in all fertilizer treatments by 6–16%. Biochar application decreased both cumulative N₂O (52–84%) and NO (47–67%) emissions compared to a corresponding treatment without biochar after urea and nitrate fertilizer application, and only NO emissions after ammonium application. N₂O emissions were more decreased at high compared to low pyrolysis temperature.Several hypotheses for our observations exist, which were assessed against current literature and discussed thoroughly. In our study, the decreased N₂O and NO emissions are expected to be mediated by multiple interacting phenomena such as stimulated NH₃ volatilization, microbial N immobilization, non-electrostatic sorption of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻, and biochar pH effects.     

生物质炭添加对不同pH紫色土硝化作用及N2O排放的影响

生物质炭施用可能对土壤中氮素硝化过程和N2O排放产生影响。本研究通过室内培养试验，研究铵态氮肥与玉米秸秆生物质炭施用量（0、1%、2%、5%、10%w/w）对酸性（pH=5.10）和石灰性紫色土（pH=8.15）氮素硝化率、净硝化速率及N2O排放特征的影响。结果表明：（1）酸性和石灰性紫色土生物质炭处理平均净硝化速率相比对照分别降低了33.7%~93.7%和7.5%~40.9%，生物质炭添加抑制了酸性和石灰性紫色土硝化作用，在酸性紫色土中生物质炭对氮素硝化作用的抑制作用随施用量的增加而增强，在石灰性紫色土中无明显规律。（2）与对照相比，酸性紫色土N2O累计排放量在1%生物质炭（1%BC）和2%生物质炭（2%BC）处理下降幅分别为15.9%和27.7%，在5%生物质炭（5%BC）和10%生物质炭（10%BC）处理下增幅分别为60.1%和93.2%。石灰性紫色土生物质炭各处理N2O累积排放量均显著高于对照。（3）综合考虑酸性紫色土1%、2%生物质炭量施用下对硝化作用抑制和N2O减排综合效果最好，在石灰性紫色土中无明显抑制和减排效果。     

Effects of biochar amendment on greenhouse gas emissions,net ecosystem carbon budget and properties of an acidic soil under intensive vegetable production

Biochar addition to soils has been frequently proposed as a means to increase soil fertility and carbon (C) sequestration. However, the effect of biochar addition on greenhouse gas emissions from intensively managed soils under vegetable production at the field scale is poorly understood. The effects of wheat straw biochar amendment with mineral fertilizer or an enhanced‐efficiency fertilizer (mixture of urea and nitrapyrin) on N₂O efflux and the net ecosystem C budget were investigated for an acidic soil in southeast China over a 1‐yr period. Biochar addition did not affect the annual N₂O emissions (26–28 kg N/ha), but reduced seasonal N₂O emissions during the cold period. Biochar increased soil organic C and CO₂ efflux on average by 61 and 19%, respectively. Biochar addition greatly increased C gain in the acidic soil (average 11.1 Mg C/ha) compared with treatments without biochar addition (average ?2.2 Mg C/ha). Biochar amendment did not increase yield‐scaled N₂O emissions after application of mineral fertilizer, but it decreased yield‐scaled N₂O by 15% after nitrapyrin addition. Our results suggest that biochar amendment of acidic soil under intensive vegetable cultivation contributes to soil C sequestration, but has only small effects on both plant growth and greenhouse gas emissions.     

Different rates of biochar application change 15N retention in soil and 15N utilization by maize

Biochar application to soil may impact soil nitrogen (N) dynamics, but the effects on N uptake and utilization by crop remain largely unknown, especially the effects of the rate of biochar application. To investigate the effects of biochar on soil ¹⁵N retention rate and ¹⁵N utilization efficiency (¹⁵NUE) by maize, a six-month ¹⁵N isotope tracer technique combined with in situ pot experiment was conducted in Mollisol. The experiment included four treatments: no biochar applied (CK) and biochar applied at the rates of 12 t ha⁻¹ (P12), 24 t ha⁻¹ (P24) and 48 t ha⁻¹ soil (P48). Compared with CK, biochar application reduced soil bulk density and ¹⁵N loss rate, and significantly improved total N and ¹⁵N retention amount in the 0–30 cm soil depth. The P24 treatment had the largest increase in ¹⁵N retention rate throughout the 0–40 cm depth. After biochar application, the ¹⁵N uptake and ¹⁵NUE were significantly increased in the grain and leaf, which promoted grain yields. Contrary to this, the P48 treatment appeared to lower ¹⁵N uptake and ¹⁵NUE compared with P12 and P24. In conclusion, biochar application improves the potential of the soil to retain N and the improvement in ¹⁵N uptake and utilization are more pronounced in maize leaves and grain. Moreover, biochar application promotes ¹⁵N utilization in maize plant and improves maize yield. However, when biochar application rate is high (i.e. P48 treatment), the ¹⁵N retention by the soil and ¹⁵N utilization by the maize are reduced markedly compared with P12 and P24.     

田间老化生物质炭减缓稻麦轮作系统土壤N2O排放能力降低的机理

作为一种重要的土壤调节剂,生物质炭在固碳减排,尤其在氧化亚氮(N₂O)减排方面的作用日益突出。本研究通过田间定位试验,分析稻麦轮作体系新鲜和田间不同时间老化生物质炭对N₂O排放的影响,旨在明确生物质炭对田间N₂O排放的持续效应及其作用机理。试验共设置5个处理,分别为CK（不施氮肥和生物质炭）、N（施氮肥）、NB_0y（氮肥+新鲜生物质炭）、NB_2y（氮肥+2年老化生物质炭）和NB_5y （氮肥+5年老化生物质炭）,动态监测稻麦轮作周期N₂O排放,测定水稻和小麦收获后土壤理化性质和氮循环功能基因丰度。结果表明,生物质炭显著降低土壤N2O累积排放量32.4% ~ 54.0%,且表现为NB_0y> NB_2y> NB_5y。与N处理相比,NB_0y, NB_2y 和NB_5y处理显著提高土壤pH值0.6 ~ 1.2个单位、土壤有机碳（SOC）含量21.4 % ~ 58.6%、硝态氮（NO_3^--N）含量1.7% ~ 31.3%,对土壤pH改善能力随着生物质炭老化而下降。生物质炭处理显著提高nosZ基因丰度54.9% ~ 249.4%,土壤 (nirS+nirK)/nosZ比值随着生物质炭老化而增加。相关性分析表明,土壤N₂O累积排放量与pH值呈显著负相关,与NO_3^--N含量和amoA-AOB（氨氧化细菌）丰度呈显著正相关。因此,新鲜和田间不同时间老化生物质炭均能显著改善土壤理化特性,降低土壤 N₂O排放且新鲜生物质炭的作用效果优于老化生物质炭。土壤NO_3^--N 含量及(nirS+nirK)/nosZ比值的增加,是导致老化生物质炭减排N₂O能力降低的主要原因。     

N2O fluxes from a Haplic Luvisol under intensive production of lettuce and cauliflower as affected by different N‐fertilization strategies

Vegetable‐production systems often show high soil mineral‐N contents and, thus, are potential sources for the release of the climate‐relevant trace gas N₂O from soils. Despite numerous investigations on N₂O fluxes, information on the impact of vegetable‐production systems on N₂O emissions in regions with winter frost is still rare. This present study aimed at measuring the annual N₂O emissions and the total yield of a lettuce–cauliflower rotation at different fertilization rates on a Haplic Luvisol in a region exposed to winter frost (S Germany). We measured N₂O emissions from plots fertilized with 0, 319, 401, and 528 kg N ha^–1 (where the latter three amounts represented a strongly reduced N‐fertilization strategy, a target value system [TVS] in Germany, and the N amount fertilized under good agricultural practices). The N₂O release from the treatments was 2.3, 5.7, 8.8, and 10.6 kg N₂O‐N ha^–1 y^–1, respectively. The corresponding emission factors calculated on the basis of the total N input ranged between 1.3% and 1.6%. Winter emission accounted for 45% of the annual emissions, and a major part occurred after the incorporation of cauliflower residues. The annual N₂O emission was positively correlated with the nitrate content of the top soil (0–25 cm) and with the N surpluses of the N balance. Reducing the amount of N fertilizer applied significantly reduced N₂O fluxes. Since there was no significant effect on yields if fertilization was reduced from 528 kg N ha^–1 according to “good agricultural practice” to 401 kg N ha^–1 determined by the TVS, we recommend this optimized fertilization strategy.     

Biochar mitigates N2O emissions by promoting complete denitrification in acidic and alkaline paddy soils

Biochar is an efficacious amendment for mitigating nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions in soils. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms responsible for reduced N₂O emissions by biochar in paddy soils remain inadequately elucidated. Here, using two typical paddy soils with contrasting pH values (5.40 and 7.56), the N₂ and N₂O fluxes and the associated functional genes were investigated in soil amended with varying amounts of biochar (0%, 0.5%, and 5%, weight/weight) via soil slurry incubation integrated with the N₂/Ar technique and qPCR analysis. The results showed that N₂O fluxes were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by 0.65–3.64 times following biochar amendment, concomitant with a significant (p < 0.05) increase in N₂ fluxes (5.47–46.14%) in both acidic and alkaline paddy soils. As a result, the N₂O/(N₂O + N₂) ratios were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by 1.53–4.65 fold in both soil types. In acidic paddy soils, the enhanced denitrification rates and the decreased N₂O/(N₂O + N₂) ratios exhibited a strong correlation with increased pH values. In alkaline paddy soil, these changes were ascribed to the enhanced nosZ Clade I gene abundance and nosZ/(nirS + nirK) ratio. Our findings reveal that biochar primarily mitigates N₂O emissions in paddy soils by promoting its reduction to N₂.     

生物炭改性黏土的渗水渗气特性及其函数关系

黏土中施加生物炭可改变土体的孔隙结构。生物炭掺量和干密度均会对土体的渗透系数产生影响,准确确定生物炭-黏土混合土的渗透系数对满足填埋场上覆层的功能需求就显得格外重要。采用自主研发设计的柔性壁水-气联合渗透测试装置,测定不同生物炭掺量和干密度的生物炭-黏土混合土的饱和渗透系数和渗气系数,得到生物炭掺量、干密度与渗气系数和渗水系数间的关系曲线。建立生物炭掺量和干密度双变化条件下的渗气渗水函数,并通过验证组验证该函数的适用性。研究结果表明：在干密度较小时,对比纯黏土的渗水率,添加5%、10%、15%和20%生物炭处理后的土样渗水系数k_w值分别为8.25×10^-17、8.89×10^-17、10.40×10^-17和18.25×10^-17 m²,掺20%生物炭土样的渗透率增加了将近一个数量级。渗气渗水函数基于易测定的渗气率作为自变量,同时又考虑了干密度和生物炭掺量的影响,能快速、准确地确定土样的渗水系数。结合验证组试验得出,利用该函数计算得到的渗水系数和试验实测值吻合程度较好,表明该函数具有一定的适用性。本研究结果可为快速、准确确定渗水系数,定量描述非饱和土孔隙中水气运动之间的相互影响提供理论支撑。     

Effects of bamboo biochar application on global warming in paddy fields in Ehime prefecture,Southern Japan

Biochar application can reduce global warming via carbon (C) sequestration in soils. However, there are few studies investigating its effects on greenhouse gases in rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddy fields throughout the year. In this study, a year-round field experiment was performed in rice paddy fields to investigate the effects of biochar application on methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and C budget. The study was conducted on three rice paddy fields in Ehime prefecture, Japan, for 2 years. Control (Co) and biochar (B) treatments, in which 2-cm size bamboo biochar (2 Mg ha^?1) was applied, were set up in the first year. CH₄ and N₂O emissions and heterotrophic respiration (Rh) were measured using a closed-chamber method. In the fallow season, the mean N₂O emission during the experimental period was significantly lower in B (67 g N ha^?1) than Co (147 g N ha^?1). However, the mean CH₄ emission was slightly higher in B (2.3 kg C ha^?1) than Co (1.2 kg C ha^?1) in fallow season. The water-filled pore space increased more during the fallow season in B than Co. In B, soil was reduced more than in Co due to increasing soil moisture, which decreased N₂O and increased CH₄ emissions in the fallow season. In the rice-growing season, the mean N₂O emission tended to be lower in B (?104 g N ha^?1) than Co (?13 g N ha^?1), while mean CH₄ emission was similar between B (183 kg C ha^?1) and Co (173 kg C ha^?1). Due to the C release from applied biochar and soil organic C in the first year, Rh in B was higher than that in Co. The net greenhouse gas emission for 2 years considering biochar C, plant residue C, CH₄ and N₂O emissions, and Rh was lower in B (5.53 Mg CO₂eq ha^?1) than Co (11.1 Mg CO₂eq ha^?1). Biochar application worked for C accumulation, increasing plant residue C input, and mitigating N₂O emission by improving soil environmental conditions. This suggests that bamboo biochar application in paddy fields could aid in mitigating global warming.     

Effect of biochar and nitrapyrin on nitrous oxide and nitric oxide emissions from a sandy loam soil cropped to maize

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined or individual effects of biochar and nitrapyrin (a nitrification inhibitor) on N₂O and NO emissions from a sandy loam soil cropped to maize. The study included nine treatments: addition of urea alone or combined with nitrapyrin to soils that had been amended with biochar at 0, 3, 6, and 12 t ha^?1 in the preceding year, and a control without the addition of N fertilizer. Peaks in N₂O and NO flux occurred simultaneously following fertilizer application and intense rainfall events, and the peak of NO flux was much higher than that of N₂O following application of basal fertilizer. Mean emission ratios of NO/N₂O ranged from 1.11 to 1.72, suggesting that N₂O was primarily derived from nitrification. Cumulative N₂O and NO emissions were 1.00 kg N₂O-N ha^?1 and 1.39 kg NO-N ha^?1 in the N treatment, respectively, decreasing to 0.81–0.85 kg N₂O-N ha^?1 and 1.31–1.35 kg NO-N ha^?1 in the biochar amended soils, respectively, while there was no significant difference among the treatments. NO emissions were significantly lower in the nitrapyrin treatments than in the N fertilization-alone treatments (P?<?0.05), but there was no effect on N₂O emissions. Neither biochar nor nitrapyrin amendment affected maize yield or N uptake. Overall, our results showed that biochar amendment in the preceding year had little effect on N₂O and NO emissions in the following year, while the nitrapyrin decreased NO, but not N₂O emissions, probably due to suppression of denitrification caused by the low soil moisture content.     

Carbon dioxide and gaseous nitrogen emissions from biochar‐amended soils under wastewater irrigated urban vegetable production of Burkina Faso and Ghana

To quantify carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) losses in soils of West African urban and peri‐urban agriculture (UPA) we measured fluxes of CO₂‐C, N₂O‐N, and NH₃‐N from irrigated fields in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and Tamale, Ghana, under different fertilization and (waste‐)water regimes. Compared with the unamended control, application of fertilizers increased average cumulative CO₂‐C emissions during eight cropping cycles in Ouagadougou by 103% and during seven cropping cycles in Tamale by 42%. Calculated total emissions measured across all cropping cycles reached 14 t C ha^?1 in Ouagadougou, accounting for 73% of the C applied as organic fertilizer over a period of two years at this site, and 9 t C ha^?1 in Tamale. Compared with unamended control plots, fertilizer application increased N₂O‐N emissions in Ouagadougou during different cropping cycles, ranging from 37 to 360%, while average NH₃‐N losses increased by 670%. Fertilizer application had no significant effects on N₂O‐N losses in Tamale. While wastewater irrigation did not significantly enhance CO₂‐C emissions in Ouagadougou, average CO₂‐C emissions in Tamale were 71% (1.6 t C ha^?1) higher on wastewater plots compared with those of the control (0.9 t C ha^?1). However, no significant effects of wastewater on N₂O‐N and NH₃‐N emissions were observed at either location. Although biochar did not affect N₂O‐N and NH₃‐N losses, the addition of biochar could contribute to reducing CO₂‐C emissions from urban garden soils. When related to crop production, CO₂‐C emissions were higher on control than on fertilized plots, but this was not the case for absolute CO₂‐C emissions.     

Annual emissions of nitrous oxide and nitric oxide from a wheat–maize cropping system on a silt loam calcareous soil in the North China Plain

Nitrogen amendment followed by flooding irrigation is a general management practice for a wheat–maize rotation in the North China Plain, which may favor nitrification and denitrification. Consequently, high emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) are hypothesized to occur. To test this hypothesis, we performed year-round field measurements of N₂O and NO fluxes from irrigated wheat–maize fields on a calcareous soil applied with all crop residues using a static, opaque chamber measuring system. To interpret the field data, laboratory experiments using intact soil cores with added carbon (glucose) and nitrogen (nitrate, ammonium) substrates were performed. Our field measurements showed that pulse emissions after fertilization and irrigation/rainfall contributed to 73% and 88% of the annual N₂O and NO emissions, respectively. Soil moisture and mineral nitrogen contents significantly affected the emissions of both gases. Annual emissions from fields fertilized at the conventional rate (600 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) totaled 4.0 ± 0.2 and 3.0 ± 0.2 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for N₂O and NO, respectively, while those from unfertilized fields were much lower (0.5 ± 0.02 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 0.4 ± 0.05 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively). Direct emission factors (EF_ds) of N₂O and NO for the fertilizer nitrogen were estimated to be 0.59 ± 0.04% and 0.44 ± 0.04%, respectively. By summarizing the results of our study and others, we recommended specific EF_ds (N₂O: 0.54 ± 0.09%; NO: 0.45 ± 0.04%) for estimating emissions from irrigated croplands on calcareous soils with organic carbon ranging from 5 to 16 g kg⁻¹. Nitrification dominated the processes driving the emissions of both gases following fertilization. It was evident that insufficient available carbon limited microbial denitrification and thus N₂O emission. This implicates that efforts to enhance carbon sink in calcareous soils likely increase their N₂O emissions.     

生物炭施用下中国农田土壤N2O排放的Meta分析

为明确施加生物炭对中国农田土壤N_2O排放的影响和主要控制因素,以公开发表的试验数据为研究对象,采用Meta-analysis法定量分析了施加生物炭条件下,气候、土壤性质、田间管理方式、生物炭性质与施加量对土壤N_2O排放的影响,并对各影响因素进行通径分析。结果表明,当年降雨量≥600 mm时,生物炭显著降低土壤N_2O排放量(P0.05),且随年降雨量的增加而增强;当年日照时数大于1 000 h时,生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果随年日照时数的增加而减弱。当土壤p H≥6.5时,生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果随土壤p H的增加呈先增后减趋势;在壤土中施加生物炭对N_2O的减排效果显著(P0.05),而砂土和黏土不显著(P0.05)。生物炭对覆膜土壤N_2O的减排效果优于不覆膜土壤;生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果随施氮肥量增加而减弱,而随生物炭比表面积的增加而增强。当生物炭C/N处于30~500时,生物炭施用下土壤N_2O排放量显著降低(P0.05);当生物炭施加量处于20~160 t×hm-2时,生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果随施加量增加而增强。生物炭对土壤N_2O减排的影响存在显著的区域性特征,对华南、华东、华中和东北地区影响显著(P0.05),而对西北地区不显著(P0.05);施氮肥量、生物炭施加量、年均温和年降雨量是影响生物炭减排效果的最主要因素,这些因素的相互作用共同影响生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果。该研究可为生物炭在我国农区的推广应用和农田N_2O减排提供参考。