Effect of biochar and nitrogen fertilizers on maize seedling growth and enzyme activity relating to nitrification |
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Authors: | Yuxuan Li Muhammad Riaz Hao Xia JiYuan Wang Xiangling Wang Cuncang Jiang |
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Institution: | 1. Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China;2. College of Resources and Environment, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China;3. Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
The Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecoagriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China |
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Abstract: | Maximizing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) involves synchronizing the interplay between nitrogen preferential crops and the nitrogen transformation pathways of soil. Biochar may benefit specific N-preference crops in relatively unsuitable soil environments; however, experimental data are lacking. This study tested eight treatments, consisting of four nitrogen treatments (N0 = control; N1 = NH4Cl; N2 = NaNO3; and N3 = 1:1 ratio of NH4+ and NO3?) each with biochar applied at 0% or 2% (w/w). The results show that biochar and/or nitrogen application enhanced maize seedling biomass and NO3?-based fertilizer resulted in higher seedling biomass than NH4+-based fertilizer. With the application of biochar and NH4+-based fertilizer, maize seedling biomass increased and soil NH4+-N content was significantly reduced compared with NH4Cl sole application. Correlation analysis and redundancy analysis revealed that SOC content and inorganic nitrogen content were the main factors influencing maize growth and N absorption. Biochar with or without nitrogen fertilizer (except N1 treatment) significantly increased β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) activity. Co-application treatments also resulted in higher vector length, an indicator of C limitation—the increment might add to the risk of microbial C limitation. The activity of ammonia monooxygenase (AMO), a key enzyme in nitrification, decreased with the co-application of biochar and nitrogen, suggesting the alteration of nitrogen transformation. |
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Keywords: | biochar extracellular enzyme N fertilizer forms N transformation vector model |
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