Effects of cattle manure on selected soil physical properties of smallholder farms on two soils of Murewa,Zimbabwe

The effects of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer application on soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon were determined on clay and sandy soils of the Murewa smallholder farming area, Zimbabwe. Maize was grown in four fields termed homefields (HFs) and outfields (OFs) because of spatial variability induced by management practices and with the following fertility treatments: control (no fertility amelioration), 5, 15 and 25 t/ha cattle manure + 100 kg/ha N applied annually for seven consecutive years. The addition of cattle manure resulted in significant (P < 0.01) increases in SOC, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon in clay soils from at least the 5 t/ha cattle manure rate and was comparable between HFs and OFs on clay soils. Aggregate protected carbon in clay soils was significantly higher from the 15 and 25 t/ha cattle manure rates compared to the 5 t/ha cattle manure treatment. In contrast, only SOC was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with the addition of cattle manure on the sandy soils, while bulk density, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon were not significantly changed. Bulk density was also not significantly (P > 0.05) different on the clay soils. A significant and positive linear relationship (r² = 0.85) was found between SOC and macro‐aggregate stability, while an r² value of 0.82 was obtained between SOC and aggregate protected carbon on the clay soils. However, no regressions were performed on data from the sandy soils because of the lack of significant changes in soil physical properties. Application of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer significantly increased (P < 0.05) maize grain yield on both soil types. Results show that inorganic N‐fertilizer combined with cattle manure at 5–15 t/ha per yr is necessary to increase maize yields and SOC on sandy soils in Murewa, while at least 15 t/ha per yr cattle manure is required on the clay soils to improve physical properties in addition to maize yields and SOC.     

生物质炭与有机物料配施的土壤培肥效果及对玉米生长的影响

生物质炭作为一种多功能的土壤培肥材料被广泛应用,但其与传统有机物料的对比及配施研究还比较少。通过盆栽试验,研究了生物质炭与秸秆、发酵鸡粪单施及配施对壤质潮土和砂土养分含量、酶活性及玉米生长的影响,并采用主成分分析方法对3种有机物料的培肥效果进行综合评价。试验设6个处理,分别为不添加有机物料(CK)、添加生物质炭(BC)、小麦秸秆(WS)、发酵鸡粪(CM)、秸秆和生物质炭(WS+BC)、鸡粪和生物质炭(CM+BC)。研究结果表明,各处理均增加了砂土玉米生物量和株高,3种有机物料的提升幅度排序为:鸡粪生物质炭秸秆,鸡粪还可增加壤质潮土玉米生物量和株高。添加生物质炭和有机物料还可提高土壤有机质含量,其中生物质炭的提升幅度最大。此外,3种有机物料对土壤养分和酶活性的影响各异,单施鸡粪分别增加壤质潮土和砂土的碱解氮22.08%和26.67%,速效磷91.92%和53.65%,脲酶活性40.54%和36.94%;单施生物质炭分别增加壤质潮土和砂土速效磷83.52%和89.91%,速效钾79.38%和127.02%,过氧化氢酶活性3.41%和11.22%,却降低了土壤碱解氮含量,且与鸡粪配施后会抑制鸡粪中氮的有效性;单施秸秆分别增加壤质潮土和砂土速效钾49.48%和63.02%,β-葡糖苷酶活性51.86%和59.09%;生物质炭与鸡粪或秸秆配施可以更均衡地提升土壤肥力。通过主成分分析和相关分析发现,玉米生物量和株高与土壤氮、磷供应正变化的第2主成分(PC2)得分呈极显著正相关关系。因此,3种有机物料中,鸡粪对土壤氮、磷含量及相关酶活性影响最大;秸秆对土壤钾以及纤维素分解相关酶影响较大,而生物质炭对土壤肥力的提升作用更均衡,且土壤肥力综合得分最高。秸秆或鸡粪配施生物质炭可以更全面地提高土壤肥力。     

Enhancing phosphorus availability,soil organic carbon,maize productivity and farm profitability through biochar and organic–inorganic fertilizers in an irrigated maize agroecosystem under semi‐arid climate

Biochar amendments offer promising potential to improve soil fertility, soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yields; however, a limited research has explored these benefits of biochar in the arid and semi‐arid regions. This two‐year field study investigated the effects of Acacia tree biomass‐derived biochar, applied at 0 and 10 t ha^?1 rates with farmyard manure (FYM) or poultry manure (PM) and mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizer combinations (100 kg P ha^‐1), on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity, P use efficiency (PUE) and farm profitability. The application of biochar with organic–inorganic P fertilizers significantly increased soil P and SOC contents than the sole organic or inorganic P fertilizers. Addition of biochar and PM as 100% P source resulted in the highest soil P (104% increase over control) and SOC contents (203% higher than control). However, maize productivity and PUE were significantly higher under balanced P fertilizer (50% organic + 50% mineral fertilizer) with biochar and the increase was 110%, 94% and 170% than 100%‐FYM, 100%‐PM and 100% mineral fertilizer, respectively. Maize productivity and yield correlated significantly positively with soil P and SOC contents These positive effects were possibly due to the ability of biochar to improve soil properties, P availability from organic–inorganic fertilizers and SOC which resulted in higher PUE and maize productivity. Despite the significant positive relationship of PUE with net economic returns, biochar incorporation with PM and mineral fertilizer combination was economically profitable, whereas FYM along biochar was not profitable due to short duration of the field experiments.     

Maize growth responses to deep tillage, straw mulching and farmyard manure in coarse textured soils of N.W. India

Abstract. The effects of deep tillage, straw mulching and farmyard manure on maize growth in loamy sand and sandy loam soils were studied in experiments lasting three years. Treatments included all combinations of conventional tillage (10 cm deep) and deep tillage (35–40 cm deep), two farmyard manure rates (0 and 15 t/ha) and two mulch rates (0 and 6 t/ha), replicated three times in a randomixed block design.
Deep tillage decreased soil strength and caused deeper and denser rooting. Mulching decreased maximum soil temperature and kept the surface layers wetter resulting in better root growth. Farmyard manure also improved root growth, and the crop then extracted soil water more efficiently. All three treatments increased grain yield in the loamy sand, but in the sandy loam only tillage and farmyard manure increased yields significantly. Deep tillage and straw mulch effects varied with soil type and amount of rainfall in the growing season. In the loamy sand the mean responses to deep tillage and mulching were largest in a dry year. A tillage-mulch interaction was significant in the loamy sand.     

Farmer‐led maize biochar trials: Effect on crop yield and soil nutrients under conservation farming

In extensive farmer‐led trials practicing conservation farming (CF) in three regions of Zambia (Mongu: sandy soils; Kaoma: sandy or loamy sand soils; Mkushi: sandy loam or loamy soils), we studied the effects of biochar made of maize cobs (0, 2, and 6 t ha^?1 corresponding to 0, 0.8, and 2.5% per basin) at different fertilizer rates of NPK and urea on crop yield of maize (Zea mays) and groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea). Conservation farming in this case combines minimum tillage (how basins), crop rotation and residue retention. For the first time, the effect of biochar on in situ soil nutrient supply rates [determined by buried Plant Root Simulator (PRS?) exchange resins] was studied, as well as the effects of biochar on elemental composition of maize. Effects of 0–10% (w:w) biochar addition on soil physical and soil chemical properties were determined in the laboratory. At all sites there was a consistent positive response in crop yield upon the addition of biochar. However, due to a great variability between farms there were no significant differences in absolute yields between the treatments. In the sandy soils at Mongu, relative yields (i.e., percentage yield with biochar relative to the same fertilizer rate without biochar) of maize grains and maize stover were significantly increased at recommended fertilizer rates (232 ± 60%) and at half the recommended rate (128 ± 6%), respectively. In addition, biochar significantly increased concentrations of K and P in maize stover. In situ soil nutrient supply rates as measured by PRS?‐probes were highly spatially variable with no consistent effects of the different treatments in the three regions. By contrast, the fraction of plant available water (Vol.‐%) significantly increased upon the addition of biochar in all three soils. The increase caused by 10% biochar addition was of factor 2.5 in Mongu (from 4.5% to 11.2%) and 1.2 in both Kaoma (from 14.7% to 18.2%) and Mkushi (from 18.2% to 22.7%). Cation exchange capacity, pH, and exchangeable K significantly increased upon the addition of 10% (w:w) biochar in all three regions with a subsequent increase in base saturation and decrease of available Al³⁺. Our findings suggest that the addition of biochar in combination with CF might have a positive impact on crop growth and that this positive effect is mainly caused by increases in plant‐available water and decreased available Al.     

Growth and phosphorus uptake of maize cultivated alone,in mixed culture with other crops or after incorporation of their residues

Intercropping or rotating of P‐efficient crop species which mobilize sparingly soluble P by their root exudates can have beneficial effects on growth and P uptake of P‐inefficient species. We aimed at studying the effect of intercropping or incorporating of crop residues of P‐efficient crops on the components of maize P‐uptake, i.e. the root‐system size and P influx (P‐uptake rate per unit root length). This was studied in 3 pot experiments in a low‐P sandy soil. In the first experiment, maize was intercropped with white lupine, sugar beet or oilseed rape, and with groundnut in the second experiment. In the third experiment, maize was grown after incorporating the crop residues of white lupine, sugar beet or oilseed rape. Maize growth and yield was strongly inhibited when intercropped with white lupine, sugar beet or oilseed rape, probably because of competition for nutrients. But with groundnut as the accompanying species, maize yield was increased by a factor of 3, mainly because of an enhanced P influx. Crop residues of oilseed rape and sugar beet increased the yield of maize by factors 2 and 1.6, respectively, because of a 3 and 2 times higher P uptake as compared to maize grown after maize without incorporation of crop residue. The reason for the higher maize P‐uptake after oilseed rape was an 11 times higher P influx as compared to maize without crop residues, and after sugar beet residues because of an enhanced root growth and a 4 times higher P influx. Lupine residues did not improve maize growth, mainly because of a low P influx, which was even less than that of maize grown without crop residues. The soil solution P concentration and calcium acetate lactate‐extractable P (CAL P) measured in this study did not reflect the P availability as indicated by the plants (P uptake, P influx). This indicates that other mechanisms such as P mobilization in the rhizosphere by root exudates or cell‐wall components were responsible for the increased P availability. These mechanisms need further investigation.     

Cattle manure and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer application effects on soil hydraulic properties and maize yield of two soils of Murewa district,Zimbabwe

This study set out to determine the effects of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer application on the hydraulic properties and maize yield of a clay and sandy soil in a smallholder farming area of Zimbabwe. Four fields classified as homefields (HF: more fertile and closer to homesteads) and outfields (OF: less fertile and further from the homesteads) were selected on clay and sandy soil. They were subjected to four treatments, control (no fertility amendment), 5, 15 and 25 t/ha cattle manure + 100 kg/ha N (as ammonium nitrate) for 7 years. A two‐way randomized complete block design was used with fertility and field type as the two factors. Clay soil hydraulic properties, which included density of macropores with a diameter >300 μm, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, steady‐state infiltration rate, moisture retention under low suction and maize grain yield, were significantly improved (P < 0.05) by fertility management compared with the control and were generally comparable between the HF and OF. Fertility management significantly improved maize grain yield on sandy soils but did not enhance hydraulic parameters, thereby indicating poor responsiveness in structural build‐up. On the other hand, significantly different hydraulic parameters between the sandy soil HF and OF suggested effects of other factors not related to soil fertility and field type treatments. We therefore concluded that application of a high rate (25 t/ha) of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer is beneficial for fertility restoration to the degraded OFs with associated comparable hydraulic properties on HFs and OFs on clay soil, unlike on sandy soil.     

Biochar and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer effects on maize (Zea mays L.) nitrogen use and yield in moist semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major nitrogen consuming crop, as nitrogen is considered as an important determinant of its grain yield. Though inorganic fertilizer is widely recommended, the problem of high cost and inaccessibility limit its usage by resource poor farmers. Biochar application provides a new technology for both soil fertility and crop productivity improvement. With limited research on the suitability of biochar for soil improvement practices in Ghana, our objective was to determine the synergistic effect of biochar and inorganic fertilizer on the nitrogen uptake, nitrogen use efficiency, and yield of maize. Field experiment was conducted in Ghana, KNUST, in the major and minor raining seasons. Biochar was applied at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 t ha^?1 and fertilizer N applied at 0, 45, and 90?kg ha^?1. The results showed significantly (p??1 supplemented with 45?kg N ha^?1 increased N uptake by 200%, and grain yield by 213% and 160% relative to the control in the minor and major rainy seasons, respectively. The greater yield of maize recorded on biochar-amended soils was attributed to the improved N uptake and nitrogen use efficiency. In conclusion, our finding suggests that the application of combined biochar and inorganic N fertilizer is not only ecologically prudent, but economically viable and a practicable alternative to current farmers’ practice of cultivating maize in Ghana.     

不同有机肥及用量对矿区复垦土壤有效磷含量及供磷特性的影响

为研究有机肥培肥复垦土壤过程中磷的有效性如何变化、不同有机肥在什么施磷水平下能使作物取得最大生产效率以及合理培肥土壤,依托采煤塌陷定位培肥试验基地(山西省孝义市偏城村),在4个磷水平下(0,25,50,100 kg/hm²)研究不同肥料(鸡粪、猪粪、牛粪和化肥)对玉米产量及土壤速效磷含量的动态变化。经过2年的田间试验,结果表明:(1)施用有机肥和化肥均能显著提高玉米籽粒产量,随着施磷量的增加,玉米籽粒产量呈先增加后基本不变的趋势,通过构建2年磷肥效应方程发现,化肥、鸡粪、猪粪和牛粪处理的最佳施磷量范围分别为67.54~83.02,24.91~38.65,26.10~29.26,50.33~58.38 kg/hm²,可见,3种有机肥推荐施磷量均小于化肥处理;(2)玉米吸磷量和磷肥利用率在各施磷水平下均表现为鸡粪≥猪粪>牛粪>化肥。玉米吸磷量随施磷水平的增加呈先增后基本不变的趋势,磷肥当季回收率表现为随施磷水平的增加呈下降趋势;(3)连续施肥2年后,不同施肥处理在采煤塌陷区复垦土壤上影响的土壤有效磷深度不同。其中,化肥处理在50,100 kg/hm²磷水平下显著提高0—60 cm土层Olsen-P含量;鸡粪处理在50 kg/hm²磷水平下显著提高0—40 cm土层Olsen-P含量,而100 kg/hm²磷水平下显著提高Olsen-P含量到60 cm土层;猪粪处理在50,100 kg/hm²磷水平下显著提高0—40 cm土层Olsen-P含量;牛粪处理仅对表层Olsen-P含量有影响。总之,不同有机肥处理之间对作物生长和土壤Olsen-P含量的影响均表现为鸡粪≥猪粪>牛粪,且不同有机肥对于新复垦土壤的推荐施肥量不同,鸡粪和猪粪的推荐施磷量最少,其次为牛粪处理。     

Combining the phosphate solubilizing microorganisms with biochar types in order to improve safflower yield and soil enzyme activity

ABSTRACT

Soil amendment with biochar could increase soil microbial activity and biomass. This study contributes to an understanding of the synergistic effects of biochar and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms on safflower yield and soil microbial activity enhancement. In the split plot experiments that repeated in two years, the main factor was biochar types included cow manure, wheat straw, wood biochar and control. The sub factors were phosphate solubilizing microorganisms included the mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum and G. mosseae), Bacillus lentus, Pseudomonas fluorescence and control. The highest levels of dehydrogenase, urease activity and microbial biomass carbon were obtained from the cow manure biochar. The maximum activity of acid phosphatase was in the plots inoculated by P. fluorescence in all treatments, whether using or not using biochar. The grain yield of plants inoculated with B. lentus and P. fluorescence was in the same statistical group. The highest grain yield equal to 1527 kg/ha was obtained when using cow manure biochar. According to the results, the application of cow manure biochar and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms, especially mycorrhiza species, can be recommended for improving soil biological traits and safflower yield traits.     

Effect of phosphorus‐enriched biochar and poultry manure on growth and mineral composition of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv.) grown in alkaline soil

The use of pyrolysis products of manures gives positive effects on soil fertility, crop productivity and soil carbon sequestration. However, effects depend on soil characteristics, plant species and the raw material from which the biochar is derived, and some negative effects of biochar have been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of poultry manure (PM)‐derived biochar on the growth, and P, N, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn concentration of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plant. The treatments as follows: control, 20 g/kg poultry manure (PM), 20 g/kg phosphorus‐enriched poultry manure (PM+P), 10 g/kg Biochar (B), 10 g/kg Biochar+P (B+P). Application of biochar and PM significantly increased lettuce growth, and P‐enriched forms of PM and biochar gave the higher growth. PM has no significant effect on the N concentrations but biochar and, P‐enriched PM and biochar treatments significantly increased N concentrations. Phosphorus concentration of the lettuce leaves significantly increased by PM and biochar treatments. Plant K concentrations were also increased by PM and biochar, and their P‐enriched forms. Leaf Ca and Mg concentrations were lower in Biochar and B+P treatments than that of PM and PM+P treatments. Compared to control and PM treatments, biochar applications reduced Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu concentrations of the lettuce plants. The results of this study indicated that application of biochar to alkaline soil is beneficial for crop growth and N, P and K nutrition, but it certainly reduced Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn nutrition of lettuce.     

长期不同培肥措施下玉米产量稳定性及棕壤氮素累积分布特征

  【目的】  研究长期不同培肥措施下玉米产量的稳定性、可持续性和土壤矿质氮累积分布、微生物量氮含量特征,为制定合理的施肥措施和保证东北棕壤地区农业的可持续绿色发展提供理论依据。  【方法】  棕壤肥料长期定位试验始于1979年。选取其中的12个处理:不施肥对照(CK)、单施氮肥(N)、氮磷肥配施(NP)、氮磷钾肥配施(NPK)、低量有机肥(M1)及其与化肥配施(M1N、M1NP和M1NPK)、高量有机肥(M2)及其与化肥配施(M2N、M2NP和M2NPK),分析长期施肥下玉米产量的变化,并于2018年在玉米收获期采集植株和土壤样品,阐明玉米地上部吸氮量变化,0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮分布、累积及微生物量氮含量的差异。  【结果】  长期不同施肥下玉米产量呈波动变化,且在1979—1998年内玉米产量变化趋势较平稳,1999—2018年内变幅较大。M1NPK、M2NPK处理玉米平均产量最高,在试验前20年较NPK处理分别提高了10.3%、11.7%,后20年分别提高了17.1%、19.4%。随着试验年限增加,玉米产量的稳定性和可持续性增加,有机肥配施化肥各处理高于单施化肥处理,在试验前20年和后20年玉米产量的可持续性指数(SYI)介于0.43～0.58和0.50～0.67,低量有机肥配施处理高于高量有机肥配施处理。配施有机肥各处理肥料贡献率高于单施化肥处理,且试验后20年M1NPK处理肥料贡献率最高,达54%。施肥40年后(2018年)玉米地上部吸氮量以M1NPK处理最高(302 kg/hm2),与M2NPK处理差异不显著。配施低量有机肥玉米收获期80—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮含量较低,M1NPK处理 0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮贮量为127 kg/hm2,显著低于M1N和M1NP处理。而高量有机肥配施各处理0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮贮量较化肥试区和低量有机肥试区分别增加了324.5%和172.9%,增加了氮素损失风险。此外,长期配施有机肥处理0—40 cm土层土壤微生物量氮含量增加,但低量和高量有机肥试区各处理间差异不显著。  【结论】  长期不同培肥措施会影响玉米产量的稳定性和可持续性,改变土壤氮素分布和累积,进而影响玉米氮素吸收。低量有机肥(13.5 t/hm2)配施氮磷钾化肥可促进玉米生长和氮素吸收,降低0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮贮量,降低氮素损失风险,增加微生物量氮含量,较高的微生物量氮又可作为有机氮库来增加土壤供氮并固持易损失的矿质氮和肥料氮,以保证玉米的高产稳产和环境友好。     

Combined effects of biochar and fertilizer application on maize production in dependence on the cultivation method in a sub-humid climate

ABSTRACT

Low, erratic rainfall amounts and restricted accessibility of chemical fertilizer for rural farmers in developing countries may have negative effects on crop production. Agricultural methods like biochar applications, fertilizer microdosing and tied ridging can help to mitigate these constraints, but have rarely been studied in combination and under varying water availability. A field trial was conducted in split-plot design over two contrasting cropping seasons in 2016 and 2017 in Tanzania to study the effect of these agricultural methods on maize grain yield, biomass, leaf area index, plant height and soil moisture content. In both seasons each with contrasting irrigation frequencies, fertilizer microdosing increased the grain yield of maize. Biochar alone affected the yield only at high application rates (10 t/ha) and low irrigation frequency. However, when combined with fertilizer microdosing the yield effect of biochar was more pronounced. For example, combining 5 t/ha biochar with fertilizer microdosing under flat tillage increased yield by 170% compared to the control without biochar and fertilizers. Tied ridges increased soil moisture content and tended to increase maize yield compared to flat tillage, whereas biochar application resulted in significantly higher soil moisture contents. Fertilizer microdosing with biochar application can be recommended to improve maize yields mainly under flat tillage.     

Comparative evaluation of broiler and layer poultry manure for greenhouse lettuce production

Abstract

Disposing poultry manure from broiler and layer flocks by its incorporation into the soil was evaluated on greenhouse lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Paris Island cos). Floor litter that contains the manure mixed with sawdust and wood shaving, was 8 weeks old from broilers and one year old from layers. Broiler manure had 19% moisture and 5.5% N, while layer manure had 22% moisture and 3.7% N. Application of 27.5 ton/ha broiler manure and 18 ton/ha layer manure, on wet basis, gave comparable yield of lettuce as did an application of 100 kg N/ha from NH₄NO₃ in 2 split applications, and an unfertilized treatment. The manure was effective for lettuce growth 10 months after its incorporation in the soil. The highest yield was in manure treated plots, however, the lack of significant response in yield is due to the sufficient levels of soil NO₃‐N and available P. There was no effect on soil EC, pH, and available P due to the treatments; however, soil NO3‐N was significantly increased under all fertilized treatments. Leaf concentration of PO4‐P was not affected by the treatments, but NO3‐N was significantly increased under all fertilized treatments. It may be concluded that broiler and layer poultry manure when disposed of by soil incorporation, are equally effective as a fertilizer for a leafy crop such as lettuce.     

Biochar properties and soil type drive the uptake of macro‐ and micronutrients in maize (Zea mays L.)

The use of biochar in agriculture is a promising management tool to mitigate soil degradation and anthropogenic climate change. However, biochar effects on soil nutrient bioavailability are complex and several concurrent processes affecting nutrient bioavailability can occur in biochar‐amended soils. In a short‐term pot experiment, the concentration of N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn, B, Fe, and Na in the shoots of maize grown in three different soil types [sandy soil (S1), sandy loam (S2), and sandy clay loam (S3)] was investigated. The soils were either unamended or amended with two different biochars [wheat straw biochar (SBC) or pine wood biochar (WBC)] at two P fertilizer regimes (–/+ P). We used three‐way ANOVA and Principal Component Analyses (PCA) of transformed ionomic data to identify the effects of biochar, soil, and P fertilizer on the shoot nutrient concentrations. Three distinct effects of biochar on the shoot ionome were detected: (1) both biochars added excess K to all three soils causing an antagonistic effect on the uptake of Ca and Mg in maize shoots. (2) Mn uptake was affected by biochar with varying effects depending on the combined effect of biochar and soil properties. (3) WBC increased maize uptake of B, despite the fact that WBC increased soil pH and added additional calcite to the soil, which would be expected to reduce B bioavailability. The results of this study highlight the fact that the bioavailability of several macro and micronutrients is affected by biochar application to soil and that these effects depend on the combined effect of biochar and soils with different properties.     

覆膜与生物炭对青藏高原马铃薯水分利用效率和产量的影响

生物炭具有比表面积大,吸附力强等特点,该研究尝试在地膜覆盖基础上引入生物炭技术,利用生物炭的保水保肥效应以及固碳培肥效果,解决地膜覆膜带来的土壤地力下降及后期减产问题。2019年通过设置施炭(B)、覆膜(M)、施炭+覆膜(M+B)和对照(CK)共4个处理的大田试验,探究覆膜和生物炭对青海省东部农业区马铃薯生长、耗水特征和产量的影响。结果表明:块茎膨大期和淀粉积累期是植株干物质量增加的主要时期,覆膜在块茎膨大期即有显著的促进效果,生物炭仅在淀粉积累后期和成熟期促进效果显著。施炭和覆膜均能显著提高收获期植株总干物质量,施炭比覆膜的根冠比显著提高。马铃薯苗期耗水量最高,在块茎膨大期以前日均耗水量在3 mm/d以上。覆膜显著增加了作物总耗水量和土壤储水消耗量,总耗水量比对照多出35mm,施炭和覆膜均显著提高了水分利用效率。施炭和覆膜均能显著提高马铃薯块茎产量(P0.05),覆膜显著增加了大薯的数量和产量。无论施炭与否,覆膜均显著增产,而施炭仅在不覆膜下显著增产,覆膜增产效应是施炭的2.2倍。覆膜能显著提高马铃薯净收益,但施炭降低了净收益,主要是由于生物炭的成本较高。该研究为青藏高原东部农区马铃薯高产栽培提供科学依据。     

15N-labelled fertiliser recovery by maize (Zea mays L.) and leaching of nutrients as influenced by oil palm empty fruit bunch biochar in a mini-lysimeter under controlled tropical environment

Converting oil palm empty fruit bunches into biochar is an alternative waste management method and has strong potential to improve N fertiliser use efficiency in agriculture. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of oil palm empty fruit bunch biochar (EFBB) in improving recovery of ¹⁵N-labelled nitrogen fertiliser by maize (Zea mays L.) and leaching of mineral N and K. An experiment was conducted in a mini-lysimeter system with randomised complete block design layout and six replications under controlled environment in a rain shelter. Each mini-lysimeter was filled with 20 kg of sandy loam soil before adding EFBB (0, 5, 10 and 20 Mg ha^?1). The N source used was (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ at 80 kg N ha^?1 (2 at% ¹⁵N excess). Maize was irrigated to induce leaching every 4 days. Maize plant and soils were sampled 58 days after sowing (tasselling stage). Application of EFBB significantly reduced cumulative leachate volume and mineral N leaching. Soils applied with EFBB significantly improved ¹⁵N fertiliser recovery in maize and dry matter weight. This study shows that EFBB has the potential to be applied on highly weathered acidic soil as an amendment to improve fertiliser efficiency and crop growth.     

Impact of integrated application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizers on maize growth and nitrogen recovery in alkaline calcareous soil

Biochar application has been considered as a rich source of carbon which helps to improve the physico-chemical properties and fertility of the soil. In Pakistan, excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer is considered a serious problem, so it is of vital importance to examine the effect of biochar on soil with varying doses of nitrogen fertilizer. We hypothesized that addition of biochar to an alkaline calcareous soil could improve not only soil quality and crop yield but also nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), reducing the loss of nitrogen (N) in the form of denitrification, ammonia volatilization, and nitrate leaching. A pot experiment was conducted under 2-factorial completely randomized design having three replications to evaluate the NUE in biochar amended calcareous soil. Biochar was applied at the rate of 0%, 1% and 2% (w/w) in pots filled with 17 kg of soil using various levels of N (0%, 50% and 100% of recommended dose) on maize (Zea mays L.). Several soil quality indicators, uptake, and yield of maize were monitored. Biochar application significantly decreased soil pH, increased water-holding capacity, total organic carbon, maize yield, stomatal conductance, and nitrogen uptake in plant. The results of the study indicated that addition of biochar could not only decrease the use of inorganic fertilizers by improving its quality and yield as in our case biochar at the rate of 1% and N at the rate of 50% provided optimum output minimizing the economic cost eventually.     

Why short‐term biochar application has no yield benefits: evidence from three field‐grown crops

This study determines the impact of biochar, as a supplement, on soil nutrient availability and yields for three crops within commercial management systems in a temperate environment. Central to the suggestion of biochar benefits is an increase in soil nutrient availability, and here, we test this idea by examining crop nutrient uptake, growth and yields of field‐grown spring barley, strawberry and potato. Biochar produced from Castanea sativa wood was incorporated into a sandy loam soil at 0, 20 and 50 t/ha as a supplement to standard crop management practice. Fertilizer was applied normally for each of the three crops. The biochar contained substantial concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, P, but only K occurred at high concentration in water‐soluble analysis. The large concentration of extractable K resulted in a significant increase of extractable K in soil. The increased availability of K in biochar‐treated soil, with the exception of spring barley grain and the leaves of strawberry during the second year, did not induce greater tissue concentrations. In general, biochar application rate had little influence on the tissue concentration of any nutrient, irrespective of crop or sampling date. There was, however, evidence of a biochar‐induced increase in tissue Mo and a decrease in Mn, in strawberry, which could be linked to soil alkalinization as could the reduction in extractable soil P. These experiments show a single rotational application of biochar to soil had no effect on the growth or harvest yield of any of these field‐grown crops. Heavy metal analysis revealed small concentrations in the biochar (i.e. <10 μg/g biochar), with the largest levels for Ni, V and Cu.     

Short-term green manure and tillage management effects on maize yield and soil quality in an Andisol

Andisols are very important land resources supporting high human population density. Maize (Zea mays L.) production on Andisols located in the Purhepecha Region of central Mexico is representative of the highlands conditions of Mexico and Latin America. Farmers struggle with low crop yield and low soil nutrient availability. A 2-year field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of green manures either tilled into the soil (CT) or cut and left on the surface as a mulch (ZT), on maize yield and soil quality. Green manure treatments were: vetch (Vicia sativa L.), oat (Avena sativa L.) and none. No extra N was added to maize. Green manure and tillage had a significant effect on maize grain yield, N uptake and P uptake with CT vetch performing better than ZT oat. Soil organic C and total N were significantly higher under ZT than under CT management. Soils with vetch had higher P concentration. Soil under ZT oat had the highest infiltration rate and penetration resistance compared with other treatments. There appears to be a trade off between soil productivity and intrinsic soil physical properties among soil treatments.