Effect of biochar application rate on soil physical and hydraulic properties of a sandy loam

Biochar is used as a soil amendment for improving soil quality and enhancing carbon sequestration. In this study, a loamy sand soil was amended at different rates (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% v/v) of biochar, and its physical and hydraulic properties were analyzed, including particle density, bulk density, porosity, infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and volumetric water content. The wilting rate of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grown in soil amended with various levels of biochar was evaluated on a scale of 0–10. Statistical analyses were conducted using linear regression. The results showed that bulk density decreased linearly (R² = 0.997) from 1.325 to 0.363 g cm^?3 while the particle density decreased (R² = 0.915) from 2.65 to 1.60 g cm^?3 with increased biochar amendment, with porosity increasing (R² = 0.994) from 0.500 to 0.773 cm³ cm^?3. The mean volumetric water content ranged from 3.90 to 14.00 cm³ cm^?3, while the wilting rate of tomato ranged from 4.67 to 9.50, respectively, for the non-amended soil and 100% biochar-amended soil. These results strongly suggest positive improvement of soil physical and hydraulic properties following addition of biochar amendment.     

Spatial variability of physico-chemical properties and hydraulic characteristics of a gravelly calcareous soil

Due to the existence of gravelly soils and the lack of sufficient research on such soils, this study was carried out on a gravelly calcareous soil. Selected physico–chemical and hydraulic soil attributes were determined at 69 points on a nested-sampling design. Hydraulic characteristics including unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K _ψ) and sorptivity coefficient (S) at six applied tensions of 0 to 0.2 m, and sorptive number (α) and macroscopic capillary length (λ) at five applied tensions of 0.03 to 0.2 m were determined using a tension disc infiltrometer. Hydraulic and chemical soil attributes were the highest and the lowest variants, respectively. The maximum and minimum values for the coefficient of variation (CV) in all the measured physico-chemical and hydraulic soil attributes were obtained for α_0.2 and soil pH, respectively. Minimum, maximum, mean and variance values of K _ψ, S and α decreased as applied tension increased. Although the pattern was reversed for λ. The majority of soil attributes showed the spatial structure with dominant spherical and exponential models for physico-chemical and hydraulic attributes, respectively. Range values of semi-variograms were obtained between 4.6 m (for α_0.03) and 211 m (for clay, gravel content and soluble Mg). In general, range values were 99.60, 82.05 and 40.2 m for physical, chemical and hydraulic soil attributes, respectively, indicating that the physical soil attributes influenced neighboring values over greater distances than the other soil attributes. This enables soil scientists to use measured soil physical data over greater distances to estimate attributes in the unsampled locations.     

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.     

Effects of biochar and poultry manure on soil properties,growth, yield and quality of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium Schott) grown in sandy soil

ABSTRACT

Field experiments were conducted during the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons, to evaluate the effects of biochar (B) and poultry manure (PM) on soil physical and chemical properties, leaf nutrient concentrations, growth, mineral composition and corm and cormel yield of cocoyam. The experiment each year consisted of 4 × 2 factorial combinations of B (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha^?1) and PM (0 and 7.5 t ha^?1). Results of the study indicated that in both years, the application of B and PM alone, and in combination, improved soil physical and chemical properties, leaf nutrient concentrations, growth, mineral composition and corm and cormel yield of cocoyam. There was a significant interaction effect of B and PM (B x PM) which was adduced to the ability of the B to increase PM-use efficiency and promote better use of the nutrients in the PM. It was found that combination of 30 t ha^?1 B and 7.5 t ha^?1 PM (B₃₀+ PM_7.5) gave the highest corm and cormel yield of cocoyam compared with other treatments. The combination of 30 t ha^?1 B and 7.5 t ha^?1 PM (B₃₀+ PM_7.5) exhibited the highest impact and is therefore recommended for soil sustainability and cocoyam productivity on sandy soil.     

施用生物炭对紫色土坡耕地耕层土壤水力学性质的影响

该研究通过野外坡耕地小区施用1%秸秆生物炭1年后的对比试验,揭示生物炭对川中丘陵区紫色土耕作层土壤水力学参数、大孔隙度及其对饱和导水率的贡献率所产生的影响。试验设对照区与施用生物炭区2个处理,各处理有3个平行小区,耕作层土壤分为表层和亚表层(2~7和7~12 cm)。比较2个处理小区试验结果,可以发现:1)施用生物炭导致植物难以利用的土壤滞留水和易流失的结构性孔隙水的含量(θstr)下降,而基质性孔隙中植物有效水含量显著提高(P0.05),由(0.058±0.003)cm3/cm3增加至(0.085±0.002)cm3/cm3;2)表层和亚表层土壤中对产流起主要贡献的半径125μm的总有效孔隙度分别平均增加54%和8%,其中孔径500μm的孔隙增加最为明显,高达110%和355%;3)表层和亚表层土壤的饱和导水率分别平均增加45%和35%。研究证明,施用生物炭,一方面,能增加土壤有效水的持水量,有利于植物抗旱;另一方面,提高土壤导水率,有利于水分入渗,从而减少地表径流及土壤侵蚀的发生。     

添加生物质炭对红壤水稻土有机碳矿化和微生物生物量的影响

通过室内培育试验,研究了添加生物质炭对江西红壤水稻土有机碳矿化和微生物生物量碳、氮含量的影响。结果表明:红壤有机碳矿化速率在培育第2天达最大值后迅速降低,培养7天后下降缓慢并趋于平稳;添加生物质炭降低了土壤有机碳的矿化速率和累积矿化量,培养结束时,不加生物质炭的对照处理中有机碳的累积矿化量分别比添加0.5%和1.0%生物质炭的处理高10.0%和10.8%。此外,生物质炭的加入显著提高了土壤微生物生物量,添加0.5%生物质炭处理的土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量分别比对照高111.5%～250.6%和11.6%～97.6%,添加1.0%生物质炭处理的土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量分别比对照高58.9%～243.6%和55.9%～110.4%。相同处理中,干旱的水分条件下(40%田间持水量)微生物生物量要高于湿润的水分条件(70%田间持水量)。同时,添加0.5%和1.0%的生物质炭使土壤代谢熵分别降低2.4%和26.8%,微生物商减少了43.7%和31.7%。     

土壤颗粒分布体积分形维数与数量分形维数之间的关系

土壤的体积颗粒分布(PSD)可用于同时确定数量分形维数(DN)和体积分形维数(DV)。以往的试验和理论研究均未直接比较DV和DN的关系。为建立DV和DN的关系并分析其参数的敏感程度,在中国各地取了12种不同质地土壤,利用激光粒度仪进行了测定。提出了含3个参数Rupper(颗粒半径的上限),Ri(第i个半径)和Rlower(半径下限)的DV-DN理论关系,该关系可说明为什么DN可能大于3。在未调整的幂定律范围内(PLR),DV的幂定律半径为38.6～85.8μm,DN的幂定律半径为53.2～358μm,估算的DV值(2.18～2.69)比DN值(2.38～3.19)小。调整后的PLR比未调整的窄。在调整的PLRs范围内,估算的DV值变化范围为2.11～2.56,而DN变化范围为2.28～3.02。调整和未调整PLRs得出的DV和DN的差异说明,Rupper,Rlower,Ri和Rlower/Rupper均可能影响DV与DN关系,有必要进行参数的敏感性分析。进行敏感性分析可基于敏感系数(C)来鉴别DV-DN关系中各参数改变所引起的DV和DN相对变化,从而找出对该关系影响最大的参数。就不同情况下计算的C值而言,Rupper是影响DN值的最重要参数,小的Rupper值可能导致估算DN的准确度降低。PLR范围越大,DN的估算越准确。根据DV估算DN的相对误差的绝对值在12%范围内,说明得出的DV-DN理论关系是正确的。     

Effect of crop residue biochar on soil acidity amelioration in strongly acidic tea garden soils

Strongly acidic soil (e.g. pH < 5.0) is detrimental to tea productivity and quality. Wheat, rice and peanut biochar produced at low temperature (max 300 °C) and differing in alkalinity content were incorporated into Xuan‐cheng (Ultisol; initial pH_{soil/water = 1/2.5} 4.12) and Ying‐tan soil (Ultisol; initial pH _{soil/water = 1/2.5} 4.75) at 10 and 20 g/kg (w/w) to quantify their liming effect and evaluate their effectiveness for acidity amelioration of tea garden soils. After a 65‐day incubation at 25 °C, biochar application significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil pH and exchangeable cations and reduced Al saturation of both tea soils. Association of H⁺ ions with biochar and decarboxylation processes was likely to be the main factor neutralizing soil acidity. Further, biochar application reduced acidity production from the N cycle. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in exchangeable cations and reductions in exchangeable acidity and Al saturation were observed as the rate of biochar increased, but there were no further effects on soil pH. The lack of change in soil pH at the higher biochar rate may be due to the displacement of exchangeable acidity and the high buffering capacity of biochar, thereby retarding a further liming effect. Hence, a significant linear correlation between reduced exchangeable acidity and alkalinity balance was found in biochar‐amended soils (P < 0.05). Low‐temperature biochar of crop residues is suggested as a potential amendment to ameliorate acidic tea garden soils.     

Effects of soil properties and trace metals on urease activities of calcareous soils

A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between urease activity and some physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of soils from central Iran. Inhibitory effects of Cr, Cd, and Pb on urease activity were also studied. Results indicated that no significant difference was observed between urease activity of field-moist and air-dried soils. Soil organic C and total N correlated highly significantly with urease activity, with r values of 0.899*** and 0.797***, respectively. There was also a significant correlation between urease activity and the number of bacteria grown on urea-agar media, with r value of 0.470*. A significant negative correlation (r =–0.492*) was observed between urease activity and electrical conductivity of saturation paste extracts. There were no significant correlations between urease activity and soil textural properties, pH, calcium carbonate equivalent, cation exchange capacity, and populations of soil bacteria on nutrient agar and population of soil fungi on potato dextrose agar. Both Cd and Pb inhibited urease activity to a similar extent and to a greater extent than did Cr.     

机械压实对复垦土壤粒径分布多重分形特征的影响

在高潜水位矿区复垦施工现场,运用多重分形理论研究不同碾压次数下复垦土壤粒径分布特征,以阐明机械压实对复垦土壤粒径分布非均匀性和异质性的影响。结果表明:机械碾压在46.8%~99.9%程度上解释0~20和20~40 cm土层土壤粒径分布特征的变化,随着碾压次数增加,复垦土壤颗粒呈细粒化趋势,容量维D(0)随之减小,表征粒径分布范围减小;奇异谱对称性Δf随之增加,表征粒径分布不对称性增加;信息维D(1)、信息维/容量维D(1)/D(0)、关联维D(2)和奇异谱谱宽Δα随之波动变化,表征粒径分布集中程度、局部密集程度和均匀性波动变化。研究发现D(1)和D(1)/D(0),D(2)和Δα相关系数分别0.767(P0.01)和-0.488(P0.05),在表征复垦土壤粒径分布集中程度和均匀性上具有相似作用,多重分形参数可多角度描述机械碾压过程中土壤粒径分布的细微差别,其中D(0)、Δα和Δf能够灵敏反映复垦土壤紧实度变化,这为深入研究复垦土壤压实问题提供一种精确分析方法。     

Effects of rice husk biochar on selected soil properties and nitrate leaching in loamy sand and clay soil

Biochar is a product of pyrolysis of biomass in the absence of oxygen and has a high potential to sequester carbon into more stable soil organic carbon (OC). Despite the large number of studies on biochar and soil properties, few studies have investigated the effects of biochar in contrasting soils. The current research was conducted to evaluate the effects of different biochar levels (0 (as control), 1% and 3%) on several soil physiochemical properties and nitrate leaching in two soil types (loamy sand and clay) under greenhouse conditions and wet-dry cycles. The experiment was performed using a randomized design with three levels of biochar produced from rice husks at 500 °C in three replications. Cation exchange capacity increased significantly, by 20% and 30% in 1% and 3% biochar-amended loamy sand soil, respectively, and increases were 9% and 19% in 1% and 3% biochar-amended clay soil, respectively. Loamy sand soil did not show improvement in aggregate indices, including mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter, water stable aggregates and fractal dimension, which was contrary to the results for the clay soil. Rice husk biochar application at the both rates decreased nitrate leaching in the clay soil more than in the loamy sand. Our study highlights the importance of soil type in determining the value of biochar as a soil amendment to improve soil properties, particularly soil aggregation and reduced nitrate leaching. The benefits of the biochar in the clay soil were greater than in the loamy sand soil.     

Impacts of biochar and processed poultry manure,applied to a calcareous soil,on the growth of bean and maize

Direct use of poultry manure on agricultural lands may cause environmental concerns, so there is a need to establish the suitability of the application of biochar derived from poultry manure for calcareous soil chemical properties and plant growth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of processed poultry manure (0, 5, 10 and 20 g/kg) and its biochar (0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 g/kg) on soil chemical properties of a calcareous soil and growth of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and maize (Zea mays) plants. In the incubation experiment, both processed poultry manure (PPM) and biochar decreased pH and the concentration of plant‐available Fe of soil but increased plant‐available P, Zn, Cu and Mn concentrations. PPM and biochar increased the concentrations of exchangeable cations (K, Ca and Mg) in soil. PPM and biochar applications increased the growth of maize and bean plants. PPM and biochar resulted in increased concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn in bean plants. In maize plants, PPM and biochar applications increased the N, P, K, Zn, Cu and Mn but decreased the Ca and Mg concentrations. Results of this study reveal that poultry manure biochar can be used effectively for agricultural purposes.     

毛乌素沙地风沙土粒径和矿物组成对固定态铵含量的影响

固定态铵是土壤氮素的一种重要形态,对植物生长具有十分重要的作用;然而,风沙土中固定态铵的含量及其影响因素目前并不清楚,限制着对沙地土壤肥力来源及其维持机制的认识。该研究测定了毛乌素沙地裸沙地、沙柳(Salix psammophila)和油蒿(Artemisiaordosica)林地风沙土固定态铵的含量,并分析了土壤粒径及矿物组成对其的影响。结果显示,1)研究区土壤固定态铵平均含量为18.63 mg/kg,占土壤氮库的8.77%,不同植被下土壤中固定态铵含量存在明显差别,油蒿林地土壤固定态铵含量(23.03±1.88mg/kg)显著高于裸沙地(16.63±0.61mg/kg)和沙柳林地(16.82±1.25 mg/kg);2)风沙土粒径组成与固定态铵含量显著相关,粒径越细,固定态铵含量越高,粒径越粗,含量越低;3)风沙土矿物组成与固定态铵含量间无显著关系。研究表明,毛乌素沙地风沙土中固定态铵含量取决于土壤物理构成而非矿物化学组成,植被主要通过影响粒径组成而影响其含量。固定态铵是荒漠土壤肥力的重要组成部分,通过合理的植被建设增加土壤细粒物质,有利于提高固定态铵含量,对土地荒漠化治理和生物生...     

牛粪和生物炭对苹果根系生长、土壤特性和氮素利用的影响

以两年生红富士/平邑甜茶苹果为试材,采用15N同位素示踪技术,研究牛粪与生物炭不同配比对苹果根系生长、土壤特性和氮素吸收利用的影响,为苹果生产中合理施肥及可持续发展提供依据。试验共设6个处理:对照(CK)、100%牛粪(T1)、75%牛粪+25%生物炭(T2)、50%牛粪+50%生物炭(T3)、25%牛粪+75%生物炭(T4)和100%生物炭(T5)。结果表明,牛粪和生物炭混施可显著改善土壤理化性状,增加土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量,降低土壤容重。苹果根际土壤中的微生物均以细菌占绝对优势,放线菌次之,真菌含量最少;添加牛粪和生物炭均显著提高了根际土壤的细菌、放线菌和真菌数量,其中T2处理细菌、放线菌和真菌数量均达到最高。牛粪和生物炭混施还可促进苹果根系生长,根尖数、根表面积和根系活力等指标均在T2处理达到最高,分别较对照提高47.90%、33.47%、44.67%。表明T2处理可显著促进苹果根系的生长和根系活力的提高。与对照相比,牛粪和生物炭混合处理显著提高了苹果各器官的Ndff值、全氮量和15N吸收量,提高了15N利用率和15N残留率,降低了15N损失率。各处理15N利用率和15N残留率趋势为牛粪和生物炭混合处理最高,单施牛粪或生物炭处理次之,对照最低; 15N损失率呈相反的变化趋势。其中以T2处理效果最好,15N利用率和15N残留率最高, 15N损失率最低, 15N利用率较对照提高5.51%, 15N损失率较对照降低14.52%。综合分析认为, 75%牛粪+25%生物炭处理(T2)对苹果根系生长、土壤特性和氮素吸收利用的效果最好。     

农田土壤颗粒尺寸分布分维及颗粒体积分数的空间变异性

盐渍土膜下滴灌过程中的土壤理化性质存在空间变异性,对灌溉管理有一定影响。该文根据3个不同尺度下土壤采样及颗粒尺寸分布（PSD）测定结果,探讨了土壤PSD分维和颗粒体积分数之间的定量关系,分析了各尺度和综合尺度下土壤PSD分维和颗粒体积分数的经典统计特征和地质统计特征,根据颗粒体积分数的半方差函数计算了不同尺度颗粒体积分数的分形维,并做出了等值线图。研究表明,土壤PSD分维与黏粒的体积分数呈正相关关系,黏粒体积分数增大引起PSD分维增加的原因在于细颗粒的比表面积比粗颗粒的大;各尺度土壤PSD分维及颗粒体积分数均无强变异特征;不同尺度下土壤PSD分形维的半方差函数中块金和基台值均非常低;50 m尺度土壤PSD分维和黏粒体积分数的等值线图具有类似的集中度和走势,而砂粒体积分数和粉粒体积分数则具有相反的集中度和走势。该研究说明土壤PSD分维和颗粒体积分数都有一定的尺度依赖性。     

土柱尺寸对扰动黏壤土饱和导水率的影响

土壤饱和导水率Ks是最基本的水力参数之一,而已知实验室内其值的确定受土柱尺寸的影响.以关中的塿土为研究对象,在室内,采用定水头法,研究5～30 cm内6个不同土柱尺寸对扰动黏壤土Ka测定的影响.结果表明：随着时间的延伸,Ks逐渐减小,其值最初降幅较大,其后趋于稳定,且在5 ～ 30 cm土柱直径范围内,Ks随着土柱直径的变大,扰动黏壤土的Ks递增,二者线性相关,y=0.000 4x＋0.003 7（R2=0.965 1）.研究结果可为测定Ks合理测定时间段及合理尺寸的选择提供参考.     

香蕉茎秆及其生物炭对珠江三角洲土壤团聚体特征的影响

为了探究施用香蕉茎秆(蕉秆)及其制备的生物炭对珠江三角洲农田土壤肥力的影响,本文通过土壤培养和盆栽试验,研究了施用0.5%、1.0%和2.0%蕉秆和水稻秸秆(稻秆)及其生物炭后,土壤中不同粒级水稳性团聚体的组成,并采用团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、分形维数(D)和平均重量比表面积(MWSSA)等评价团聚体的稳定性。结果表明:1)珠江三角洲农田土壤水稳定性团聚体以0.25 mm微团聚体为主,占团聚体比例29.80%～52.52%;1～0.5mm团聚体次之,占18.19%～20.08%。2)施用1.0%、2.0%蕉秆和2.0%稻秆显著增加0.25 mm土壤团聚体总量,并显著提高土壤团聚体水稳定性;与不施用有机物料对照相比,团聚体MWD分别增加45.60%、62.37%和65.50%,GMD分别增加43.45%、55.34%和60.66%,D分别降低2.23%、2.32%和2.78%, MWSSA分别降低18.14%、20.09%和23.01%。3)MWD、GMD与 5mm、5～2 mm和2～1 mm团聚体所占比例呈极显著或显著正相关,与0.25 mm微团聚体所占比例呈极显著负相关; D、MWSSA与0.25 mm微团聚体所占比例呈极显著正相关,与5 mm、5～2 mm和2～1 mm团聚体所占比例呈极显著或显著负相关。4)综合主成分和差异显著性分析结果表明,施用2.0%和1.0%蕉秆提高土壤团聚体稳定性效果佳,均与施用2.0%稻秆没有显著差异,而施用蕉秆生物炭和稻秆生物炭短期内不能提高土壤团聚体稳定性。研究结果可为蕉秆废弃物资源化利用、提高土壤肥力提供参考依据。