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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2014, Vol. 13 Issue (3): 525-532    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60708-X
Section 2: Crop Improvement by iochar Soil Amendment Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Crop Yield and Soil Properties in the First 3 Years After Biochar Application to a Calcareous Soil
 LIANG Feng, LI Gui-tong, LIN Qi-mei , ZHAO Xiao-rong
College of Resources and Environment, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
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摘要  It remains unclear whether biochar applications to calcareous soils can improve soil fertility and crop yield. A long-term field experiment was established in 2009 so as to determine the effect of biochar on crop yield and soil properties in a calcareous soil. Five treatments were: 1) straw incorporation; 2) straw incorporation with inorganic fertilizer; 3), 4) and 5) straw incorporation with inorganic fertilizer, and biochar at 30, 60, and 90 t ha-1, respectively. The annual yield of either winter wheat or summer maize was not increased significantly following biochar application, whereas the cumulative yield over the first 4 growing seasons was significantly increased. Soil pH, measured in situ, was increased by a maximum of 0.35 units after 2 yr following biochar application. After 3 yr, soil bulk density significantly decreased while soil water holding capacity increased with adding biochar of 90 t ha-1. Alkaline hydrolysable N decreased but exchangeable K increased due to biochar addition. Olsen-P did not change compared to the treatment without biochar. The results suggested that biochar could be used in calcareous soils without yield loss or significant impacts on nutrient availability.

Abstract  It remains unclear whether biochar applications to calcareous soils can improve soil fertility and crop yield. A long-term field experiment was established in 2009 so as to determine the effect of biochar on crop yield and soil properties in a calcareous soil. Five treatments were: 1) straw incorporation; 2) straw incorporation with inorganic fertilizer; 3), 4) and 5) straw incorporation with inorganic fertilizer, and biochar at 30, 60, and 90 t ha-1, respectively. The annual yield of either winter wheat or summer maize was not increased significantly following biochar application, whereas the cumulative yield over the first 4 growing seasons was significantly increased. Soil pH, measured in situ, was increased by a maximum of 0.35 units after 2 yr following biochar application. After 3 yr, soil bulk density significantly decreased while soil water holding capacity increased with adding biochar of 90 t ha-1. Alkaline hydrolysable N decreased but exchangeable K increased due to biochar addition. Olsen-P did not change compared to the treatment without biochar. The results suggested that biochar could be used in calcareous soils without yield loss or significant impacts on nutrient availability.
Keywords:  biochar       calcareous soil       crop yield       soil pH       long-term effect  
Received: 09 October 2013   Accepted:
Fund: 

The work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41171211).

Corresponding Authors:  LI Gui-tong, Tel: +86-10-62732963, E-mail: lgtong@cau.edu.cn     E-mail:  lgtong@cau.edu.cn
About author:  LIANG Feng, Mobile: 13426473866, E-mail: llangfeng1@126.com

Cite this article: 

LIANG Feng, LI Gui-tong, LIN Qi-mei , ZHAO Xiao-rong. 2014. Crop Yield and Soil Properties in the First 3 Years After Biochar Application to a Calcareous Soil. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(3): 525-532.

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