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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2017, Vol. 16 Issue (03): 704-712    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61420-X
Soil & Fertilization﹒Irrigation﹒Plant Nutrition﹒ Agro-Ecology & Environment Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Effects on soil quality of biochar and straw amendment in conjunction with chemical fertilizers
HE Li-li1, 2, 3, ZHONG Zhe-ke1, YANG Hui-min1

1 Key Laboratory of High Efficient Processing of Bamboo of Zhejiang Province/China National Bamboo Research Center, Hangzhou 310012, P.R.China

2 Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, P.R.China

3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R.China

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Abstract  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects on chemical and microbiological properties of paddy soil of short-term biochar, straw, and chemical fertilizers compared with chemical fertilization alone.  Five soil fertilization treatments were evaluated: regular chemical fertilizers (RF), straw+regular chemical fertilizers (SRF), straw biochar+regular chemical fertilizers (SCRF), bamboo biochar (BC)+regular chemical fertilizers (BCRF), and straw biochar+70% regular chemical fertilizers (SC+70%RF).  Their effects were investigated after approximately 1.5 years.  The soil pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly higher in biochar-treated soils.  The soil phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) contents increased with biochar application.  The soil Colwell P content was significantly increased with the addition of straw biochar in the treatments of SCRF and SC+70%RF.  The oxygen (O):carbon (C) ratio doubled in BC picked from the soil.  This indicated that BC underwent a significant oxidation process in the soil.  The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprints of microbial communities differed among the treatments.  Soils with added biochar had higher Shannon diversity and species richness indices than soils without biochars.  The results suggest that biochar can improve soil fertility.
Keywords:  biochar      straw amendment      fertilizer      nutrient      soil bacteria      denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis  
Received: 08 December 2015   Accepted:
Fund: 

The study was financially supported by the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 12th Five-year Plan period (2012BAD22B01)

Corresponding Authors:  ZHONG Zhe-ke, Tel/Fax: +86-571-88860734, E-mail: zhekez @163.com    
About author:  HE Li-li, E-mail: guyuehuanghun@163.com

Cite this article: 

HE Li-li, ZHONG Zhe-ke, YANG Hui-min. 2017. Effects on soil quality of biochar and straw amendment in conjunction with chemical fertilizers. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16(03): 704-712.

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