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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2025, Vol. 24 Issue (8): 3242-3263    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2024.12.014
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Biochar application enhances soil quality by improving soil physical structure under particular water and salt conditions in arid region of Northwest China

Yang Chen1, 2, 3*, Xuyu Feng1, 2, 3*, Xiao Zhao1, 2, 3, Xinmei Hao1, 2, 3, Ling Tong1, 2, 3#, Sufen Wang1, 2, 3, Risheng Ding1, 2, 3, Shaozhong Kang1, 2, 3

1 State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, Beijing 100083, China

2 National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture, Wuwei 733009, China

3 Center for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China

 Highlights 

Deficit and brackish water irrigation significantly reduce soil quality index.

Biochar enhances soil quality index by improving soil physical structure under full irrigation.

Biochar shows positive effects on bacterial community structure.

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摘要  

探索生物炭在不同水盐条件下改善土壤质量的适用性,对于维护中国西北干旱地区的土壤健康和生产力至关重要。因此,在甘肃省进行了为期两年的玉米田覆膜滴灌试验研究在不同灌溉水质和水量下施用生物炭对土壤质量的影响。试验共设8种处理组合包括0 t ha-1B0)和60 t ha-1B1的两种生物炭添加率,充分灌溉W1)和亏缺灌溉W2W2=1/2 W1的两种灌溉量,以及淡水(S00.71 g L-1)和微咸水(S14.00 g L-1)的两种水盐度水平。我们比较了不同灌水量和水盐度水平下施用生物炭对土壤物理、化学和生物特性的影响。最后采用最小数据集方法计算不同处理下的土壤质量指数(SQI)。结果表明,与淡水充分灌溉相比,亏缺和微咸水灌溉通过降低一些土壤物理化学和生物特性,SQI显著降低了3.80-9.80%。仅在淡水和微咸水充分灌溉的情况下,生物炭施用使SQI分别显著提高了6.1310.40%。同时,生物炭对改变微生物群落结构显示出积极作用,例如增加了所有水盐处理下土壤中有益细菌门(如Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria)的相对丰度。最后,偏最小二乘路径模型表明,在特殊的水盐条件下,施用生物炭主要通过改善土壤团聚体和孔隙结构来显著提高SQI。本研究为利用生物炭改善西北干旱区不同水盐条件下的土壤质量提供了重要的研究依据。



Abstract  
Exploring the suitability of biochar for improving soil quality under different water and salt conditions is important for maintaining soil health and productivity in the arid regions of northwestern China.  We compared the effects of biochar application practices on soil physical, chemical and biological properties under different irrigation and water salinity levels in a two-year field experiment in a mulched and drip-irrigated maize field in Gansu Province, China.  Eight treatments in total included the combination of two biochar addition rates of 0 t ha–1 (B0) and 60 t ha–1 (B1), two irrigation levels of full (W1) and deficit irrigation (W2; W2=1/2 W1) and two water salinity levels of fresh water (S0, 0.71 g L–1) and brackish water (S1, 4.00 g L–1).  The minimum dataset method was used to calculate the soil quality index (SQI) under different treatments.  Deficit and brackish water irrigation significantly reduced SQI by 3.80–9.80% through reducing some soil physical, chemical and biological properties.  Biochar application significantly increased the SQI by 6.13 and 10.40% under full irrigation with fresh and brackish water, respectively.  Biochar addition enhanced the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria) in the soil in all water–salt treatments.  The partial least squares path model showed that biochar application significantly enhanced the SQI mainly by improving soil aggregation and pore structure under particular water–salt conditions.  This research provides an important basis for utilizing biochar to improve soil quality in arid regions of Northwest China under various water–salt conditions.
Keywords:  biochar application       drought        soil salinity        bacterial community        soil quality  
Received: 10 July 2024   Online: 12 December 2024   Accepted: 04 November 2024
Fund: 

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFD1900401).


About author:  Yang Chen, E-mail: chenyang@cau.edu.cn; Xuyu Feng, E-mail: b20233090800@cau.edu.cn; #Correspondence Ling Tong, E-mail: tongling2001@cau.edu.cn * These authors contributed equally to this study.

Cite this article: 

Yang Chen, Xuyu Feng, Xiao Zhao, Xinmei Hao, Ling Tong, Sufen Wang, Risheng Ding, Shaozhong Kang. 2025. Biochar application enhances soil quality by improving soil physical structure under particular water and salt conditions in arid region of Northwest China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 24(8): 3242-3263.

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