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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2014, Vol. 13 Issue (3): 533-540    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60709-1
Section 2: Crop Improvement by iochar Soil Amendment Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Improvement to Maize Growth Caused by Biochars Derived From Six Feedstocks Prepared at Three Different Temperatures
 LUO Yu, JIAO Yu-jie, ZHAO Xiao-rong, LI Gui-tong, ZHAO Li-xin , MENG Hai-bo
1、Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering, Beijing 100125, P.R.China
2、College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
3、Key Laboratory of Energy Resource Utilization from Agriculture Residue, Ministry of Agriculture/Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering, Beijing 100125, P.R.China
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摘要  Biochar is increasingly proposed as a soil amendment, with reports of benefits to soil physical, chemical and biological properties. In this study, different biochars were produced from 6 feedstocks, including straw and poultry manure, at 3 pyrolysis temperatures (200, 300 and 500°C) and then added separately to a calcareous soil. Their effects on soil properties and maize growth were evaluated in a pot experiment. The biochars derived from crop straw had much higher C but smaller N concentrations than those derived from poultry manure. Carbon concentrations, pH and EC values increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Biochar addition resulted in increases in mean maize dry matter of 12.73% and NPK concentrations of 30, 33 and 283%, respectively. Mean soil pH values were increased by 0.45 units. The biochar-amended soils had 44, 55, 254 and 537% more organic C, total N, Olsen-P and available K, respectively, than the control on average. Both feedstocks and pyrolysis temperature determined the characteristics of the biochar. Biochars with high mineral concentrations may act as mineral nutrient supplements.

Abstract  Biochar is increasingly proposed as a soil amendment, with reports of benefits to soil physical, chemical and biological properties. In this study, different biochars were produced from 6 feedstocks, including straw and poultry manure, at 3 pyrolysis temperatures (200, 300 and 500°C) and then added separately to a calcareous soil. Their effects on soil properties and maize growth were evaluated in a pot experiment. The biochars derived from crop straw had much higher C but smaller N concentrations than those derived from poultry manure. Carbon concentrations, pH and EC values increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Biochar addition resulted in increases in mean maize dry matter of 12.73% and NPK concentrations of 30, 33 and 283%, respectively. Mean soil pH values were increased by 0.45 units. The biochar-amended soils had 44, 55, 254 and 537% more organic C, total N, Olsen-P and available K, respectively, than the control on average. Both feedstocks and pyrolysis temperature determined the characteristics of the biochar. Biochars with high mineral concentrations may act as mineral nutrient supplements.
Keywords:  biochar       feedstock       temperature       maize       soil  
Received: 09 October 2013   Accepted:
Fund: 

The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41171211) and the Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest, China (201303095-2).

Corresponding Authors:  LI Gui-tong, Tel: +86-10-62732963, E-mail: lgtong@cau.edu.cn   
About author:  LUO Yu

Cite this article: 

LUO Yu, JIAO Yu-jie, ZHAO Xiao-rong, LI Gui-tong, ZHAO Li-xin , MENG Hai-bo. 2014. Improvement to Maize Growth Caused by Biochars Derived From Six Feedstocks Prepared at Three Different Temperatures. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(3): 533-540.

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