Biochar and Its Effects on Plant–Soil Macronutrient Cycling during a Three-Year Field Trial on Sandy Soil with Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). Part I: Yield and Macro Element Content in Soil and Plant Biomass

Pyrolyzed organic residues can be incorporated as a soil additive to improve their properties, crop productivity, or to increase retention or absorption of different compounds. However, in agronomy, the practice of biochar application is still under examination. The interactions between plant, soil, and biochar can be complex, and determines the agronomic effects obtained. A three-year field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of biochar addition and nitrogen (N) fertilization on biomass productivity and nutrient uptake of Mentha piperita L. The experiment was conducted with a three-factorial design in triplicate at N fertilizer rates of 75, 100, and 125 kg N ha−1 and biochar rates of 0, 5, 15, and 45 t ha−1. Commercial wood-based biochar produced at 650 °C was incorporated into sandy soil in 2017. Generally, our results demonstrated potential for treating a sandy soil, since biochar improved the nutrient availability for peppermint. However, on average, during a three-year mint-yielding period, no significant effect of the applied dose of biochar on this parameter was found. Significantly more soluble Ca, K, and SO4-S was found in the soil amended with biochar as compared with the control soil. Biochar, in doses of 15 and 45 t ha−1, increased the NH4-N concentration in the soil in the second and third year of the study, as well as NO3-N in 2018. The greatest amount of N and P was contained in the peppermint biomass after using 15 and 45 t biochar ha−1. The highest dose of biochar (45 t ha−1) also increased the contents of K and S in plants. Nitrogen fertilization increased the dry matter yield of peppermint on the harvest sampling dates. The N content in the mint increased proportionally to the nitrogen dose in fertilization, regardless of the biochar dose applied. The use of biochar in doses of 15 and 45 t ha−1 in coarse-textured soil contributed to increased use of nitrogen by plants after nitrogen fertilization at doses of 100 and 125 kg N ha−1. These findings suggest that the time-dependent responses of soil to biochar amendment are strongly influenced by plant, microbial, and soil feedback; if so, then practical long-term biochar effectiveness requires further study.

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Biochar Effects on Soil Properties and Wheat Biomass vary with Fertility Management

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9100623 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 623 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Prakriti Bista ◽

Rajan Ghimire ◽

Stephen Machado ◽

Larry Pritchett

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Nitrate Uptake ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Soil Health ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Soil Nitrate ◽

Wheat Growth ◽

Fertility Management ◽

Fertilizer Rates

Biochar can improve soil health and crop productivity. We studied the response of soil properties and wheat growth to four rates of wood biochar (0, 11.2, 22.4, and 44.8 Mg ha−1) and two fertilizer rates [no fertilizer and fertilizer (90 kg N ha−1, 45 kg P ha−1, and 20 kg S ha−1)]. Biochar application increased soil organic matter (SOM), soil pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S) contents, and the shoot and root biomass of wheat. However, these responses were observed at biochar rates below 22.4 Mg ha−1, particularly in treatments without fertilizer. In fertilizer-applied treatments, soil nitrate levels decreased with an increase in biochar rates, mainly due to better crop growth and high nitrate uptake. However, without N addition, the high C:N ratio (500:1) possibly increased nutrient tie-up, reduced plant biomass, and SOM buildup at the highest biochar rate. Based on these results, we recommend biochar rates of about 22.4 Mg ha−1 and below for Walla Walla silt loams.

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Relay intercropping and mineral fertilizer effects on biomass production, maize productivity and weed dynamics in contrasting soils under conservation agriculture

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859616000927 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 155 (6) ◽

pp. 876-887 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

B. MHLANGA ◽

S. CHEESMAN ◽

B. MAASDORP ◽

W. MUPANGWA ◽

C. THIERFELDER

Keyword(s):

Biomass Production ◽

Sandy Soil ◽

Biomass Productivity ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Velvet Bean ◽

Maize Productivity ◽

Maize Grain Yield ◽

Weed Diversity ◽

Maize Grain ◽

Fertilizer Rates

SUMMARYCash-constrained farmers who cannot afford herbicides and mineral fertilizers may incorporate green manure cover crops (GMCCs) as relay crops to aid in management of weeds and nitrogen in maize systems under conservation agriculture in cases where rotations are a challenge. An experiment was conducted at two sites with contrasting soil types, University of Zimbabwe farm (clay) and Domboshawa Training Centre (sandy) to investigate the effects of maize/velvet bean intercropping at 8 weeks after planting maize (WAPM), applying different fertilizer rates and exploring their interactive effects on weed composition, maize productivity and biomass production [total maize non-cob biomass (stover) plus GMCC biomass]. The performance of the system depended largely on the amount of rainfall received within and across the seasons, sites and their interaction; also on the amount of fertilizer applied. Generally, biomass yields attained by velvet bean [Mucuna pruriensL. (DC.)] were lower than reported previously. Maize grain yield and weed diversity were higher in treatments with higher fertilizer rates, reaching up to 5·1 t/ha and 1·39, respectively. Generally, the highest weed diversity and highest maize grain yield values were observed in maize/velvet bean combinations and higher fertilizer rates (i.e. 0·27 and 4·8 t/ha, respectively) in the sandy soil. Higher fertilizer rates resulted in greater maize stover yield and this contributed greatly to the biomass productivity of the system in the sandy soil in the 2012/13 season, while the high biomass productivity observed in velvet bean in the clay site in the final season contributed significantly to productivity. Maize productivity was not affected by velvet bean introduced at 8 WAPM in any of the seasons. The present study showed that relay cropping velvet bean as late as 8 WAPM and onwards has potential to increase biomass production without compromising maize yields. However, planting it as late as 8 WAPM results in reduced productivity due to reduced moisture availability.

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The Influence of Lime Material and Nitrogen Fertilization on Reed Canary Grass Productivity, Plant Quality and Environmental Impact of Using Biomass for Energy Purposes

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11050895 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 895

Author(s):

Gintaras Šiaudinis ◽

Algirdas Jasinskas ◽

Egidijus Šarauskis ◽

Regina Skuodienė ◽

Regina Repšienė ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Calorific Value ◽

Biomass Productivity ◽

Fertilization Rate ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽

Reed Canary Grass ◽

Canary Grass ◽

The Impact

A field experiment with reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) was carried out at LAMMC Vėžaičiai Branch (Western Lithuania) in 2010–2016 with the aim to evaluate the impact of liming and nitrogen on grass productivity, biomass chemical content and energetic parameters of the pellets. The site soil is the natural acidic loam Retisol (pH 4.2–4.6). Reed canary grass productivity was significantly affected by the year of growing and nitrogen fertilization. The average annual dry matter (DM) yield varied from 5442 to 11,114 t ha−1. The highest yields were obtained using the annual rate of 120 kg ha−1 N (nitrogen) fertilizers. Soil liming had a negligible effect on biomass productivity. Nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) varied greatly depending on the growing year and N fertilization rate. After analyzing the properties of reed canary grass and wood sawdust granules, it was found that the granules obtained a high density exceeding 1000 kg m−3 DM. The lowest calorific value of reed canary grass pellets was found to be quite high—17.4 MJ kg−1 DM. All harmful emissions did not exceed the permissible values. Summarizing the results, it can be stated that reed canary grass pellets may be recommended for burning in domestic boilers.

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NITROGEN FERTILIZATION AFFECTS MUSCADINE GRAPES

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.11.1178c ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (11) ◽

pp. 1178c-1178

Author(s):

James M. Spiers ◽

John H. Braswell

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

N Fertilization ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

Sand Culture ◽

Cu Content ◽

N Source ◽

Mn Content ◽

Fertilizer Rates ◽

Leaf N ◽

Muscadine Grapes

Leaf concentrations of N, P, K, Fe, and Mn in `Sterling' muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Michaux) grown for 2 years in sand culture were not influenced by different N fertilizer sources. Leaf Zn and Cu were higher in plants receiving N as NH4NO3 rather than as (NH4)2SO4. Growth was greatest in plants fertilized with NH4NO3 compared to those with either (NH4)2SO4 or NaNO3 fertilization. Leaf Ca, Mg, Mn, and Cu content decreased linearly and leaf N increased linearly as N fertilizer rates were raised from 1.8 to 16.1 mM. Plant growth was a positively correlated with leaf N but was negatively correlated with leaf Ca, Mg, and Mn content. Percent Mg in the leaves was reduced when N levels, regardless of N source, were raised from the low (1.8 mM) to middle (5.4 mM) rate. High leaf N levels were correlated with lower Ca and Mg in the leaves, indicating a possible relationship between N fertilization and the late-season Mg deficiency often observed in muscadine grapes.

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Effect of Row Spacing and Seeding Rate on Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus) in Spring Barley and Spring Wheat

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10010126 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 126

Author(s):

Judit Barroso ◽

Nicholas G. Genna

Keyword(s):

Seed Production ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Spring Wheat ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Spring Barley ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Row Spacing ◽

Seeding Rate

Russian thistle (Salsola tragus L.) is a persistent post-harvest issue in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Farmers need more integrated management strategies to control it. Russian thistle emergence, mortality, plant biomass, seed production, and crop yield were evaluated in spring wheat and spring barley planted in 18- or 36-cm row spacing and seeded at 73 or 140 kg ha−1 in Pendleton and Moro, Oregon, during 2018 and 2019. Russian thistle emergence was lower and mortality was higher in spring barley than in spring wheat. However, little to no effect of row spacing or seeding rate was observed on Russian thistle emergence or mortality. Russian thistle seed production and plant biomass followed crop productivity; higher crop yield produced higher Russian thistle biomass and seed production and lower crop yield produced lower weed biomass and seed production. Crop yield with Russian thistle pressure was improved in 2018 with 18-cm rows or by seeding at 140 kg ha−1 while no effect was observed in 2019. Increasing seeding rates or planting spring crops in narrow rows may be effective at increasing yield in low rainfall years of the PNW, such as in 2018. No effect may be observed in years with higher rainfall than normal, such as in 2019.

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Combining Ability and Heterosis of Algerian Saharan Maize Populations (Zea mays L.) for Tolerance to No-Nitrogen Fertilization and Drought

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11030492 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 492

Author(s):

Meriem Riache ◽

Pedro Revilla ◽

Oula Maafi ◽

Rosa Ana Malvar ◽

Abderahmane Djemel

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Stress Tolerance ◽

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Recurrent Selection ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Base Material ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Nitrogen Stress ◽

Reciprocal Recurrent Selection ◽

Maize Populations

Drought and low nitrogen are major stresses for maize (Zea mays L.), and maize populations from the Sahara Desert are potential sources of stress tolerance. The objectives were to assess the tolerance and varietal and heterosis effects of Algerian populations under no-nitrogen fertilization and water stress. A diallel among six Algerian maize population was evaluated under drought (300 mm irrigation) vs. control (600 mm) and no-nitrogen fertilization vs. 120 kh ha−1 N fertilization. Genotypes showed significant differences and genetic effects for water- and nitrogen-stress tolerance. We propose a reciprocal recurrent selection to take advantage of additive and non-additive effects, using AOR and IGS, since they showed good performance in optimum and stress conditions, for improving yield heterosis for AOR × IGS. Negative effects are not expected on plant height, anthesis–silking interval or early vigor. These populations and BAH could be sources of inbred lines tolerant to drought and no-nitrogen fertilization. There was no relationship between origin and genetic group and stress tolerance per se or as parents of tolerant crosses. These populations and crosses could be used as base material among Algerian populations, for breeding programs focusing on tolerance to water or nitrogen stress.

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Optimal Nitrogen Fertilization to Reach the Maximum Grain and Stover Yields of Maize (Zea mays L.): Tendency Modeling

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11071354 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1354

Author(s):

Sergio E. Medina-Cuéllar ◽

Deli N. Tirado-González ◽

Marcos Portillo-Vázquez ◽

Sergio Orozco-Cirilo ◽

Marco A. López-Santiago ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Alluvial Soils ◽

Grain Production ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Maize Stover ◽

The Individual ◽

Quadratic Models

Utilization of maize stover to the production of meat and milk and saving the grains for human consumption would be one strategy for the optimal usage of resources. Variance and tendency analyses were applied to find the optimal nitrogen (N) fertilization dose (0, 100, 145, 190, 240, and 290 kg/ha) for forage (F), stover (S), cob (C), and grain (G) yields, as well as the optimal grain-to-forage, cob-to-forage, and cob-to-stover ratios (G:F, C:F, and C:S, respectively). The study was performed in central Mexico (20.691389° N and −101.259722° W, 1740 m a.m.s.l.; Cwa (Köppen), 699 mm annual precipitation; alluvial soils). N-190 and N-240 improved the individual yields and ratios the most. Linear and quadratic models for CDM, GDM, and G:F ratio had coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.20–0.46 (p < 0.03). Cubic showed R2 = 0.30–0.72 (p < 0.02), and the best models were for CDM, GDM, and the G:F, C:F, and C:S DM ratios (R2 = 0.60–0.72; p < 0.0002). Neither SHB nor SDM negatively correlated with CDM or GDM (r = 0.23–0.48; p < 0.0001). Excess of N had negative effects on forage, stover, cobs, and grains yields, but optimal N fertilization increased the proportion of the G:F, C:F, and C:S ratios, as well as the SHB and SDM yields, without negative effects on grain production.

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Inoculation and Nitrogen Fertilization Improve Nitrogen Soil Stock and Nutrition to Soybeans in Degraded Pastures with Sandy Soil

Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis ◽

10.1080/00103624.2021.1885685 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Carlos Felipe dos Santos Cordeiro ◽

Bruno Poloto Lopes ◽

Guilherme Dias Batista ◽

Fabio Fernando Araujo ◽

Carlos Sérgio Tiritan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sandy Soil ◽

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Degraded Pastures

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Divergent Accumulation of Microbial Residues and Amino Sugars in Loess Soil after Six Years of Different Inorganic Nitrogen Enrichment Scenarios

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11135788 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (13) ◽

pp. 5788

Author(s):

Dominic Kwadwo Anning ◽

Zhilong Li ◽

Huizhen Qiu ◽

Delei Deng ◽

Chunhong Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Biomass ◽

Inorganic Nitrogen ◽

Amino Sugar ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Biochemical Properties ◽

Sugar Accumulation ◽

Amino Sugars ◽

N Enrichment ◽

Over Time ◽

Microbial Residues

Amino sugars are key microbial biomarkers for determining the contribution of microbial residues in soil organic matter (SOM). However, it remains largely unclear as to what extent inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilization can lead to the significant degradation of SOM in alkaline agricultural soils. A six-year field experiment was conducted from 2013 to 2018 to evaluate the effects of chronic N enrichment on microbial residues, amino sugars, and soil biochemical properties under four nitrogen (urea, 46% N) fertilization scenarios: 0 (no-N, control), 75 (low-N), 225 (medium-N), and 375 (high-N) kg N ha−1. The results showed that chronic N enrichment stimulated microbial residues and amino sugar accumulation over time. The medium-N treatment increased the concentration of muramic acid (15.77%), glucosamine (13.55%), galactosamine (18.84%), bacterial residues (16.88%), fungal residues (11.31%), and total microbial residues (12.57%) compared to the control in 2018; however, these concentrations were comparable to the high-N treatment concentrations. The ratio of glucosamine to galactosamine and of glucosamine to muramic acid decreased over time due to a larger increase in bacterial residues as compared to fungal residues. Microbial biomass, soil organic carbon, and aboveground plant biomass positively correlated with microbial residues and amino sugar components. Chronic N enrichment improved the soil biochemical properties and aboveground plant biomass, which stimulated microbial residues and amino sugar accumulation over time.

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Role of Biochar in Improving Sandy Soil Water Retention and Resilience to Drought

Water ◽

10.3390/w13040407 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 407

Author(s):

Ling Li ◽

Yong-Jiang Zhang ◽

Abigayl Novak ◽

Yingchao Yang ◽

Jinwu Wang

Keyword(s):

Climate Variability ◽

Sandy Soil ◽

Water Retention ◽

Sandy Soils ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Future Research ◽

Soil Water Retention ◽

The World ◽

Water Holding

In recent years, plants in sandy soils have been impacted by increased climate variability due to weak water holding and temperature buffering capacities of the parent material. The projected impact spreads all over the world, including New England, USA. Many regions of the world may experience an increase in frequency and severity of drought, which can be attributed to an increased variability in precipitation and enhanced water loss due to warming. The overall benefits of biochar in environmental management have been extensively investigated. This review aims to discuss the water holding capacity of biochar from the points of view of fluid mechanics and propose several prioritized future research topics. To understand the impacts of biochar on sandy soils in-depth, sandy soil properties (surface area, pore size, water properties, and characteristics) and how biochar could improve the soil quality as well as plant growth, development, and yield are reviewed. Incorporating biochar into sandy soils could result in a net increase in the surface area, a stronger hydrophobicity at a lower temperature, and an increase in the micropores to maximize gap spaces. The capability of biochar in reducing fertilizer drainage through increasing water retention can improve crop productivity and reduce the nutrient leaching rate in agricultural practices. To advance research in biochar products and address the impacts of increasing climate variability, future research may focus on the role of biochar in enhancing soil water retention, plant water use efficiency, crop resistance to drought, and crop productivity.

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