Simple N Balance Assessment for Optimizing the Biochar Amendment Level in Paddy Soils
2014
Liang, Xin-Qiang | Ji, Yuan-Jing | He, Miao-Miao | Su, Miao-Miao | Liu, Chunlong | Tian, Guang-Ming
Excessive biochar amendment may lead to soil nitrogen (N) surplus and ammonium (NH ₄-N) deficiency. An incubation experiment was conducted to investigate impacts of six biochars on N balance and retention in paddy soils. Nitrogen balance is the changes of soil N contents before and after experiment, whereas N retention is the difference of soil N losses with and without biochar. Results showed total N and nitrate (NO ₃-N) contents in soils were enhanced with the increase of biochar levels, whereas NH ₄-N decreased. The biochar-scaled N retention potential (N retention divided by biochar level) was reduced with increase of biochar level. Given that soil total N and NO ₃-N balance was zero and NH ₄-N balance decreased by 30%, the optimum levels of biochar were 5 g kg1 for LB500 and BCB600, 10 g kg ⁻¹ for LB600, BCB500, and RSB500, and 30 g kg ⁻¹ for RSB600, respectively. This research highlights a simple N balance assessment can optimize biochar amendment.
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