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

Bista, Prakriti; Ghimire, Rajan; Machado, Stephen; Pritchett, Larry

doi:10.3390/agronomy9100623

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

¹

Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center, Oregon State University, Pendleton, OR 97801, USA

²

Agriculture Science Center, New Mexico State University, Clovis, NM 88101, USA

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Agronomy 2019, 9(10), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9100623

Submission received: 14 September 2019 / Revised: 3 October 2019 / Accepted: 6 October 2019 / Published: 10 October 2019

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochar as Soil Amendment: Impact on Soil Properties and Sustainable Resource Management)

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Abstract

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.

Keywords: nutrient cycling; soil health; soil organic matter

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MDPI and ACS Style

Bista, P.; Ghimire, R.; Machado, S.; Pritchett, L. Biochar Effects on Soil Properties and Wheat Biomass vary with Fertility Management. Agronomy 2019, 9, 623. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9100623

AMA Style

Bista P, Ghimire R, Machado S, Pritchett L. Biochar Effects on Soil Properties and Wheat Biomass vary with Fertility Management. Agronomy. 2019; 9(10):623. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9100623

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bista, Prakriti, Rajan Ghimire, Stephen Machado, and Larry Pritchett. 2019. "Biochar Effects on Soil Properties and Wheat Biomass vary with Fertility Management" Agronomy 9, no. 10: 623. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9100623

APA Style

Bista, P., Ghimire, R., Machado, S., & Pritchett, L. (2019). Biochar Effects on Soil Properties and Wheat Biomass vary with Fertility Management. Agronomy, 9(10), 623. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9100623

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

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