Corn Grain and Stover Nutrient Uptake Responses from Sandy Soil Treated with Designer Biochars and Compost

Jeffrey M. Novak,Donald W. Watts,Thomas F. Ducey,Gilbert C. Sigua

doi:10.3390/agronomy11050942

Jeffrey M. Novak, Donald W. Watts + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050942

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Abstract

Biochars are used for soil fertility improvement because they may contain certain elements that plants use as nutrients. However, few studies have demonstrated enhanced crop nutrient uptake. Our study examined nutrient uptake responses of corn (Zea Mays L.) grain and stover over 4 years (Y) after a Goldsboro sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, sub-active, thermic Aquic Paleudults) received different designer biochars and a compost. The designer biochars were produced from lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) chip (PC), poultry litter (PL), blends with switchgrass (SG; Panicum virgatum), and a SG compost alone. Topsoil treated with 100% PL biochar and blended PC:PL biochar had significantly greater Mehlich 1 (M1) extractable P, K and Na contents compared to the control or other treatments. No significant differences were detected in annual grain nutrient concentrations. In the first corn stover harvest (Y1), significantly greater concentrations of P and K were taken up after treatment with 100% PL biochar, with PC:PL blend and with SG when compared to control. By the fourth corn stover harvest (Y4), nutrient uptake between treatments was not significantly different. Biochar impact on corn stover P, K and Na concentrations was time dependent, suggesting that repeated biochar applications may be needed.

Highlights

Biochar has global attention as a soil amendment because it can replenish nutrient concentrations in poor-fertility soils [1,2,3]
poultry litter (PL) biochar is enriched with plant macro- and micronutrients because these nutrients represent the element fraction not assimilated by animal digestion processes [4,5]
Applying 100% PL biochar to the Goldsboro topsoil resulted in fortifying Mehlich 1 (M1) P, K and Na concentrations compared to the other amendments

Summary

Introduction

Biochar has global attention as a soil amendment because it can replenish nutrient concentrations in poor-fertility soils [1,2,3]. Biochars supply inorganic nutrients to soils because they contain N and S associated with organic materials [4] and by having micro (e.g., Cu and Zn) and macro-elements (e.g., P and K) associated with the ash content [5,6,7]. Many biochar–plant response studies have been conducted at the laboratory, greenhouse and field scales [1,14] In these studies, biochar impact on crop growth and yield characteristics was variable and complex [6,7]. Variable crop responses to biochar additions have been linked to inconsistent nutrient quantities contained within initial feedstocks [4,15], pyrolysis conditions [5], biochar morphology [16], and differences in soil types [6]. The ability of biochars to improve soil quality has been linked to soil textural differences [14,17]

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