Effects of biochar application combined with nitrogen fertilizer on soil physicochemical pro-perties and winter wheat yield in the typical ancient region of Yellow River, China

Abstract

The aims of this study were to reveal the effects of biochar application combined with nitrogen fertilizer on soil physicochemical properties and crop yield in the typical ancient region of Yellow River, and to clarify the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen content and soil physicochemical properties with different treatments of biochar and nitrogen, which could provide scientific basis for reasonable fertilization of soil, quality improvement of cultivated land, and yield increase of winter wheat. A two-year field experiment was conducted with different biochar applications (0, 15, 30 t·hm-2) combined with different nitrogen levels (N 270, 330 kg·hm-2) to investigate their effects on soil physicochemical property in the typical ancient of Yellow River. After 2-yr biochar application, the generalized soil structure index (GSSI) was increased and three-phase structure distance index of soil (STPSD) was decreased, and three-phase ratio was significantly improved. The most ideal state of three-phase ratio was in the condition of 30 t·hm-2 biochar application. Soil compactness and bulk density was decreased, total porosity and capillary porosity was increased, water holding capacity was improved, water and gas permeability was enhanced, and soil hardening was relieved. The composition of soil aggregate was also changed. Soil aggregate >0.25 mm particle size was increased by 70.6%-94.4%, and mean weight diameter (MWD) was improved by 24.0%-48.0%. Biochar application significantly increased organic carbon content by 15.8%-67.0%, adjusted soil C/N, reduced nitrogen release intensity, improved utilization rate of nitrogen fertili-zer, and enhanced soil fertility. However, it didn't increase soil pH. Soil pH showed a significant downward in 10-20 cm layer. With the same amount of nitrogen application, biochar application significantly increased average yield of winter wheat by 9.6%-25.6% in two years. With the same amount of biochar application, average yield of winter wheat with high nitrogen application was 2.5%-4.4% higher than that with conventional nitrogen application. In summary, combined biochar and nitrogen application could improve soil micro-environment, soil fertility and crop yield. Comprehensively considering soil modification, crop yield improvement and input cost, the optimum amount of fertilization was biochar application (30 t·hm-2) combined with nitrogen fertilizer (330 kg·hm-2).