Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of biochar application on soils in the main tobacco-producing areas in China. The study was conducted in four study regions in China, where the same three experimental treatments were set up in each area, including a control (CK), a treatment involving the application of chemical fertilizer (F), and a treatment involving the application of biochar (B). We analyzed the basic physical and chemical properties, microbial diversity, and root system of tobacco plants. The results show that: Biochar increased the soil pH, which was most obvious in the study site in Shaowu City, Fujian Province (FUS), where the soil pH increased by 22.64% and 27.49% compared with soil under the CK and F treatments, respectively. Biochar increased the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content, and increased the soil content of available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; this effect was most obvious in FUS. The root activity in plots treated with biochar increased by 6.95% and 13.72% compared to the CK and F plots, respectively. Similarly, the number of root tips increased by 89.76% and 21.48% compared to the CK and F plots, respectively. In short, biochar improved the physical soil structure, increased the soil pH, and promoted the effectiveness of soil nutrients. Furthermore, biochar improved the bacterial soil diversity, enriched the population structure of soil bacteria, and promoted the healthy development of flue-cured tobacco roots. However, the demand for and types of biochar suitable for use in different tobacco-planting soils need further study.
Highlights
Biochar is a substance produced via pyrolisis at a lower carbonization temperature (350–700 ◦ C)under conditions of complete or partial anoxia
SPSS19.0 was used to analyze the data via one-way analysis of variance, and multiple comparisons were performed using the least significant difference (LSD)
This may be due to the low density of biochar itself [30], which is applied to the soil to reduce the soil volumetric weight and increase its porosity, or may be because biochar increases the abundance of microorganisms in the soil [31]
Summary
Biochar is a substance produced via pyrolisis at a lower carbonization temperature (350–700 ◦ C)under conditions of complete or partial anoxia. The carbon content of biochar is high, and its chemical properties are stable [1]. Biochar can absorb water and nutrients in soil, and adsorb organic compounds and inorganic ions [4], which can promote the absorption of nutrients by plants. Biochar can increase the soil active organic carbon, as well as increasing the abundance of soil microflora. These effects on the soil can help promote plant growth and development, as well as improve crop quality. Biochar has been used to improve soil for thousands of years. The first reported use of biochar to improve soil was the in the Agronomy 2020, 10, 351; doi:10.3390/agronomy10030351 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy
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