Effects of Wood-derived Biochar Application on Soil Chemical Properties and Growth of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Abstract

Biochar is an amendment that can be used for reducing odors, enhancing crop productivity and soil fertility to revitalize the urban agriculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochar from the pyrolysis pine on the soil chemical properties, nutrient uptake, and growth of lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) in an upland field. Lettuce was planted in an silt loam soil amended with four rates of biochar 0 (CFB1), 60 (CFB2), 120 (CFB3), and 240 kg 10a-1 (CFB4) with chemical fertilizer (14.3 kg 10a-1 N, 15.7 kg 10a-1 P2O5, and 12.1 kg 10a-1 K2O), no fertilizer (NF), and animal compost 440 kg 10a-1 with chemical fertilizer (CFC). Leaf number and fresh weight of lettuce plant were higher in CFB4 treatment than in the other treatments. Increasing rates of biochar caused a significant increase in lettuce yield, amount of nutrient uptake, and soil pH. The economically optimum application rate of fertilizer biochar was 200 kg 10a-1 on the basis of the regression curve. The electrical conductivity of the CFB1 soil was significantly higher than in the other treatments, whereas the soil pH was significantly lower in the CFB1 soil than those in the biochar treatments and NF soils. These results showed that biochar amendment increased yield of crops as well as improving soil properties. A regression curve between yield of lettuce and application rate of wood-derived biochar.