Abstract
ABSTRACT: Biochar has been used worldwide as an efficient soil amendment due to its beneficial interaction with soil particles and nutrients; however, studies on the effect of biochar on the availability of nutrients such as N and P in tropical soils are still missing. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different types and doses of biochars on the concentration and uptake of N and P in Indian mustard plants (Brassica juncea L.) grown in a Cu contaminated soil during three successive growth cycles. The greenhouse experiment was set up as randomized block design in a 3x3 factorial scheme, with 3 types of biochars (coconut shell, orange bagasse and sewage sludge) and three rates of application (0, 30 and 60t ha-1), and 4 replicates. Biochar increased plant growth by approximately 30 to 224%; however, the orange bagasse biochar was the most effective. Biochar reduced plant N concentration in approximately 15-43%, regardless of the rate of application, indicating the need to carefully adjust N fertilization. In the last growth cycle, biochar from coconut shell and orange bagasse improved the N uptake efficiency suggesting a better amelioration effect with ageing in soil. Biochar did not affect P nutrition in Indian mustard to a great extent; however, it significantly decreased the N:P ratio in the plant.
Highlights
Use of biochar as soil amendment has been considered as an environmentally friendly strategy to improve soil fertility while reducing negative impacts caused by the inappropriate disposal of organic wastes
Biochar has been related to changes in the P cycle in highly weathered acidic soils (ABDELHAFEZ et al, 2017), where the availability of P is mostly controlled by the presence of reactive Al and Fe surfaces that present high affinity for P at low soil pH, causing P to be chemically adsorbed and leading to low agronomic P use efficiency (ANTONIADIS et al, 2015)
Effect of biochar in plant biomass Application of biochar significantly (P
Summary
Use of biochar as soil amendment has been considered as an environmentally friendly strategy to improve soil fertility while reducing negative impacts caused by the inappropriate disposal of organic wastes. Effect of biochar on soil fertility is believed to be related to its high porosity, surface area and CEC, which increase the soil retention capacity for water and nutrients. Biochar has been related to changes in the P cycle in highly weathered acidic soils (ABDELHAFEZ et al, 2017), where the availability of P is mostly controlled by the presence of reactive Al and Fe surfaces that present high affinity for P at low soil pH, causing P to be chemically adsorbed and leading to low agronomic P use efficiency (ANTONIADIS et al, 2015). The liming effect of biochar to certain extent can increase P availability by reducing P adsorption (VANEK & LEHMANN, 2015)
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