Abstract
Biochar and biogas slurry have been proved to improve the quality of some soil types, but the long-term effects on fluvo-aquic soil are not fully understood. This study aimed to compare the continuity effects of peanut-shell biochar and biogas slurry on the physicochemical properties, microbial population size, and enzyme activities of fluvo-aquic soil. We conducted a four-year field experiment of winter wheat-summer maize rotation in the North China Plain. Along with equal nitrogen inputs, three treatments were applied—conventional fertilizers, peanut-shell biochar, and hoggery biogas slurry—after which various soil quality indicators were compared. Compared with those of control, both biochar and biogas slurry increased the soil total nitrogen and organic matter content, and improved soil aggregation, microbial biomass, and actinomycetes. Biogas slurry decreased soil pH and improved urease and protease activities. With biochar and biogas slurry treatments, wheat yield increased by 8.46% and 23.47%, and maize yield by 18% and 15.46%, respectively. Biogas slurry increased the content of crude protein and starch in the grains. Both biogas slurry and peanut-shell biochar improved fluvo-aquic soil nutrient content, water-stable macroaggregates, and microbial population, which might be related to their high nutrient content, large specific surface area, adsorption capacity, and functional groups. Biogas slurry generally exhibited stronger effects than biochar probably because of its richness in nutrients and bioactive substances.
Highlights
Biochar is a type of charcoal produced by heating crop waste and other biomass in a simple kiln designed to limit the presence of oxygen
The soil pH with biogas slurry treatment (BS) decreased during the first two years (2011–2012), while it remained nearly unchanged with the biochar treatment (BC)
The soil total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) content increased with the BS treatment, whereas, the content organic matter (OM) increased during the first year, but did not change thereafter
Summary
Biochar is a type of charcoal produced by heating crop waste and other biomass in a simple kiln designed to limit the presence of oxygen. Major et al.[19] showed that biochar can increase maize grain yield, nutrient uptake, and soil (Savanna Oxisol) pH based on the results of a four-year field study in Colombia They attributed yield-improving effect to higher available Ca and Mg content. We conducted a four-year field experiment with consecutive wheat-maize rotations in the fluvo-aquic soils from the North China Plain, involving three treatments: conventional fertilizers, hoggery biogas slurry, and peanut-shell biochar (all the treatments included fertilization with equal amount of nitrogen). We aimed to elucidate the reasons for the differences in soil function parameters in order to understand the response mechanisms of soil properties to hoggery biogas slurry and biochar treatments These results could provide scientific guidance for soil sustainable productivity and environmental security by the efficient utilization of biomass waste resources
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
