Abstract
Research on the use of soil enhancer materials such as biochar from soil chemical perspective still provide differing results; therefore, investigations focusing on soil-biochar-plant interactions are still necessary to constrain our understanding of complex biochar effects. The present study investigated the changes in biological nitrogen fixation rates (BNF) and overall nutrient dynamics (NO3−, NH4+, total N, K2O, and P2O5) during the growth of Capsicum annuum (pepper) in pot experiments amended with biochar made of paper fiber sludge and grain husk. Four treatments were studied with 0, 0.5%, 2.5%, and 5.0% (by weight) added biochar (BC) amount to temperate silt loam soil. Peppers were planted at 2–4 leave stages and grown for the duration of 12.5 weeks. Our results showed that total nitrogen had relatively small changes in all treatments over time compared to the dynamic changes observed in the case of inorganic nutrients. NO3−-N and NH4+-N abundances presented a continuous decrease during the course of the study after an initial increase. The pepper plant facilitated the BNF rates to triple in the control soils, while plants were in the growing phase (weeks 1–6), which further increased an additional 61% by harvesting (week 12). A high amount of biochar addition suppressed potential BNF rates of the investigated soil, indicating its potentially negative effects on soil indigenous microbial communities if added in excess. We also found a plateau in plant biomass production that after reaching an optimal (2.5%) biochar amendment in the soils, and excess biochar addition did not result in significant changes in the soils’ pH to achieve better nutrient (potassium, nitrogen, phosphorous) use or crop growth.
Highlights
IntroductionSoil enhancer materials (e.g., fertilizer addition to nutrient deficient soils) have been a long used practice to help plant development and growth
Soil enhancer materials have been a long used practice to help plant development and growth
Investigations focusing on soil-biochar-plant interactions are still necessary to constrain our understanding of complex biochar effects
Summary
Soil enhancer materials (e.g., fertilizer addition to nutrient deficient soils) have been a long used practice to help plant development and growth. While adding fertilizer to cultivated soils is a long-used general process in agriculture, the added inorganic nutrients become part of the nitrogen cycle, modifying its natural intensity [3]. The microbial communities, have different responses to the fertilizer and biochar presence in soil [4,5,6], and less is known about the effects of biochar on nitrogen cycle components. Charcoal and biochar amendments to soils can cause varying ranges of chemical, hydrological [7,8], and soil microbial responses [9,10,11]. Changes in soil chemical and physical properties subsequently influence its biological functioning, affecting nitrifying communities [12,13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
