How dose of biochar and biochar with nitrogen can improve the parameters of soil organic matter and soil structure?

Biochar application to agricultural soils has a significant potential to influence soil resource availability and thus crop performance. A factorial experiment investigating effects of different biochar application rates combined with nitrogen fertilizer was conducted in field conditions on a Haplic Luvisol. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochar and biochar combined with fertilization on soil organic matter and soil structure parameters. The treatments comprised combinations of biochar application of 0, 10 and 20 t ha−1 (B0, B10 and B20) and 0, 40 and 80 kg N ha−1 of nitrogen fertilizer (N0, N40, N80) applied in a full-factorial design. Biochar application rate of 20 t ha−1 significantly increased soil organic carbon content (SOC) and non-labile carbon content (CNL), but decreased carbon lability (LC). The addition of biochar at 10 t ha−1 together with 40 and 80 kg N ha−1 significantly increased the values of SOC and CNL. On the other hand, B10N80 treatment resulted in a considerable decrease of carbon lability (LC). Overall, the lowest average content of water-stable micro-aggregates was found in the B20N80 treatment and then with B10N0 < B20N40 < B20N0 < B10N80 < B0N0 < B10N40. Biochar applied at 20 t ha−1 increased the critical level of soil organic matter and decreased the crusting index

The Influence of Different Fertilization Strategies on the Grain Yield of Field Peas (Pisum sativum L.) under Conventional and Conservation Tillage

Weather, tillage, and fertilization are the major factors affecting the grain yield of field peas (Pisum sativum L.). However, the impact of tillage and fertilization on yield is not well understood. Therefore, this experiment was initiated in 1999. In this manuscript, we report the data recorded during the period of 2011-2015 to quantify the impacts on yield. Field peas were planted in seedbeds prepared through conventional tillage (CT)-moldboard ploughing to the depth of 0.22 m; and minimum tillage (MT)-disking to the depth of 0.12 m. The crop received three fertilization treatments, including zero fertilization (control); nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) mineral fertilization treatment; and NPK mineral fertilization plus the incorporation of pre-crop biomass. Five years' average data indicated the highest yield on fertilized treatments (2.85-2.98 t ha(-1) vs. 2.66 t ha(-1)) regardless of the tillage. When comparing the yield of fertilized treatments, the yield under CT (2.98 t ha(-1)) was significantly higher than that of MT (2.85 t ha(-1)). However, on non-fertilized treatments (less fertile plots), a higher yield was recorded under MT (2.71 t ha(-1)) compared with CT (2.40 t ha(-1)). Overall, the results of this study suggest that fertilizer application together with incorporation of the above-ground biomass of the previous crop may help sustain pea grain yield

Addition of biochar and fertiliser drives changes in soil organic matter and humic substance content in Haplic Luvisol

Humic substances (HS) constitute a primary component of soil organic matter (SOM) and play a crucial role in soil formation and fertility. However, comprehensive information regarding quantitative and qualitative changes in HS following biochar application to soil still needs to be improved. This research reports on the impact of biochar application at rates of 0, 10, and 20 t ha⁻¹ (B0, B10, B20), both with and without nitrogen fertilisation at varying levels (N0, N1, N2), on SOM and HS throughout the cropping seasons between 2014 and 2019. The findings reveal changes in SOM and HS due to biochar addition and fertilisation. Notably, the most substantial increase in soil organic carbon content was observed in B20N1 and B10N1 treatments, in stark contrast with the reference B0N0 treatment. A decrease in humification of SOM was noted across all treatments involving biochar, either alone or combined with different N fertilisation levels. An interesting positive change was observed in HS in B10N2 where an increase in humic acids and a decrease in fulvic acids enhanced HS stability and improved HS quality. These findings shed light on the intricate dynamics of SOM and HS in response to biochar application and nitrogen fertilisation over multiple vegetation seasons of crops on loamy Haplic Luvisol in Central Europe

Grass sward cover improves soil organic carbon and nitrogen in a vineyard

Historical depletion of agricultural soils must be remedied to maintain their long-term food production function, including soils in intensive vineyards traditionally kept without plant cover to limit resource competition. This paper reports on the impact of five contrasting soil management regimes on indicators of soil quality such as soil organic carbon, nitrogen and their indices. We exposed sandy loam Rendzic Leptosol under a vineyard in Nitra-Dražovce (Slovakia, central Europe) to the following five treatments for 14 years: no-till sward, no-till sward+NPK100, no-till sward+NPK125, ploughed tillage and (5) ploughed tillage+manure. We found that grass swards continuously increased the total soil organic carbon in the topsoil, but ploughed tillage resulted in no change. The availability of potentially mineralisable nitrogen was also increased by grass cover; but was not modified by manure but by mineral fertiliser addition. We tested the usefulness of carbon and management indices as indicators of changing soil C and N status and found them no better than tracking total and labile forms of both elements. In conclusion, the recovery of degraded vineyard soils under no-till grass sward cover is detectable within 14 years and is not affected by fertilisation or manure addition