Hangs, R.D.

Schoenau, J.J.

English

eCommons@USASK

Amending soil with combinations of biochar and manure: impacts on soil properties, barley yield, and nutrient uptake

University of Saskatchewan Research Archive

Amending Soil with Combinations of Biochar and Manure:Impacts on Soil Properties, Barley Yield, and Nutrient UptakeRyan Hangs and Jeff SchoenauDepartment of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SKMATERIALS & METHODS• A split-plot experimental design was used in field trials to growbarley (Hordeum vulgare L.; cv. Austenson) on two contrastingsoils: Orthic Brown Chernozem (Ardill Association; Class 4) andOrthic Humic Vertisol (Melfort Association; Class 1).• Whole plots: 100 kg N/ha as solid cattle or liquid hog manure.Split-plots: 8 Mg C/ha as willow ‘chunky’ or ‘powder’ biochar(produced using slow and fast pyrolysis, respectively).• Variables measured included: soil pH, EC, and bulk density;PRS™-probe N and P supply rates; and barley yield and N uptake.OBJECTIVE• Examine the effects of two willow (Salix) biochar amendments onsoil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply and barley growth andnutrient uptake with, and without, the addition of animal manures.• The utility of biochar to improve numerous soil physical, chemical,and biological properties (e.g., bulk density, cation-exchangecapacity, pH, microbial community activity, etc.) is well known.• However, previous research has concentrated on tropical soils (oldand highly-weathered, acid pH, low organic matter content andfertility), while the influence of biochar application on the relativelyyoung and fertile soils of Saskatchewan is largely unknown.INTRODUCTION RESULTS• The larger N and P supply rates of the Melfort soil, with orwithout the addition of biochar and manure, reflect greatermineralization, and explains the greater barley yield and nutrientuptake compared to the Central Butte soil.• The largest soil N and P supplies were found in the liquid hogmanure and solid cattle manure amended soils, respectively,reflecting their relative differences in content of N and P.• Both chunky and powder biochars significantly increased thesoil P supply in the solid cattle manure amended soil at Melfort,suggesting that biochar may enhance P release from solid cattlemanure.• Although the liquid hog manure amendment produced thehighest yields, the lack of effects from added biochars on barleyyield and nutrient uptake is attributed to the good inherentnutrient retention capacities already present in these two soils.DISCUSSION• Thanks to the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund and NSERC forfunding; Western Ag Innovations Inc. for the PRS™-probes; D. Leach and K.Strukoff (AAFC) for their tremendous field support; E. Powell (SRC) for thebiochars; and H. Ahmed, S. Anderson, B. Ewen, C. Fatteicher, B. Ferhatoglu, E.Hildebrand, N. Howse, G. Kar, T. King, M. Miheguli, L. Schoenau, W. Soomro, W.Stock, and R. Urton for their logistical support.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSCONCLUSION• Biochar amendments had little impact on enhancing nutrientavailability and yield in the application year in these two soils,except increasing soil P supply in combination with cattlemanure. Residual effects in subsequent years deserve attention.Figure 1. Mean (n = 4) cumulative PRS™-probe total N and P supply rates,barley biomass, and barley nutrient uptake (grain + straw) followingwillow ‘chunky’ and ‘powder’ biochar additions (8 Mg C/ha), withand without N (100 kg N/ha) added via solid cattle manure or liquidhog manure. For each site, columns with the same letter (and case)are not significantly different (P >0.05) using LSD.012345678910SeedBiomass (Mg/ha)GrainStrawCentral ButteBarley Yieldc ccc c caababcABCABACDBCDBCDCD BCDD012345678910SeedBiomass (Mg/ha)GrainStrawMelfortBarley Yieldababab ab abbababaAB AB AB ABABABABAB020406080100120140160PNutrient Uptake (kg/ha)NPNo ManureChunkyBiocharPowderBiocharNoBiocharSolid Cattle ManureChunkyBiocharPowderBiocharNoBiocharLiquid Hog ManureChunkyBiocharPowderBiocharNoBiocharCentral ButteBarley Nutrient Uptakebc abcabcababc bcc bcAB AB AB AB AB ABABBNo ManureChunkyBiocharPowderBiocharNoBiocharSolid Cattle ManureChunkyBiocharPowderBiocharNoBiocharLiquid Hog ManureChunkyBiocharPowderBiocharNoBiochar020406080100120140160PNutrient Uptake (kg/ha)NPMelfortBarley Nutrient UptakeabAbabb bbaab abA A A A AAA A05001000150020002500300035004000MelPRSTM-Probe Supply Rate(mg N/10 cm2/six weeks)Central Butte (Class 4)Melfort (Class 1)bc bc cbbcbcaaaABAABCCCBCBCCBC05001000150020002500300035004000Melmg/10 cm2/six weeksCentral Butte (Class 4)Melfort (Class 1)Total Nitrogen (NO3--N + NH4+-N) Supply Rate020406080100120140160MelPRSTM-Probe Supply Rate(mg P/10 cm2/six weeks)Central Butte (Class 4)Melfort (Class 1)bababab abaab ab abBBBBBBAABPhosphorus Supply Rate

https://harvest.usask.ca/bitstream/10388/8976/1/R.D.%20Hangs%20and%20J.J.%20Schoenau%2c%202014.pdf

Amending soil with combinations of biochar and manure: impacts on soil properties, barley yield, and nutrient uptake

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