Open AccessEarly response of organic matter dynamics to pine‐biochar in sandy soil under peach trees
Author(s) -
Frene Juan Pablo,
Frazier Mattie,
Rutto Edwin,
Jones McGwire,
Liu Shuang,
Clark Bernadette,
Parker Michael,
Gardner Terrence G.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
agrosystems, geosciences and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2639-6696
DOI - 10.1002/agg2.20094
Subject(s) - biochar , soil water , soil carbon , environmental science , carbon sequestration , silt , soil organic matter , organic matter , cycling , total organic carbon , soil fertility , chemistry , agronomy , environmental chemistry , nitrogen , soil science , forestry , pyrolysis , biology , paleontology , organic chemistry , geography
Biochar may enhance soil health in sandy soils under peach [ Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] tree production. A study was initiated in the Sandhills of North Carolina by applying pine‐biochar at two different rates (5 and 10%, v/v) and types of application (incorporation to 30 cm [‐Inc] and surface [‐Sur]) in 2017. Soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics was assessed via soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), permanganate‐oxidizable carbon (POXC), aggregate fractions (macro‐, micro‐aggregates, and clay + silt particles), and enzyme activities (CNPS activity) at 0–15 and 15–30 cm in 2018 and 2019. After the first year of pine‐biochar application, POXC decreased in all biochar treatments, SOC was higher in the 10%‐Inc treatment, whereas CNPS activities and macroaggregates were highest in the 5%‐Sur compared with the non‐treated control. These results suggest early changes in SOM dynamics and biogeochemical cycling and have the potential to guide producers with the long‐term application of pine‐biochar to sandy soils.