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Effect of crop residue biochar on soil acidity amelioration in strongly acidic tea garden soils
Author(s) -
Wang L.,
Butterly C. R.,
Wang Y.,
Herath H. M. S. K.,
Xi Y. G.,
Xiao X. J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/sum.12096
Subject(s) - biochar , chemistry , alkalinity , soil ph , soil water , cation exchange capacity , agronomy , alkali soil , environmental chemistry , soil science , environmental science , biology , pyrolysis , organic chemistry
Strongly acidic soil (e.g. p H < 5.0) is detrimental to tea productivity and quality. Wheat, rice and peanut biochar produced at low temperature (max 300 °C) and differing in alkalinity content were incorporated into X uan‐cheng ( U ltisol; initial p H soil/water = 1/2.5 4.12) and Y ing‐tan soil ( U ltisol; initial pH soil/water = 1/2.5 4.75) at 10 and 20 g/kg (w/w) to quantify their liming effect and evaluate their effectiveness for acidity amelioration of tea garden soils. After a 65‐day incubation at 25 °C, biochar application significantly ( P < 0.05) increased soil p H and exchangeable cations and reduced A l saturation of both tea soils. Association of H + ions with biochar and decarboxylation processes was likely to be the main factor neutralizing soil acidity. Further, biochar application reduced acidity production from the N cycle. Significant ( P < 0.05) increases in exchangeable cations and reductions in exchangeable acidity and Al saturation were observed as the rate of biochar increased, but there were no further effects on soil p H . The lack of change in soil p H at the higher biochar rate may be due to the displacement of exchangeable acidity and the high buffering capacity of biochar, thereby retarding a further liming effect. Hence, a significant linear correlation between reduced exchangeable acidity and alkalinity balance was found in biochar‐amended soils ( P < 0.05). Low‐temperature biochar of crop residues is suggested as a potential amendment to ameliorate acidic tea garden soils.