Open AccessDynamics of C and N in a clay loam soil amended with biochar and corn straw
Author(s) -
George O. Odugbenro,
Zhihua Liu,
Yong Sun
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
indian journal of agricultural research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.241
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 0976-058X
pISSN - 0367-8245
DOI - 10.18805/ijare.a-403
Subject(s) - biochar , loam , straw , agronomy , chemistry , biomass (ecology) , soil water , environmental science , soil science , pyrolysis , biology , organic chemistry
An incubation study was conducted to determine the influence of biochar and corn straw on CO2-C emission, soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, total N, and mineral N (NH4+-N and NO3--N) in a clay loam soil. Six treatments viz., CK (Control); S (Soil + 1% straw); B1 (Soil + 0.5% biochar); B2 (Soil + 2% biochar); SB1 (Soil + 1% straw + 0.5% biochar); SB2 (Soil + 1% straw + 2% biochar) were tested with three replications. Results showed that straw addition to soil with or without biochar increased CO2-C emission while sole-biochar addition (2%) reduced it. Straw and biochar also increased the soil microbial biomass C and N but greatest increase in microbial biomass N (111.9 µg g-1) was recorded by biochar-straw combination. SOC and total N significantly increased following biochar and straw additions which suggest that organic amendments can improve soil chemical properties. Additionally, for soil mineral N, biochar reduced NH4+-N and NO3--N concentrations while straw increased NH4+-N concentration but greatly reduced that of NO3--N.