Contrasting effects of bamboo leaf and its biochar on soil CO₂ efflux and labile organic carbon in an intensively managed Chinese chestnut plantation

• Published in: Biology and fertility of soils Vol. 50; no. 7; pp. 1109 - 1119
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhanlei, Li, Yongfu, Chang, Scott X, Zhang, Jiaojiao, Jiang, Peikun, Zhou, Guomo, Shen, Zhenming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.10.2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Bamboo; bamboos; biochar; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; carbon; carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; Carbon sequestration; Castanea mollissima; Charcoal; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Leaves; Life Sciences; microbial biomass; Microbiology; Moisture content; Nuts; Organic carbon; Organic matter; Original Paper; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Plantations; Soil dynamics; soil organic carbon; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil temperature; Soils; water content; Microbial biomass C (MBC); Water-soluble organic C (WSOC); Biochar; Soil respiration; Organic carbon; Labile carbon; Gas emission; Plantations; Carbon dioxide; Plant leaf; Soluble form; Fagaceae; Microbial biomass; Carbonization; Carbon cycle; Soils; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Water solubility; Spermatophyta; Soil science; Fruit tree; Castanea mollissima; Respiration
• ISSN: 0178-2762; 1432-0789
• DOI: 10.1007/s00374-014-0933-8

The effects and associated mechanisms of the application of organic residues or their derived biochar on the dynamics of soil organic C and soil CO₂ efflux in planted soils are poorly understood. This paper investigated the impact of bamboo leaf and the derived biochar applications on soil CO₂ efflux and labile organic C in an intensively managed Chinese chestnut plantation in a 12-month field study. The treatments studied included Control, application of bamboo leaf (Leaf), and application of biochar (Biochar). The Leaf treatment increased (P < 0.05) soil CO₂ efflux and concentrations of water-soluble organic C (WSOC) and microbial biomass C (MBC). The Biochar treatment increased soil CO₂ efflux and WSOC and MBC only in the first month after application, but such effects diminished thereafter. The annual cumulative soil CO₂ emission was increased by 16 % by the Leaf treatment as compared to the Control, but there was no difference between the Biochar and Control treatments. The soil organic C (SOC) storage was increased by biochar addition but not by bamboo leaf addition. An exponential relationship between soil temperature and soil CO₂ efflux was observed regardless of the treatment. Soil CO₂ efflux was correlated to soil WSOC (P < 0.05) but not to soil MBC or moisture content. The apparent temperature sensitivity (Q ₁₀) of soil CO₂ efflux was ranked as Leaf > Biochar > Control. In comparison with the application of fresh bamboo leaf, pyrolyzed bamboo leaf (biochar) application decreased CO₂ effluxes and increased C sequestration in the soil.