Beneficial Effects of Biochar Application with Nitrogen Fertilizer on Soil Nitrogen Retention, Absorption and Utilization in Maize Production

• Published in: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 113
• Main Authors: Li, Changjiang, Zhao, Cunyou, Zhao, Ximei, Wang, Yuanbo, Lv, Xingjun, Zhu, Xiaowei, Song, Xiliang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.01.2023
• Subjects: absorption; Agricultural development; Agricultural production; agronomy; biochar; Carbon; Cereal crops; Charcoal; Chemical properties; Corn; Crop production; Crops; Dry matter; dry matter accumulation; Ecological effects; equations; Fertilizer application; Fertilizers; Food quality; Food security; growth performance; leaves; Multivariate statistical analysis; Nitrates; Nitrogen; nitrogen content; nitrogen fertilization; nitrogen fertilization use efficiency; nitrogen fertilizers; nitrogen retention; nutrient use efficiency; Organic carbon; Organic phosphorus; Organic soils; Phosphorus; Photosynthesis; phytomass; Plant biomass; Plant growth; potassium; Soil chemistry; Soil fertility; Soil improvement; Soil nutrients; soil organic carbon; Soil pH; Soil properties; Soil quality; Sustainable agriculture; Sustainable development; Utilization; China
• ISSN: 2073-4395; 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy13010113

The irrational use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer has become a major threat to soil quality and food security, resulting in serious ecological and environmental problems. Holistic approaches to N fertilizer application are required to maintain a high N utilization efficiency (NUE) and sustainable agriculture development. Biochar is an efficient carbon-rich material for amending soil quality and promoting crop N uptake, but knowledge pertaining to the promoting effects of biochar application on N fertilizers is still limited. In this study, a field plot experiment was designed to detect the combined effects of biochar (0, 15 and 30 t ha−1) and N fertilizer (204, 240 and 276 kg N ha−1) on the soil nutrient levels, NUE, plant growth performance and crop production of maize. The results demonstrated that the combined application of N fertilizer and biochar can significantly decrease the soil pH and increase the contents of soil organic carbon, mineral N, available phosphorus and potassium. The crop N uptake and N content were largely promoted by the addition of N fertilizer and biochar, resulting in higher leaf photosynthetic efficiency, dry matter accumulation and grain yields. The highest yields (14,928 kg ha−1) were achieved using 276 kg N ha−1 N fertilizer in combination with 15 t ha−1 biochar, and the highest NUE value (46.3%) was reached with 204 kg N ha−1 N of fertilizer blended with 30 t ha−1 of biochar. According to structural equation modeling, the beneficial effects of N fertilizer and biochar on the plant biomass of maize were attributed to the direct effects related to soil chemical properties and plant growth parameters. In conclusion, N fertilizer combined with biochar application is an effective strategy to enhance the utilization of N fertilizer and crop production for maize by increasing soil fertility, improving plant crop uptake and promoting plant growth.