Effects of Biochar-Based Fertilizers on Energy Characteristics and Growth of Black Locust Seedlings

Ting Gao, Qian Zhu, Zhidong Zhou, Yongbo Wu and Jianhui Xue
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Ting Gao: College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Qian Zhu: College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Zhidong Zhou: Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
Yongbo Wu: College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Jianhui Xue: College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: To understand ecological and energy problems in the karst area of Guizhou, China, the effects of using biochar-based fertilizers on the energy characteristics of different species of black locust were studied. To determine the most suitable species and the best rational application method of biochar, an outdoor pot experiment was performed using three species of black locust (White-flowered locust (W), Hong-sen locust (S), and Large-leaf fast-growing locust (L)). There were six treatments: control (CK), MF, RH2MF, RH4MF, W2MF, and W4MF (M—compost; F—NPK fertilizer; RH—rice husk biochar; and W—wood biochar), where the numbers represented the mass ratio of biochar to soil. Biochar-based fertilizers had significant effects on the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total potassium (TK), branch gross calorific values (GCV), and ash removal calorific values (AFCV) of seedlings. RH4MF had the best overall values. Different species had significant effects in all indicators (except for TN); the effect on S was better than that of W and L. Principal component analysis showed that RH4MF-S had the highest comprehensive scores. In summary, Hong-sen locust (S) was a high-quality energy species and RH4MF may be used as fertilization for energy forest development. This study provides a reference for future long-term energy forest research in this area.

Keywords: biochar; karst; black locust; energy characteristics; calorific value (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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