Biochar application influences the stability of soil aggregates and wheat yields

Weijun Yang, Zilong Wang, Hongmei Zhao, Daping Li, Hongtao Jia and Wanli Xu
Additional contact information
Weijun Yang: College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, P.R. China
Zilong Wang: Xinjiang Germplasm Resource Center, Urumqi, P.R. China
Hongmei Zhao: College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, P.R. China
Daping Li: College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, P.R. China
Hongtao Jia: College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, P.R. China
Wanli Xu: Institute of Soil and Fertiliser and Agricultural Sparing Water, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Urumqi, P.R. China

Plant, Soil and Environment, 2024, vol. 70, issue 3, 125-141

Abstract: In the present study, a field establishment was initiated in 2018 with eight treatment conditions using biochar application rates of 0, 10, 20, or 30 t/ha and nitrogen application rates of 0 or 150 kg/ha. After two years, the impact of biochar on carbon-nitrogen distributions, soil aggregate stability, and wheat yields was then assessed. The predominant mechanical aggregates after two years were > 5 mm and 2-5 mm granular aggregates, with notable increases in the amounts of these aggregates following the application of biochar with or without nitrogen that coincided with an increase in soil aggregate mechanical stability. Relative to control conditions, aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric weight diameter (GMD) values rose by 17.6% and 24.3% for biochar with nitrogen treatment (N: 150 kg/ha; biochar: 20 t/ha), respectively. Biochar application alone and the application of both biochar and nitrogen fertiliser were associated with 6.4-20.2% and 20.7-42.7% increases in spring wheat yields, respectively. Overall, the results of these analyses highlight the value of applying biochar to improve soil quality and boost crop yields proximal to the study site. This study provided the scientific basis for the rational fertilisation and scientific management of biochar combined with nitrogen fertiliser in the irrigation area of Northern Xinjiang, China.

Keywords: soil structure; C/N ratio; sustainable agriculture; carbon fixation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/199/2023-PSE.html (text/html)
http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/199/2023-PSE.pdf (application/pdf)
free of charge

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:3:id:199-2023-pse

DOI: 10.17221/199/2023-PSE

Access Statistics for this article

Plant, Soil and Environment is currently edited by Kateřina Součková

More articles in Plant, Soil and Environment from Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ivo Andrle ().