The biochar effect on soil respiration and nitrification

Barbora Šlapáková, Julie Jeřábková, Karel Voříšek, Václav Tejnecký and Ondřej Drábek
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Barbora Šlapáková: Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Julie Jeřábková: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Karel Voříšek: Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Václav Tejnecký: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Ondřej Drábek: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Plant, Soil and Environment, 2018, vol. 64, issue 3, 114-119

Abstract: Soil microorganisms play a main role in the nutrient cycle and they also play an important role in soil health. This article studies the influence of three rates of biochar (0.5, 1 and 3%) in comparison with control (0 biochar) in two different soils (Valečov and Čistá) on soil microbiota activities. The biochar was prepared from 80% of digestate from Zea mays L. and 20% of cellulose fibres by pyrolysis (470°C, 17 min). The biochar ability to influence microbial processes in soil was determined by respiration and nitrification tests. There were no significant differences between basal respiration of control samples and biochar-amended samples. Basal respiration in the Valečov soil reached average amounts from 1.32 to 1.52 mg CO2/h/100 g. In the Čistá soil, basal respiration reached average amounts from 1.40 to 1.49 mg CO2/h/100 g. No significant differences were proved also in nitrification tests of both soils. Nitrifying potential was the highest in 3% rate of biochar amendment. There were no negative changes in the measured soil parameters. CO2 efflux was not higher in biochar-amended soil.

Keywords: microbial activity; mineralization; soil amendment; cambisol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:3:id:13-2018-pse

DOI: 10.17221/13/2018-PSE

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