The effects of biochar addition on phosphorus transfer and water utilization efficiency in a vegetable field in Northeast China

Ke Zhou, Yue-yu Sui, Xin Xu, Jin-yuan Zhang, Yi-min Chen, Meng Hou and Xiao-guang Jiao

Agricultural Water Management, 2018, vol. 210, issue C, 324-329

Abstract: The excessive application of fertilizer has become a serious problem for vegetable farming in China and aggravates agricultural non-point pollution. As a soil amendment, biochar has obtained worldwide attention. Irrigation and fertilization management also play an important role in controlling agricultural non-point pollution. To investigate the effects of biochar addition, irrigation and fertilization management on phosphorus (P) leaching as well as water utilization efficiency (WUE) in vegetable fields in northeast China, a field experiment with three treatments, i.e., regular fertilization and irrigation (CK), regular fertilization and irrigation with biochar addition (100WF+B) and 20% reduction of chemical fertilizers and irrigation compared to 100WF+B (80WF+B), was conducted. The P leaching amounts in 100WF+B and 80WF+B were only 15.91% and 11.36%, respectively, of that in CK. The P uptake amounts in the three treatments in descending order were 100WF+B, 80WF+B, and CK. The WUE in 100WF+B and 80WF+B were 15.3 and 25.2 kg/(ha mm) higher, respectively, than that in CK. There were no significant differences between the yield of CK and 80WF+B. The yield of 100WF+B was 3.4 t/ha higher than the yield of CK. Biochar significantly increased WUE, yield, TP (total phosphorus) and AP (available phosphorus) contents in the surface layer as well as P uptake and decreased P leaching when comparing 100WF+B to CK. Fertilization and irrigation reduction decreased P leaching and significantly increased WUE, but the yield was affected when comparing 80WF+B to 100WF+B. Biochar combined with fertilization and irrigation reduction significantly increased WUE and decreased P leaching without affecting yield when comparing 80WF+B to CK.

Keywords: Biochar; Phosphorus leaching; Water utilization efficiency; Mollisol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:210:y:2018:i:c:p:324-329

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2018.08.007

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