Biochar effects on soil nitrogen retention, leaching and yield of perennial citron daylily under three irrigation regimes

Xiaolei Sun, Xiaosong Yang, Zhengyi Hu, Fulai Liu, Zijian Xie, Songyan Li, Guoxi Wang, Meng Li, Zheng Sun and Roland Bol

Agricultural Water Management, 2024, vol. 296, issue C

Abstract: Biochar can serve as a soil amendment to immobilize soil nitrogen (N) and reduce N leaching from cropland without negative effect on crop yield. However, the interaction effect of biochar application and irrigation regimes on soil N status (N retention and N loss) and crop yield is rarely reported in the open perennial vegetable field. A two-years field trial (transplanting in first year and consecutive growth in second year) was conducted in citron daylily vegetable cropping system on a sandy brown alluvial soil. Two biochar application rates (0 and 30 t ha−1) and three irrigation regimes (CDI, conventional drip irrigation; WSDI, water-saving drip irrigation with 80% of full irrigation quota; APRDI, alternate partial root-zone drip irrigation with 80% of full irrigation quota) were included. The response of crop yield and soil N status to both biochar application and irrigation regimes varied across planting years for perennial citron daylily. After the first planting year's harvest, APRDI enhanced flower bud yield by 18–28% compared to CDI and WSDI, likely due to improved nitrate use efficiency evidenced by lower soil nitrate retention in the surface soil (0–20 cm) post-harvest. However, biochar application resulted in a reduction of yield by 27% under APRDI. Additionally, WSDI with reduced yields, decreased soil TN in the sub-surface layer (20–50 cm) with 9–19% by comparison with other two irrigation regimes, resulting in higher TN concentration in the soil solution (14–28%) in and thus an increased risk for N leaching. However, after the second harvest year, there were no variations in crop yield induced by biochar application and irrigation regimes. Irrigation regimes exhibited limited influence on soil N status, while biochar application mitigated soil nitrogen decline in the 0–50 cm layer by enhancing organic nitrogen retention capacity for nearly 16–85%. Furthermore, the lowest TN concentration in the soil solution in the sub-surface layer (20–50 cm) with biochar application under APRDI suggested a reduced risk for N leaching. We conclude that combining biochar application with the APRDI regime could help retain soil N, decrease the risk of N leaching, and enhance crop yield in total for two consecutive planting years. Therefore, this approach is recommended for sustainable N management in long-term planting of perennial crops.

Keywords: Perennial vegetable; Biochar; Alternate partial root-zone drip irrigation; Soil N balance; Organic nitrogen retention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:296:y:2024:i:c:s0378377424001239

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2024.108788

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