Effects of Combined Application of Chemical Fertilizer and Biochar on Soil Physio-Biochemical Properties and Maize Yield

Jiajun Wu, Liang Jin, Na Wang, Dan Wei, Min Pang, Dahao Li, Junqiang Wang, Yan Li, Xin Sun, Wen Wang and Lei Wang ()
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Jiajun Wu: Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Liang Jin: Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Na Wang: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding 071000, China
Dan Wei: Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Min Pang: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding 071000, China
Dahao Li: Qiqihar Agricultural Technology Promotion Center, Qiqihar 161000, China
Junqiang Wang: Qiqihar Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qiqihar 161000, China
Yan Li: Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Xin Sun: Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Wen Wang: Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Lei Wang: Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Excessive, long-term chemical fertilizer application adversely affects soil quality and maize yield. The combined application of biochar with chemical fertilizer can increase maize yield and improve soil fertility. A four-year field experiment was conducted to determine soil physio-biochemical properties and maize yield under a soybean–maize rotation in the black soils of Northeast China. There were five treatments, including no fertilization (CK), fertilizer (NPK), fertilizer + biochar (15.75 t·hm −2 , BC 1 ), fertilizer + biochar (31.50 t·hm −2 , BC 2 ), and fertilizer + biochar (47.25 t·hm −2 , BC 3 ). Compared with CK, the number of macroaggregates and the average weight diameter of soil aggregates in BC 2 treatment increased significantly by 10.3% and 24.5%, respectively. The soil pH in the study area was 7.03, and it increased in all treatments except for BC 1 . The highest pH of 7.17 was recorded in NPK and BC 2 treatments, which was around the optimal soil pH. In contrast to the CK and NPK treatments, the biochar application increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) content. The BC 2 treatment improved soil C/N and increased the copy number of soil bacteria by 25.6% compared to CK. The combined application of chemical fertilizer and biochar was better than NPK treatment alone, and improved soil mechanical composition and fine soil particle contents (powder and clay). Mixed biochar with chemical fertilizer application also significantly increased maize yield and the weight of 100 grains increased from 9.5% to 10.9% compared to CK. The maize yield of the three fertilizer and biochar treatments was higher than treatments with applied chemical fertilizer alone, in the order of BC 2 > BC 3 > BC 1 > NPK > CK (BC 2 treatment increased by 34.8%). Additionally, the maize yield was significantly and positively correlated with soil aggregates, organic carbon and total nitrogen ( p < 0.05) as well as the 100-grain weight ( p < 0.01). The application of 31.50 t·hm −2 (BC 2 treatment) of biochar can enhance soil physicochemical properties and improve maize yield.

Keywords: soil fertilization; soil amendment; biochar; black soil; Northeast China; yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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