Persistence of Biochar Effects on Soil and Nitrous Oxide Emissions: Evaluating Single vs. Repeated Applications in Multi-Year Field Trial

Melinda Molnárová (), Elena Aydın, Vladimír Šimanský, Ján Čimo, Morad Mirzaei, Natalya P. Buchkina and Ján Horák
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Melinda Molnárová: Institute of Landscape Engineering, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, Hospodárska 7, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Elena Aydın: Institute of Landscape Engineering, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, Hospodárska 7, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Vladimír Šimanský: Institute of Agrochemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture, Trieda A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Ján Čimo: Institute of Landscape Engineering, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, Hospodárska 7, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Morad Mirzaei: School of Natural Sciences, Botany Discipline, Trinity College Dublin, D02 F6N2 Dublin, Ireland
Natalya P. Buchkina: Department of Soil Physics, Physical Chemistry and Biophysics, Agrophysical Research Institute, St. Petersburg 195220, Russia
Ján Horák: Institute of Landscape Engineering, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, Hospodárska 7, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Biochar has been widely recognized for its potential to improve soil quality and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A field experiment was conducted in a temperate climate zone of Slovakia on Haplic Luvisol and evaluated the long-term impact of biochar on soil properties, nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, and winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) yield. Biochar was applied in 2014 at rates of 0, 10, and 20 t ha −1 and reapplied in 2018 at the same rates, combined with nitrogen (N) fertilization (0, 140, and 210 kg N ha −1 ). Measurements, conducted from March to October 2021, showed that biochar improved soil water content, increased soil pH, and enhanced soil organic carbon content. However, the concentrations of NH 4 + -N and NO 3 − -N generally decreased across all the treatments compared to their respective controls. Biochar reapplication rate at 20 t ha −1 , especially combined with second level of N-fertilization, led to a significant reduction in cumulative N 2 O emissions by 38.40%. Winter wheat yield was positively correlated with both biochar application (10 and 20 t ha −1 ) and N levels (140 and 210 kg N ha −1 ), but these differences were not statistically significant ( p > 0.05). The positive effects of biochar on soil properties and yield declined over time, with no significant yield differences observed 7 years after the initial application and 3 years after reapplication. These findings suggest that while biochar can enhance soil conditions and reduce GHG emissions in the short term, its long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. Further research is needed to explore alternative biochar feedstocks, application methods, and strategies to sustain its benefits in agricultural systems.

Keywords: biochar; GHG emissions; N fertilization; soil quality; winter wheat (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: 2025
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