Effect of Carbon Content in Wheat Straw Biochar on N 2 O and CO 2 Emissions and Pakchoi Productivity Under Different Soil Moisture Conditions

Amar Ali Adam Hamad, Lixiao Ni, Hiba Shaghaleh, Elsayed Elsadek and Yousef Alhaj Hamoud ()
Additional contact information
Amar Ali Adam Hamad: College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Lixiao Ni: College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Hiba Shaghaleh: College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Elsayed Elsadek: College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Yousef Alhaj Hamoud: College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: Agricultural soils are a primary source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Biochar is commonly used as a soil amendment to prevent climate change by reducing GHG production, increasing soil carbon storage, improving soil moisture retention, and enhancing crop productivity. However, the impact of biochar’s carbon content under subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) has not been well studied. Here, we investigated the effect of different carbon (C) contents in wheat biochar under different SDI depths on soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), soil moisture distribution, and Pakchoi productivity. A pot experiment was conducted using three SDI depths, emitters buried at 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 m below the soil’s surface, and three levels of C content named zero biochar (CK), 50% C (low (L)), and 95% C (high (H)) in greenhouse cultivation. The findings showed biochar significantly decreased N 2 O and CO 2 emissions. Compared to CK, the L and H treatments decreased N 2 O by (18.20, 28.14%), (16.65, 17.51%), and 11.05, 18.65%) under SDI 5 , SDI 10 , and SDI 15 , respectively. Similarly, the L and H treatments decreased CO 2 by (8.05, 31.46%), (6.96, 28.88%), and (2.97, 7.89%) under SDI 5 , SDI 10 , and SDI 15, respectively. Compared to CK, L and H increased soil moisture content. All plant growth parameters and yield traits were enhanced under SDI 5 . In summary, biochar addition significantly decreased soil N 2 O and CO 2 emissions compared to CK, and increased growth performance and yield, and maintained soil moisture content. The H treatment significantly reduced N 2 O and CO 2 emissions, increased plant growth and yield, and maintained soil moisture content compared to the L treatment. Soil moisture was reduced vertically and horizontally with increased radial distance from the emitter.

Keywords: N 2 O and CO 2 emissions; pakchoi cabbage; subsurface drip irrigation; irrigation depths (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/5100/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/5100/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:5100-:d:1096320

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().