Effects of Combined Biochar and Chemical Fertilizer Application on Soil Fertility and Properties: A Two-Year Pot Experiment

Xinyu Zhao, Lizhi He, Kun Geng, Haiyan Zhang, Jie Wang, Tao Gan, Xiali Mao and Xiaokai Zhang ()
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Xinyu Zhao: Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Lizhi He: College of Environmental and Resource, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Kun Geng: Changzhou Xingyu Automotive Lighting Systems Co., Ltd., Changzhou 213022, China
Haiyan Zhang: Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Jie Wang: College of Environmental and Resource, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Tao Gan: Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Xiali Mao: School of Environment and Natural Resources, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Xiaokai Zhang: Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: A two-year pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the combined application of biochar and chemical fertilizer on soil quality and vegetable growth by adding different proportions of chemical fertilizer and biochar to the soil in 2022 and no fertilizer in 2023. It was concluded that the combined treatment improved the soil’s properties. After two consecutive years of planting vegetables, the improvement of soil properties was the most significant with the 1.5 g biochar + 80% chemical fertilizer optimal fertilizer application (BCF6) treatment. In comparison to the control (CK), soil pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved organic carbon increased by 0.59 units, 166.6%, and 282.6%, respectively. Soil fertility also improved significantly, indicating that the combined treatments resulted in the slow release of nutrients to enhance the effectiveness of the fertilizers. Co-application significantly increased the yield of the edible parts of Chinese cabbage and improved its quality. The most significant effects of vitamin C content and soluble protein were observed in Chinese cabbage under BCF6 treatment, which were 3.33 and 1.42 times more than the CK, respectively. Utilizing biochar as a partial substitute for chemical fertilizers can improve soil structure and fertility over the long term while reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers, ultimately providing sustained economic and ecological benefits for agricultural production.

Keywords: biochar; chemical fertilizer; vegetable; yield and quality; soil quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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