Contrasting effects of manure and green waste biochars on the properties of an acidic ferralsol and productivity of a subtropical pasture

Abstract

Background and Aim: We hypothesised that amending an acidic ferralsol with biochar would improve the productivity of a subtropical dairy pasture via reducing soil acidity related constraints and result in improved nitrogen use efficiency. We examined two contrasting biochars with different carbon, nutrient content and acid neutralising values. Methods: Field plots were amended with one of three biochar treatments (Nil, feedlot manure bio char [FM], green waste biochar [GW]) in combination with presence or absence of NPK fertiliser and presence or absence of liming. The FM and GW biochars had a carbon content of 44 and 76 %, available phosphorous of 5,960 and 93 mg kg−¹, and liming values of 13 and 5.6 %, respectively. The pasture was managed to supply year round high quality feed for dairy production. Results: The FM biochar increased total pasture productivity by 11 % and improved the agronomic nitrogen use efficiency by 23 %. It also reduced soil acidity but did not significantly affect the pH dependent soil cation exchange capacity. The GW biochar did not improve pasture productivity. Both biochars resulted in an increase in the soil carbon density. Conclusions: The high available phosphorous content of FM bio char makes it an effective amendment for acidic ferralsols. Green waste biochar did not have sufficient acid neutralising capacity nor phosphorous content to reduce soil acidity constraints. Both biochars enhance soil carbon storage in pasture systems on ferralsol.