Effects of Different Biochars on 'Pinus elliottii' Growth, N Use Efficiency, Soil N₂O and CH₄ Emissions and C Storage in a Subtropical Area of China

Lin, Zhibin; Liu, Qi; Liu, Gang; Cowie, Annette; Bei, Qicheng; Liu, Benjuan; Wang, Xiaojie; Ma, Jing; Zhu, Jianguo; Xie, Zubin

doi:10.1016/s1002-0160(17)60314-x

Author(s)

Lin, Zhibin

Liu, Qi

Liu, Gang

Cowie, Annette

Bei, Qicheng

Liu, Benjuan

Wang, Xiaojie

Ma, Jing

Zhu, Jianguo

Xie, Zubin

Publication Date

2017

Abstract

Intensive management of planted forests may result in soil degradation and decline in timber yield with successive rotations. Biochars may be beneficial for plant production, nutrient uptake and greenhouse gas mitigation. Biochar properties vary widely and are known to be highly dependent on feedstocks, but their effects on planted forest ecosystem are elusive. This study investigated the effects of chicken manure biochar, sawdust biochar and their feedstocks on 2-year-old Pinus elliottii growth, fertilizer N use efficiency (NUE), soil N₂O and CH₄ emissions, and C storage in an acidic forest soil in a subtropical area of China for one year. The soil was mixed with materials in a total of 8 treatments: non-amended control (CK); sawdust at 2.16 kg m⁻² (SD); chicken manure at 1.26 kg m⁻² (CM); sawdust biochar at 2.4 kg m⁻² (SDB); chicken manure biochar at 2.4 kg m⁻² (CMB); ¹⁵N-fertilizer alone (10.23 atom% ¹⁵N) (NF); sawdust biochar at 2.4 kg m⁻² plus 15N-fertilizer (SDBN) and chicken manure biochar at 2.4 kg m⁻² plus 15N-fertilizer (CMBN). Results showed that the CMB treatment increased P. elliottii net primary production (aboveground biomass plus litterfall) and annual net C fixation (ANCF) by about 180% and 157%, respectively, while the the SDB treatment had little effect on P. elliottii growth. The ¹⁵N stable isotope labelling technique revealed that fertilizer NUE was 22.7% in CK, 25.5% in the NF treatment, and 37.0% in the CMB treatment. Chicken manure biochar significantly increased soil pH, total N, total P, total K, available P and available K. Only 2% of the N in chicken manure biochar was available to the tree. The soil N₂O emission and CH₄ uptake showed no significant differences among the treatments. The apparent C losses from the SD and CM treatments were 35% and 61%, respectively; while those from the CMB and SDB treatments were negligible. These demonstrated that it is crucial to consider biochar properties while evaluating their effects on plant growth and C sequestration.

Citation

Pedosphere, 27(2), p. 248-261

ISSN

1002-0160

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/22033

Language

en

Publisher

Kexue Chubanshe, Science Press

Title

Effects of Different Biochars on 'Pinus elliottii' Growth, N Use Efficiency, Soil N₂O and CH₄ Emissions and C Storage in a Subtropical Area of China

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Lin, Zhibin Liu, Qi Liu, Gang Cowie, Annette Bei, Qicheng Liu, Benjuan Wang, Xiaojie Ma, Jing Zhu, Jianguo Xie, Zubin
Publication Date	2017
Abstract	Intensive management of planted forests may result in soil degradation and decline in timber yield with successive rotations. Biochars may be beneficial for plant production, nutrient uptake and greenhouse gas mitigation. Biochar properties vary widely and are known to be highly dependent on feedstocks, but their effects on planted forest ecosystem are elusive. This study investigated the effects of chicken manure biochar, sawdust biochar and their feedstocks on 2-year-old Pinus elliottii growth, fertilizer N use efficiency (NUE), soil N₂O and CH₄ emissions, and C storage in an acidic forest soil in a subtropical area of China for one year. The soil was mixed with materials in a total of 8 treatments: non-amended control (CK); sawdust at 2.16 kg m⁻² (SD); chicken manure at 1.26 kg m⁻² (CM); sawdust biochar at 2.4 kg m⁻² (SDB); chicken manure biochar at 2.4 kg m⁻² (CMB); ¹⁵N-fertilizer alone (10.23 atom% ¹⁵N) (NF); sawdust biochar at 2.4 kg m⁻² plus 15N-fertilizer (SDBN) and chicken manure biochar at 2.4 kg m⁻² plus 15N-fertilizer (CMBN). Results showed that the CMB treatment increased P. elliottii net primary production (aboveground biomass plus litterfall) and annual net C fixation (ANCF) by about 180% and 157%, respectively, while the the SDB treatment had little effect on P. elliottii growth. The ¹⁵N stable isotope labelling technique revealed that fertilizer NUE was 22.7% in CK, 25.5% in the NF treatment, and 37.0% in the CMB treatment. Chicken manure biochar significantly increased soil pH, total N, total P, total K, available P and available K. Only 2% of the N in chicken manure biochar was available to the tree. The soil N₂O emission and CH₄ uptake showed no significant differences among the treatments. The apparent C losses from the SD and CM treatments were 35% and 61%, respectively; while those from the CMB and SDB treatments were negligible. These demonstrated that it is crucial to consider biochar properties while evaluating their effects on plant growth and C sequestration.
Citation	Pedosphere, 27(2), p. 248-261
ISSN	1002-0160
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/22033
Language	en
Publisher	Kexue Chubanshe, Science Press
Title	Effects of Different Biochars on 'Pinus elliottii' Growth, N Use Efficiency, Soil N₂O and CH₄ Emissions and C Storage in a Subtropical Area of China
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Effects of Different Biochars on 'Pinus elliottii' Growth, N Use Efficiency, Soil N₂O and CH₄ Emissions and C Storage in a Subtropical Area of China

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