Positive experience in the application of soil- and carbon-saving agricultural technologies with the introduction of biochar in the conditions of the Russian Far East

Abstract

Based on the positive results of a long-term field experiment on the introduction of bio-coal for vegetable crops in the Primorsky Territory on soils of heavy chemical composition, its sequestration effect and positive effect on the water-physical properties of soils were proved. After the first year of application of biochar, a significant decrease in CO2 flux in the field without a drainage system was shown by 4.5% at a dose of 1 kg/m2 of biochar and by 36.6% at a dose of 3 kg/m2 of biochar compared with a site without biochar. The decrease in CO2 flux indicates the reclamation effect of biochar due to its high sorption properties affecting the sequestration capacity of the soil. After the second year of application of biochar, the greatest decrease in CO2 flux was observed when 1 kg/m2 was applied. The greatest difference between the values of the CO2 flux at the control site and the sites with the introduction of biochar was noted in September after the abnormal amount of precipitation recorded in August (521 mm). So, at the control site in September, the CO2 flux was 2,276 mg CO2 m-2 h-1, at the site with the addition of 1 kg/m2 of biochar, the CO2 flux was 560 mg CO2 m-2 h-1, at the site with the addition of 3 kg/m2 – 975 mg CO2 m-2 h-1.