Effects of Adding Pyrochar and Hydrochar to Calcareous Soil on Nutrient Uptake by Maize
Yuxiao Cai,
Luyu Liu,
Wei Zhang,
Sen Xing,
Xiaohui Liang,
Mingjie Gao,
Hewei Yu,
Zhaoxia Jiang,
Kenji Ogino,
Xiuxiu Chen,
Bing Wang,
Hongyu Si
Affiliations
Yuxiao Cai
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences)
Luyu Liu
College of Engineering Ocean University of China
Wei Zhang
College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University
Sen Xing
Shandong 963 Agricultural Science and Technology Co, Ltd
Xiaohui Liang
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences)
Mingjie Gao
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences)
Hewei Yu
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences)
Zhaoxia Jiang
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences)
Kenji Ogino
Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Xiuxiu Chen
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences)
Bing Wang
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences); Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Hongyu Si
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences)
The patterns and mechanisms underlying the effects of different types of biochar on crop dry matter accumulation and uptake of major soil minerals are uncertain. This study demonstrated the positive effects of adding pyrochar (PC) and hydrochar (HC) to calcareous soils on nutrient uptake by maize seedlings and revealed the important role of mycorrhizal colonization. The effects depended on the type of biochar added and the type of nutrient evaluated. The dry weights of maize seedlings were higher in the HC and PC groups than in the control group, and the P accumulation was 17% higher than that of the control. Adding PC significantly increased Zn accumulation and the concentration and accumulation of Cu in maize seedlings, whereas adding HC increased the Fe concentration. Applying PC and HC also promoted mycorrhizal colonization of maize roots, and P, Zn, and Cu accumulations in the plant were positively correlated with the mycorrhizal colonization rate. This study found that applying PC and HC to calcareous soil at the tested application rate promotes the uptake of some mineral nutrients by maize at the seedling stage, and this effect was at least partially influenced by an increased mycorrhizal colonization rate in the plant root system.
