Scientific Reports (Mar 2021)

Co-application of high temperature biochar with 3,4-dimethylpyrazole-phosphate treated ammonium sulphate improves nitrogen use efficiency in maize

  • Niguss Solomon Hailegnaw,
  • Filip Mercl,
  • Martin Kulhánek,
  • Jiřina Száková,
  • Pavel Tlustoš

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85308-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

Read online

Abstract This study aimed on the increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of maize via the use of high temperature produced biochar (700 °C). Maize was grown to maturity on two contrasting soils (acidic Cambisol and neutral Chernozem) in pots with a treatment of biochar co-applied with ammonium sulphate stabilised by a nitrification inhibitor (3,4-dimethylpyrazole-phosphate, DMPP) or un-stabilised. The combination of biochar with ammonium sulphate containing DMPP increased maize biomass yield up to 14%, N uptake up to 34% and NUE up to 13.7% compared to the sole application of ammonium sulphate containing DMPP. However, the combination of biochar with un-stabilised ammonium sulphate (without DMPP) had a soil-specific influence and increased maize biomass only by 3.8%, N uptake by 27% and NUE by 11% only in acidic Cambisol. Further, the biochar was able to increase the uptake of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in both stabilised and un-stabilised treatments of ammonium sulphate. Generally, this study demonstrated a superior effect from the combined application of biochar with ammonium sulphate containing DMPP, which improved NUE, uptake of P, K and increased maize biomass yield. Such a combination may lead to higher efficiency of fertilisation practices and reduce the amount of N fertiliser to be applied.