Biochar decreased N loss from paddy ecosystem under alternate wetting and drying in the Lower Liaohe River Plain, China

Feng Zhang; Taotao Chen; Hongyuan Zhu; Zhe Wang; Wanting Zhang; Wanning Dai; Daocai Chi; Guimin Xia

Agricultural Water Management (Dec 2024)

Biochar decreased N loss from paddy ecosystem under alternate wetting and drying in the Lower Liaohe River Plain, China

Feng Zhang,
Taotao Chen,
Hongyuan Zhu,
Zhe Wang,
Wanting Zhang,
Wanning Dai,
Daocai Chi,
Guimin Xia

Affiliations

Feng Zhang: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Taotao Chen: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; National Biochar Institute, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; Key Laboratory of Biochar and Soil Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang 110866, China; Corresponding author at: National Biochar Institute, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.
Hongyuan Zhu: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Zhe Wang: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Wanting Zhang: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Wanning Dai: National Biochar Institute, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Daocai Chi: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Guimin Xia: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 305
p. 109108

Abstract

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Biochar addition to soil is widely utilized to enhance carbon sequestration and reduce fertilizer N losses. However, little research has been studied on the effect of biochar on reactive gaseous N losses, N leaching and grain yield in paddy ecosystems under water stress, especially in the Lower Liaohe River Plain with a higher water percolation. Our experiment was carried out in 2020 and 2021 utilizing a split-plot design with continuously flooding irrigation and alternate wetting and drying irrigation as main plots and without biochar addition and with 20 t·ha−1 rice husk-derived biochar addition as sub-plots. The results showed that alternate wetting and drying irrigation respectively, decreased N leaching and reactive N losses by 15.9 % and 11.3 % but also respectively, increased seasonal cumulative NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions by 5.0 % and 210 % on average. Rice husk-derived biochar addition significantly mitigated seasonal cumulative NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions by 8.8 % and 19.7 % in 2020, 20.7 % and 19.2 % in 2021, respectively, and decreased inorganic N leaching and reactive N losses by 8.3 % and 14.1 % in 2021. Biochar addition coupling with alternate wetting and drying respectively, mitigated cumulative NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions by 7.3 % and 19.3 % in 2020, and, 22.7 % and 22.0 % in 2021 as compared to that without biochar. Biochar did not differ from without biochar in inorganic N leaching under alternate wetting and drying irrigation in both years but significantly reduced reactive N losses by 17.8 % in 2021, which efficiently inhibited the alternate wetting and drying induced negative effects on the increase in reactive N losses. Therefore, biochar addition to paddy ecosystems under alternate wetting and drying could realize sustainable utilization of water resources, increase soil N fixation, and mitigate N losses.

Published in Agricultural Water Management

ISSN: 1873-2283 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Agriculture (General); Social Sciences: Industries. Land use. Labor: Special industries and trades: Agricultural industries
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/agricultural-water-management

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