Effects of biochar application on soil enzyme activities in Eucalyptus plantations in North Guangxi

Abstract

To investigate the effects of different biochar applications on soil enzyme activities in Eucalyptus plantations in North Guangxi, and provide theoretical references for the rational application of biochar to Eucalyptus plantations. Based on field experiments, biochar was prepared anaerobically at 500℃ from branches of Eucalyptus plantation harvesting residues, and with six treatment groups, such as 0 (CK), 0.5% (T1), 1% (T2), 2% (T3), 4% (T4), and 6% (T5), to analyze the changes in soil enzyme activities under different application rates after one year importation. The results were as follows: (1) The soil enzyme content decreased gradually as the soil layer deepened. (2) In the same soil layer, the contents of urease, catalase, β-glucosidase and dehydrogenase increased with the increase of biochar application, and the highest contents were found at 6% of biochar application. (3) With the increase of biochar application, the contents of acid phosphatase, sucrase, leucine aminopeptidase and cellobioglucosidase showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. Acid phosphatase and leucine aminopeptidase had the highest contents at 2% of biochar application. Sucrase and cellobioglucosidase had the highest contents at 4% of biochar application. In general, the biochar application increased the soil enzyme activities of Eucalyptus plantations. The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for the application of forestry waste biochar in Eucalyptus plantations.

Keywords

• biochar
• soil enzyme activity
• eucalyptus plantations
• north guangxi
• field experiment