Impact of biochar application on nitrogen nutrition of rice, greenhouse-gas emissions and soil organic carbon dynamics in two paddy soils of China

Aims

Two field microcosm experiments and ¹⁵N labeling techniques were used to investigate the effects of biochar addition on rice N nutrition and GHG emissions in an Inceptisol and an Ultisol.

Methods

Biochar N bioavailability and effect of biochar on fertilizer nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) were studied by ¹⁵N-enriched wheat biochar (7.8803 atom% ¹⁵N) and fertilizer urea (5.0026 atom% ¹⁵N) (Experiment I). Corn biochar and corn stalks were applied at 12 Mg?ha^?1 to study their effects on GHG emissions (Experiment II).

Results

Biochar had no significant impact on rice production and less than 2 % of the biochar N was available to plants in the first season. Biochar addition increased soil C and N contents and decreased urea NUE. Seasonal cumulative CH₄ emissions with biochar were similar to the controls, but significantly lower than the local practice of straw amendment. N₂O emissions with biochar were similar to the control in the acidic Ultisol, but significantly higher in the slightly alkaline Inceptisol. Carbon-balance calculations found no major losses of biochar-C.

Conclusion

Low bio-availability of biochar N did not make a significantly impact on rice production or N nutrition during the first year. Replacement of straw amendments with biochar could decrease CH₄ emissions and increase SOC stocks.     

Photoassimilated carbon allocation in a wheat plant-soil system as affected by soil fertility and land-use history

Background and aims

Carbon (C) cycling in terrestrial ecosystems is influenced by the distribution of photo-assimilated C in the plant-soil system. Photo-assimilated C allocation in a wheat cropping system was examined to identify the links between soil fertility, C partitioning and soil C sequestration.

Methods

A pulse labelling experiment was conducted where ¹⁴CO₂ was introduced to wheat plants grown in two groups of soils of varying fertility: arable soils spiked with nutrients, and soils with differing land-use histories. Wheat shoot, root and soil samples were taken 1, 14 and 28 days after pulse labelling to examine the fluxes of ¹⁴C in the plant-root-soil system.

Results

The partitioning of ¹⁴C in wheat plant-root-soil system was found to vary with time, nutrient spiked soil fertility and land-use history. At the end of the experiment using spiked soils, a positive correlation was observed between the allocation of ¹⁴C in the shoots and soil fertility, whereas in the roots, this relationship was negative. The overall allocation of ¹⁴C in the plant-root system differed significantly between the land-use histories; while in the spiked arable soils ¹⁴C allocation in the shoots and roots systematically followed their fertility status.

Conclusions

There was a weak relationship between C allocation and soil fertility in the soils of different land-use history compared to the strong relationship in the spiked arable soils. This suggests that other factors in the soils under different land uses were more important than nutrient status alone in driving photo-assimilated C allocation. This study demonstrated that soil fertility and land-use history have a crucial role in the allocation of photo-assimilated C in the plant-soil system and are important factors by which C sequestration in soil may be impacted.     

秸秆还田下施氮量对稻茬晚播小麦土壤氮素盈亏的影响

在大田条件下,研究了不同施氮量对秸秆还田下晚播小麦土壤矿质氮含量变化、秸秆氮释放及小麦产量的影响.结果表明： 0～50 cm土层土壤矿质氮含量随着施氮量的增加而显著增加,随生育进程的推进,N₂₇₀和N₃₆₀处理下层土壤的矿质氮显著积累.秸秆氮素释放量随施氮量增加而增加,越冬至拔节期氮释放量最低,拔节至成熟期释放量占总释氮量的50%以上.全生育期施氮量超过180 kg·hm^-2,土壤氮素开始出现显著的盈余,播种至拔节期氮素表观盈余量显著高于拔节至成熟期.籽粒产量在270 kg·hm^-2施氮量下最高, 更高施氮量下氮素利用效率显著降低.施氮量为270 kg·hm^-2时,有利于秸秆全量还田下晚播小麦兼顾产量和生态效益.     

水旱轮作下长期免耕和施用有机肥对土壤某些肥力性状的影响

１９８３年６月至１９９７年１０月进行的水旱轮作下连续免耕并配合施用有肥料的长期定位田间试验研究结果表明,长期免耕和施肥造成土壤养分的表层富集,０－５ｃｍ土层有机磷、全氮、速效氮含量显著增加,而５－１０ｃｍ和１０－２０ｃｍ土层上述养分含量明显低于常规耕翻处理;免耕对土壤结构破坏少,使０－２０ｃｍ土层水稳性团粒结构增多,综合各项肥力性状,不同施肥处理对提高土壤肥力的贡献为：猪粪〉秸秆〉绿肥〉化肥〉不施     

氮肥减量配施生物炭对黄壤稻田土壤有机碳活性组分和矿化的影响

化肥减施增效有助于农业的可持续发展。本研究用等氮量生物炭替代化肥氮,设置0、10%、20%、30%、40%(CK,T₁～T₄) 5个替代比例,在水稻收获后采集土壤样品进行室内分析,研究氮肥减量配施生物炭对黄壤稻田土壤有机碳活性组分和矿化的影响。结果表明: 氮肥减量配施生物炭均可显著提高土壤有机碳(SOC)含量,且与生物炭配施量呈正比。氮肥减施20%条件下,土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)和易氧化碳(ROC)含量均最高,分别为293.68和250.00 mg·kg^-1,土壤可溶性碳(DOC)含量最低。SOC矿化速率在培养的第3天达到最高,前期(第3~6天)迅速下降,中期(第6~18天)缓慢下降,后期(第18~30天)趋于稳定,矿化速率随时间的动态变化符合对数函数;SOC累积矿化量和累积矿化率分别为0.66～0.86 g·kg^-1和2.9%～4.0%,均以T₂处理最低。稻谷产量随氮肥减施比例的增加呈先增加后下降趋势,T₂处理最高,比CK显著增加了13.4%。本试验条件下,化学氮肥减量20%配施适量生物炭(5 t·hm^-2)可有效提高SOC、MBC、ROC含量和水稻产量,降低SOC累积矿化量和累积矿化率,增强土壤固碳能力,是贵州黄壤稻田土壤固碳培肥的较好选择。     

Non-additive responses of soil C and N to rice straw and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth L.) mixtures in a paddy soil

Plant and Soil - We studied the effects of mixing rice straw and hairy vetch plant residues in a subtropical paddy soil, on subsequent carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. Using a theoretical...     

Selenium accumulation by sequentially grown wheat and rice as influenced by gypsum application in a seleniferous soil

A field experiment was conducted for 2 years on an alkaline calcareous seleniferous soil to study the effect of different levels of gypsum (0.2 – 3.2 t ha⁻¹) applied to wheat only in the first year on Se accumulation by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) – rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropping sequence. With gypsum application, grain yield of both rice and wheat crops increased by 0.4 – 0.5 t ha⁻¹; the increase in straw yield was 0.4 – 1.1 t ha⁻¹. Significant reduction in Se accumulation by wheat was observed with gypsum application up to 0.8 t ha⁻¹ and its residual effect was evident on the following crops for 2 years. Reduction in Se accumulation varied from 53 to 64% in wheat grain, 46 to 49% in wheat straw, 35 to 63% in rice grain and 36 to 51% in rice straw with an application of gypsum at 0.8 t ha⁻¹. A corresponding increase in S concentration was observed. In the gypsum-treated plots, the ratio of S:Se increased by 6 – 8 times in wheat and 3 – 6 times in rice. Reduction in Se accumulation by crop plants through gypsum application may help in lowering the risk of Se over-exposure of animals and humans that depend on diet materials grown on high selenium soils. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soil water content and photosynthetic capacity of spring wheat as affected by soil application of nitrogen-enriched biochar in a semiarid environment

A field trial was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen-enriched biochar on soil water content, plant’s photosynthetic parameters, and grain yield of spring wheat at the Dingxi Experimental Station during the 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons. Results showed that biochar applied with nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of 50 kg ha^–1 of N (BN₅₀) increased soil water content in the 0–30 cm depth range by approximately 40, 32, and 53% on average at anthesis, milking, and maturity, respectively, compared with zero-amendment (CN₀). Stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate after the BN₅₀ treatment increased by approximately 40 to 50% compared to CN₀. Soil water content and photosynthetic traits also increased in other treatments using straw plus nitrogen fertilizer, but to lesser extent than that of BN₅₀. Grain yields were highest (1905 and 2133 kg ha^–1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively) under BN₅₀. From this, biochar appears to have a potential for its use with N-fertilizer as a cost-effective amendment for crop production in semiarid environments.     

Impact of elevated temperatures on greenhouse gas emissions in rice systems: interaction with straw incorporation studied in a growth chamber experiment

Aims

Two pot experiments in a “walk-in” growth chamber with controlled day and night temperatures were conducted to investigate the influence of elevated temperatures along with rice straw incorporation on methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions as well as rice yield.

Methods

Three temperature regimes–29/25, 32/25, and 35/30 °C (Exp. I) and 29/22, 32/25, and 35/28 °C (Exp. II), representing daily maxima/minima were used in the study. Two amounts of rice straw (0 and 6 t ha^?1) were applied with four replications in each temperature regime. CH₄ and N₂O emissions as well as soil redox potential (Eh) were monitored weekly throughout the rice-growing period.

Results

Elevated temperatures increased CH₄ emission rates, with a more pronounced effect from flowering to maturity. The increase in emissions was further enhanced by incorporation of rice straw. A decrease in soil Eh to <?100 mV and CH₄ emissions was observed early in rice straw–incorporated pots while the soil without straw did not reach negative Eh levels (Exp. I) or showed a delayed decrease (Exp. II). Moreover, soil with high organic C (Exp. II) had higher CH₄ emissions. In contrast to CH₄ emissions, N₂O emissions were negligible during the rice-growing season. The global warming potential (GWP) was highest at high temperature with rice straw incorporation compared with low temperature without rice straw. On the other hand, the high temperature significantly increased spikelet sterility and reduced grain yield (p?<?0.05).

Conclusions

Elevated temperature increased GWP while decreased rice yield. This suggests that global warming may result in a double negative effect: higher emissions and lower yields.     

Propionate formation by Opitutus terrae in pure culture and in mixed culture with a hydrogenotrophic methanogen and implications for carbon fluxes in anoxic rice paddy soil

Propionate-forming bacteria seem to be abundant in anoxic rice paddy soil, but biogeochemical investigations show that propionate is not a correspondingly important intermediate in carbon flux in this system. Mixed cultures of Opitutus terrae strain PB90-1, a representative propionate-producing bacterium from rice paddy soil, and the hydrogenotrophic Methanospirillum hungatei strain SK maintained hydrogen partial pressures similar to those in the soil. The associated shift away from propionate formation observed in these cultures helps to reconcile the disparity between microbiological and biogeochemical studies.     

培养条件下旱地和稻田土壤活性有机碳对外源有机底物的响应

土壤微生物生物量碳（MBC）和溶解有机碳（DOC）是土壤有机碳的活性组分,能够较快反映土壤环境变化。以¹⁴C标记葡萄糖和稻草为底物,室内培养法研究了相同含水量（45% WHC）条件下,红壤旱地和稻田土壤活性有机碳对外源有机底物的响应。结果表明,土壤微生物能迅速吸收利用葡萄糖和稻草中的DOC组分,而使土壤MBC含量在短时间（前5 d）内出现最大值。添加葡萄糖和稻草处理,旱地土壤MBC峰值分别高于对照69.4%和55.1%,稻田土壤高于对照10.2%和10.5%。整个培养期（100 d）内,添加葡萄糖和稻草处理旱地土壤MBC的平均含量分别高于对照82.1%和41.5%（P<0.05）;而稻田土壤MBC在培养前期（0～60 d）,分别高于对照8.8%和5.1%（P<0.05）,60 d后与对照差异不显著。葡萄糖和稻草的添加对旱地土壤总DOC含量没有显著影响（0～2 d除外）,但可明显提高稻田土壤总DOC含量（增幅为12.8%～26.0%）。100 d内,2个土壤中¹⁴C标记MBC（¹⁴C-MBC）占总量的比例为4.5%～47.4%,¹⁴C标记DOC（¹⁴C-DOC）为4.0%～12.7%。说明在土壤含水量为45%WHC条件下,有机底物的添加对旱地土壤MBC的影响大于稻田土壤,但对DOC的影响则反之。同位素示踪表明,土壤有机质本身是DOC和MBC的主要来源。     

稳定性氮肥配合秸秆还田对水稻产量及N2O和CH4排放的影响

以中国科学院辽宁沈阳农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站连续两年的试验平台为依托,以潮棕壤为供试土壤,开展了稳定性氮肥配合秸秆还田对水稻产量及N₂O和CH₄排放的影响研究,设置对照(CK)、尿素(U)、尿素+脲酶抑制剂+硝化抑制剂(U+I)、秸秆还田(S)、秸秆还田+尿素(S+U)、秸秆还田+尿素+脲酶抑制剂+硝化抑制剂(S+U+I)6个处理.结果表明: 与CK相比,尿素显著提高了水稻产量、N₂O和CH₄累积排放及全球增温潜势.硝化抑制剂和脲酶抑制剂与尿素配施可显著减缓N₂O的累积排放.秸秆还田显著增加了N₂O和CH₄累积排放、全球增温潜势和温室气体排放强度.S+U+I处理水稻产量最高,但温室气体排放强度也显著高于其他处理;U+I处理产量略低于S+U+I,但温室气体排放强度最小.秸秆单独还田处理作物产量与对照相比无显著差异.在东北潮棕壤发育的水田中,S+U+I和U+I是相对较优的施肥模式.     

稻作系统有机肥替代部分化肥的土壤氮循环特征及增产机制

采用有机肥替代部分化肥是实现化肥使用零增长和作物稳产增产的重要途径。基于近年来的研究进展,探讨了稻作系统有机肥替代部分化肥对水稻产量、氮素利用效率、土壤氮库组分和微生物固氮、氨化、硝化和反硝化等氮循环关键过程的影响。同时,就单施化肥与有机肥替代部分化肥的氮素循环特征进行了比较。有机肥替代部分化肥通过改变稻田土壤氮素循环多个环节(增强氨化过程、协调硝化和反硝化过程、降低氨挥发和减少氮素损失等),改善土壤氮素供给状态(提高小分子有机氮供给、协调无机氮组分与比例、提高土壤微生物量氮和总氮固持),进而促进水稻氮素吸收并协调植株氮素分配过程,最终实现水稻稳产增产。     

A reciprocal transplant experiment within a climatic gradient in a semiarid shrub-steppe ecosystem: effects on bunchgrass growth and reproduction, soil carbon, and soil nitrogen

We investigated the effect of climate change on Poa secunda Presl. and soils in a shrub‐steppe ecosystem in south‐eastern Washington. Intact soil cores containing P. secunda were reciprocally transplanted between two elevations. Plants and soils were examined, respectively, 4.5 and 5 years later. The lower elevation (310 m) site is warmer (28.5 °C air average monthly maximum) and drier (224 mm yr^?1) than the upper elevation (844 m) site (23.5 °C air average monthly maximum, 272 mm yr^?1). Observations were also made on undisturbed plants at both sites. There was no effect of climate change on plant density, shoot biomass, or carbon isotope discrimination in either transplanted plant population. The cooler, wetter environment significantly reduced percent cover and leaf length, while the warmer, drier environment had no effect. Warming and drying reduced percent shoot nitrogen, while the cooler, wetter environment had no effect. Culm density was zero for the lower elevation plants transplanted to the upper site and was 10.3 culms m^?2 at the lower site. There was no effect of warming and drying on the culm density of the upper elevation plants. Culm density of in situ lower elevation plants was greater than that of the in situ upper elevation plants. Warming and drying reduced total soil carbon 32% and total soil nitrogen 40%. The cooler, wetter environment had no effect on total soil C or N. Of the C and N that was lost over time, 64% of both came from the particulate organic matter fraction (POM, > 53 µ m). There was no effect of warming and drying on the upper population of P. secunda while exposing the lower population to the cooler, wetter environment reduced reproductive effort and percent cover. With the warmer and drier conditions that may develop with climate change, total C and N of semiarid soils may decrease with the active fraction of soil C also rapidly decreasing, which may alter ecosystem diversity and function.     

Short term exposure with ultraviolet radiations: A strategy to improve resistance against root-infecting fungi in Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a component of the solar radiations that alter various physiological and biochemical processes in plants. There have been interests in UV-C and UV-B radiations because of their effects on plant physiology. In this study, we investigated the effect of short term UV irradiance on both biochemical parameters and pathogenicity of several root-infecting fungi in Luffa cylindrica. Plant seedlings were exposed once to UV-B and UV-C radiation for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h. After exposure, plant seedlings were transferred to a potting soil that contained natural populations of root-infecting fungi for 30 days. Initially, the plant height and weight enhanced with the increase of exposure time but then plants showed slower growth at the highest time (5 h) of exposure. Colonization of Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, and Fusarium species was reduced when plants were exposed to UV radiation at various time intervals. We also found increased levels of chlorophyll ´a`, chlorophyll ‘b’, and carotenoids in plants exposed to radiation. An increase in protein content was also recorded under UV-B and UV-C exposure. Enhanced catalase (CAT) activity was noted after maximum time exposure with UV-C irradiance. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity was increased with the exposure time to UV radiation. We conclude that short time UV irradiation causes alteration in photosynthetic pigments and stress enzymes activities in L. cylindrica that play a major role in the improvement of resistance against root-infecting fungi.     

Growth experiment of Hantaan virus in A549 cells: an attempt to improve the immunofluorescent antibody technique for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

An assay method for the infectivity of Hantaan virus, a causative agent of HFRS (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome), was developed by the use of IFA (immunofluorescent antibody technique). With the aid of this method, the growth characteristics of Hantaan virus, 76-118 strain, were followed in A549 cells. At a maximal MOI (multiplicity of infection) of 1.6 VAIU (viral antigen-inducing units) per cell, the conventionally available value, plateau level potencies of the viral antigen and virus infectivity were attained at eight and ten days postinfection, respectively, and most of the infective virus produced accumulated in the culture fluids of infected cells. When infections were defined with MOI values in terms of VAIU per cell, development of the viral antigen was highly consistent and followed a given pattern of kinetics. Based on these findings, a protocol for preparation of the viral antigen in IFA was presented, wherein spot culture and FBS treatment were emphasized as effective procedures to minimize non-specific staining.     

Biochar application to a fertile sandy clay loam in boreal conditions: effects on soil properties and yield formation of wheat, turnip rape and faba bean

Background and aims

We studied the effect of different biochar (BC) application rates on soil properties, crop growth dynamics and yield on a fertile sandy clay loam in boreal conditions.

Methods

In a three-year field experiment conducted in Finland, the field was divided into three sub-experiments with a split-plot experimental design, one for each crop: wheat (Triticum aestivum), turnip rape (Brassica rapa), and faba bean (Vicia faba). The main plot factor was BC rate (0, 5 and 10 t DM ha^?1) and the sub-plot factor was the N-P-K fertiliser rate. Soil physico-chemical properties as well as plant development, yield components and quality were investigated.

Results

BC addition did not significantly affect the soil chemical composition other than the increased C and initially increased K contents. Increased soil moisture content was associated with BC application, especially at the end of the growing seasons. BC decreased the N content of turnip rape and wheat biomass in 2010, thus possibly indicating an initial N immobilisation. In dry years, the seed number per plant was significantly higher in faba bean and turnip rape when grown with BC, possibly due to compensation for decreased plant density and relieved water deficit. However, the grain yields and N uptake with BC addition were not significantly different from the control in any year.

Conclusions

Even though BC application to a fertile sandy clay loam in a boreal climate might have relieved transient water deficit and thereby supported yield formation of crops, it did not improve the yield or N uptake.