A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Properties and Reducing N<sub>2</sub>O Emissions Is Possible through Initial and Repeated Biochar Application
Recent findings of changing climate, water scarcity, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions have brought major challenges to sustainable agriculture worldwide. Biochar application to soil proves to be a suitable solution to these problems. Although the literature presents the pros and cons o...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/3/582 |
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| author | Ján Horák Tatijana Kotuš Lucia Toková Elena Aydın Dušan Igaz Vladimír Šimanský |
| author_facet | Ján Horák Tatijana Kotuš Lucia Toková Elena Aydın Dušan Igaz Vladimír Šimanský |
| author_sort | Ján Horák |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent findings of changing climate, water scarcity, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions have brought major challenges to sustainable agriculture worldwide. Biochar application to soil proves to be a suitable solution to these problems. Although the literature presents the pros and cons of biochar application, very little information is available on the impact of repeated application. In this study, we evaluate and discuss the effects of initial and reapplied biochar (both in rates of 0, 10, and 20 t ha<sup>−1</sup>) combined with N fertilization (at doses of 0, 40, and 80 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) on soil properties and N<sub>2</sub>O emission from Haplic Luvisol in the temperate climate zone (Slovakia). Results showed that biochar generally improved the soil properties such as soil pH<sub>(KCl)</sub> (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05; from acidic towards moderately acidic), soil organic carbon (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05; an increase from 4% to over 100%), soil water availability (an increase from 1% to 15%), saturated hydraulic conductivity (an increase from 5% to 95%). The effects were more significant in the following cases: repeated rather than single biochar application, higher rather than lower biochar application rates, and higher rather than lower N fertilization levels. Initial and repeated biochar applications, leading to N<sub>2</sub>O emissions reduction, can be related to increased soil pH<sub>(KCl)</sub>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:04:38Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:04:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-3305b20174644a76862827419c235d692023-11-21T11:11:32ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-03-0111358210.3390/agronomy11030582A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Properties and Reducing N<sub>2</sub>O Emissions Is Possible through Initial and Repeated Biochar ApplicationJán Horák0Tatijana Kotuš1Lucia Toková2Elena Aydın3Dušan Igaz4Vladimír Šimanský5Department of Biometeorology and Hydrology, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Biometeorology and Hydrology, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Biometeorology and Hydrology, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Biometeorology and Hydrology, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Biometeorology and Hydrology, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Soil Science, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaRecent findings of changing climate, water scarcity, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions have brought major challenges to sustainable agriculture worldwide. Biochar application to soil proves to be a suitable solution to these problems. Although the literature presents the pros and cons of biochar application, very little information is available on the impact of repeated application. In this study, we evaluate and discuss the effects of initial and reapplied biochar (both in rates of 0, 10, and 20 t ha<sup>−1</sup>) combined with N fertilization (at doses of 0, 40, and 80 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) on soil properties and N<sub>2</sub>O emission from Haplic Luvisol in the temperate climate zone (Slovakia). Results showed that biochar generally improved the soil properties such as soil pH<sub>(KCl)</sub> (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05; from acidic towards moderately acidic), soil organic carbon (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05; an increase from 4% to over 100%), soil water availability (an increase from 1% to 15%), saturated hydraulic conductivity (an increase from 5% to 95%). The effects were more significant in the following cases: repeated rather than single biochar application, higher rather than lower biochar application rates, and higher rather than lower N fertilization levels. Initial and repeated biochar applications, leading to N<sub>2</sub>O emissions reduction, can be related to increased soil pH<sub>(KCl)</sub>.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/3/582biocharLuvisolN<sub>2</sub>O emissionssoil propertiesnitrogen fertilization |
| spellingShingle | Ján Horák Tatijana Kotuš Lucia Toková Elena Aydın Dušan Igaz Vladimír Šimanský A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Properties and Reducing N<sub>2</sub>O Emissions Is Possible through Initial and Repeated Biochar Application Agronomy biochar Luvisol N<sub>2</sub>O emissions soil properties nitrogen fertilization |
| title | A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Properties and Reducing N<sub>2</sub>O Emissions Is Possible through Initial and Repeated Biochar Application |
| title_full | A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Properties and Reducing N<sub>2</sub>O Emissions Is Possible through Initial and Repeated Biochar Application |
| title_fullStr | A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Properties and Reducing N<sub>2</sub>O Emissions Is Possible through Initial and Repeated Biochar Application |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Properties and Reducing N<sub>2</sub>O Emissions Is Possible through Initial and Repeated Biochar Application |
| title_short | A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Properties and Reducing N<sub>2</sub>O Emissions Is Possible through Initial and Repeated Biochar Application |
| title_sort | sustainable approach for improving soil properties and reducing n sub 2 sub o emissions is possible through initial and repeated biochar application |
| topic | biochar Luvisol N<sub>2</sub>O emissions soil properties nitrogen fertilization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/3/582 |
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