The legacy effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions
Abstract Existing studies suggest that biochar application can reduce soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, mainly based on short‐term results. However, it remains unclear what the effects (i.e., legacy effects) and underlying mechanisms are on N2O emissions after many years of a single application of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-04-01
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| Series: | GCB Bioenergy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.13022 |
| _version_ | 1797872373345550336 |
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| author | Shumin Guo Jie Wu Zhaoqiang Han Zhutao Li Pinshang Xu Shuwei Liu Jinyang Wang Jianwen Zou |
| author_facet | Shumin Guo Jie Wu Zhaoqiang Han Zhutao Li Pinshang Xu Shuwei Liu Jinyang Wang Jianwen Zou |
| author_sort | Shumin Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Existing studies suggest that biochar application can reduce soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, mainly based on short‐term results. However, it remains unclear what the effects (i.e., legacy effects) and underlying mechanisms are on N2O emissions after many years of a single application of biochar. Here, we collected intact soil columns from plots without and with biochar application in a subtropical tea plantation 7 years ago for an incubation experiment. We used the N2O isotopocule analysis combined with ammonia oxidizer‐specific inhibitors and molecular biology approaches to investigate how the legacy effect of biochar affected soil N2O emissions. Results showed that the soil in the presence of biochar had lower N2O emissions than the control albeit statistically insignificant. The legacy effect of biochar in decreasing N2O emissions may be attributed to the reduced effectiveness of the soil substrate, nitrification and denitrification activities, and the promotion of the further reduction of N2O. The legacy effect of biochar reduced the relative contribution of nitrifier denitrification/bacterial denitrification, nitrification‐related N2O production, and the relative abundance of several microorganisms involved in the nitrogen cycle. Our global meta‐analysis also showed that the reduction of N2O by biochar increased with increasing application rate but diminished and possibly even reversed with increasing experimental time. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the abatement capacity of biochar on soil N2O emissions may weaken over time after biochar application, but this remains under further investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:57:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c28aae6a2fb74450af4766b23d111657 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1757-1693 1757-1707 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:57:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | GCB Bioenergy |
| spelling | doaj.art-c28aae6a2fb74450af4766b23d1116572023-03-13T10:09:36ZengWileyGCB Bioenergy1757-16931757-17072023-04-0115447849310.1111/gcbb.13022The legacy effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissionsShumin Guo0Jie Wu1Zhaoqiang Han2Zhutao Li3Pinshang Xu4Shuwei Liu5Jinyang Wang6Jianwen Zou7Key Laboratory of Green and Low‐Carbon Agriculture in Southeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing ChinaKey Laboratory of Green and Low‐Carbon Agriculture in Southeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing ChinaKey Laboratory of Green and Low‐Carbon Agriculture in Southeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing ChinaKey Laboratory of Green and Low‐Carbon Agriculture in Southeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing ChinaKey Laboratory of Green and Low‐Carbon Agriculture in Southeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing ChinaKey Laboratory of Green and Low‐Carbon Agriculture in Southeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing ChinaKey Laboratory of Green and Low‐Carbon Agriculture in Southeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing ChinaKey Laboratory of Green and Low‐Carbon Agriculture in Southeastern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing ChinaAbstract Existing studies suggest that biochar application can reduce soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, mainly based on short‐term results. However, it remains unclear what the effects (i.e., legacy effects) and underlying mechanisms are on N2O emissions after many years of a single application of biochar. Here, we collected intact soil columns from plots without and with biochar application in a subtropical tea plantation 7 years ago for an incubation experiment. We used the N2O isotopocule analysis combined with ammonia oxidizer‐specific inhibitors and molecular biology approaches to investigate how the legacy effect of biochar affected soil N2O emissions. Results showed that the soil in the presence of biochar had lower N2O emissions than the control albeit statistically insignificant. The legacy effect of biochar in decreasing N2O emissions may be attributed to the reduced effectiveness of the soil substrate, nitrification and denitrification activities, and the promotion of the further reduction of N2O. The legacy effect of biochar reduced the relative contribution of nitrifier denitrification/bacterial denitrification, nitrification‐related N2O production, and the relative abundance of several microorganisms involved in the nitrogen cycle. Our global meta‐analysis also showed that the reduction of N2O by biochar increased with increasing application rate but diminished and possibly even reversed with increasing experimental time. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the abatement capacity of biochar on soil N2O emissions may weaken over time after biochar application, but this remains under further investigation.https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.13022acidic soilbiocharclimate changefertilizerfunctional genemitigation option |
| spellingShingle | Shumin Guo Jie Wu Zhaoqiang Han Zhutao Li Pinshang Xu Shuwei Liu Jinyang Wang Jianwen Zou The legacy effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions GCB Bioenergy acidic soil biochar climate change fertilizer functional gene mitigation option |
| title | The legacy effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions |
| title_full | The legacy effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions |
| title_fullStr | The legacy effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The legacy effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions |
| title_short | The legacy effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions |
| title_sort | legacy effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions |
| topic | acidic soil biochar climate change fertilizer functional gene mitigation option |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.13022 |
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