Woodchip biochar with or without synthetic fertilizers affects soil properties and available phosphorus in two alkaline, chernozemic soils

Fertility enhancement with biochar application is well documented for tropical acidic soils; however, benefits of biochar coapplied with synthetic fertilizers (SFs) on soil fertility are not well documented, particularly for alkaline chernozems. We examined the short-term interactive effects of wood...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of soil science 2016-12, Vol.96 (4), p.472-484
Main Authors: Chathurika, J.A. Surani, Kumaragamage, Darshani, Zvomuya, Francis, Akinremi, Olalekan O., Flaten, Donald N., Indraratne, Srimathie P., Dandeniya, Warshi S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biochar
biocharbon
chernozemic soils
disponibilité du phosphore
engrais chimiques
fractions du phosphore
phosphorus availability
phosphorus fractions
propriétés du sol
soil properties
synthetic fertilizers
tchernoziom
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Summary:Fertility enhancement with biochar application is well documented for tropical acidic soils; however, benefits of biochar coapplied with synthetic fertilizers (SFs) on soil fertility are not well documented, particularly for alkaline chernozems. We examined the short-term interactive effects of woodchip biochar amendment with fertilizers on selected soil properties, available phosphorus (P), and P fractions of two alkaline Chernozems from Manitoba. Treatments were (1) urea and monoammonium phosphate fertilizers, (2) biochar at 10 g kg−1, (3) biochar at 20 g kg−1, (4) biochar at 10 g kg−1 with fertilizers, (5) biochar at 20 g kg−1 with fertilizers, and (6) a control. Treated soils were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and Olsen P concentration biweekly, and for P fractions, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon (OC), and wet aggregate stability after 70 d of incubation. Biochar amendment without fertilizers significantly increased soil pH and CEC but had no effect on EC, while coapplication with fertilizers significantly increased Olsen P and labile P concentrations. When coapplied with fertilizers, biochar did not significantly increase soil pH relative to the control. Results suggest that biochar improved soil properties and available P in alkaline Chernozems, and the beneficial effects were enhanced when coapplied with SFs.
ISSN:0008-4271
1918-1841
DOI:10.1139/cjss-2015-0094