Manure application followed by biochar application increases plant production regardless of soil dehydrogenase activity

Abstract

Biochar is obtained by the pyrolysis of biomass, and contains abundant carbon and minerals. Biochar supplementation of soils can greatly improve soil health and quality, but these beneficial effects typically develop slowly over time. Depending on the quality of the biochar and the soil to which it is applied, it may take years before positive effects are apparent. This is because organic substances are slowly sorbed onto the biochar over time, and the biochar eventually becomes part of the sorption complex of the soil. It is therefore advisable to apply biochar together with some organic material. We examined the effect of co-application of different doses of biochar with manure on soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA), soil oxidizable carbon (COX), cumulative soil respiration, soil buffering capacity, the soil exchange reaction (pH/KCl), and the production yield of winter rape seeds. We also determined seed production when artificial granular fertilizers were added to biochar and manure. The results showed that the application of biochar and manure significantly increased grain yield, DHA, the soil exchange reaction, and cumulative respiration. Thus application of biochar with organic material can increase seed yield and some properties of agricultural soils. However, the positive effect of biochar on seed yield was not directly proportional to biochar dose, in that the seed yield was lower for a biochar dose of 45 t/ha than 30 t/ha.