Summary To evaluate the benefits of application of biochar to coastal saline soil for climate change mitigation, the effects on soil organic carbon (SOC), greenhouse gases (GHGs) and crop yields were investigated. Biochar was applied at 16 t ha−1 to study its effects on crop growth (Experiment I). The effects of biochar (0, 3.2, 16 and 32 t ha−1) and corn stalk (7.8 t ha−1) on SOC and GHGs were studied using 13C stable isotope technology and a static chamber method, respectively (Experiment II). Biochar increased grain mass per plant of the wheat by 27.7% and increased SOC without influencing non‐biochar SOC. On average, 92.3% of the biochar carbon and 16.8% of corn‐stalk carbon were sequestered into the soil within 1 year. The cumulative emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O were not affected significantly by biochar but cornstalk application increased N2O emissions by 17.5%. The global warming mitigation potential of the biochar treatments (−3.84 to −3.17 t CO2‐eq. ha−1 t−1 C) was greater than that of the corn stalk treatment (−0.11 t CO2‐eq ha−1 t−1 C). These results suggest that biochar application improves saline soil productivity and soil carbon sequestration without increasing GHG emissions.

The solution culture, paddy soil culture and the simulation experiments in the laboratory were conducted to clarify the interactions between selenium and phosphorus, and its effects on the growth and selenium accumulation in rice. Results revealed that a suitable supply of selenium could promote rice growth and excessive selenium could injure rice plant, causing lower biomass, especially in the roots. The supply of selenite could enhance the selenium contents of rice shoots and roots in solution culture and in soil culture. The selenium concentrations in roots were much higher than those in shoots supplied with the same rates of selenium and phosphorus. The interaction between selenium and phosphorus was evident. When the phosphorus supply increased to meet the needs of plant growth, phosphorus could promote absorption and accumulation of selenium in the shoots. If the phosphorus supply was excessive, phosphorus could inhibit the accumulation of selenium in the shoots at the lower selenite level (2 micromol l(-1)), but could not at the higher selenite level (10 micromol l(-1)). With the supply of phosphate increased, the selenium concentrations in the roots decreased significantly at both selenite levels. The presence of phosphate could decrease Se sorption on the soil surface and increase the selenium concentration in the soil solution. The concentrations of selenium in shoots and roots supplied with 0.08 g kg(-1) phosphorus were lower than those with no phosphorus supplied. With the increase of phosphorus added to 0.4 g kg(-1), the selenium concentration in shoots and roots increased. The effect of phosphorus on the concentration was statistically significant at all three selenium levels.

A long-term field and lysimeter experiment under different amount of fertilizer-N application was conducted to explore the optimal N application rates for a high productive rice-wheat system and less N leaching loss in the Yangtse Delta region. In this region excessive applications of N fertilizer for the rice-wheat production has resulted in reduced N recovery rates and environment pollution. Initial results of the field experiments showed that the optimal N application rate increased with the yield. On the two major paddy soils (Hydromorphic paddy soil and Gleyed paddy soil) of the region, the optimal N application rate was 225-270 kg N hm(-2) for rice and 180-225 kg N hm(-2) for wheat, separately. This has resulted in the highest number of effective ears and Spikelets per unit area, and hence high yield. Nitrogen leaching in the form of NO(3-)-N occurs mainly in the wheat-growing season and in the ponding and seedling periods of the paddy field. Its concentration in the leachate increased with the N application rate in the lysimeter experiment. When the application rate reached 225 kg N hm(-2), the concentration rose to 5.4-21.3 mgN l(-1) in the leachate during the wheat-growing season. About 60% of the leachate samples determined contained NO(3-)-N beyond the criterion (NO(3-)-N 10 mg l(-1)) for N pollution. In the field experiment, when the N application rate was in the range of 270-315 kg hm(-2), the NO(3-)-N concentration in the leachate during the wheat-growing season ranged from 1.9 to 11.0 mg l(-1). About 20% of the leachate samples reached close to, and 10% exceeded, the criterion for N pollution. Long-term accumulation of NO(3-)-N from leaching will no doubt constitute a potential risk of N contamination of the groundwater in the Yangtse Delta Region.