Biochar can Increase Chinese Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) Yield, Decrease Nitrogen and Phosphorus Leaching Losses in Intensive Vegetable Soil

Abstract

There are few evidences on the effect of biochar on vegetable yield, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) leaching losses under intensive vegetable production soil. The current field plot scale study evaluated responses of Chinese cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) yield, N and P leaching losses using five N treatments of common N application rate according to local farmers' practice (N100%), reducing 20% or 40% N fertilizer (N80% and N60%), and reducing 40% N fertilizer but incorporating 10 or 20 t/ha biochar (N60% + BC10 and N60% + BC20). Results showed that N80% and N60% decreased both the cabbage economic and leaf yields by 6.8%-36.3% and 27.4%-37.7%, respectively. Incorporation of biochar with reduced N fertilizer rates improved the cabbage yield, in particular the N60% + BC20 matched the yield that observed in N100% treatment. Enhanced N and P uptake capacities of cabbage shoot probably contributed the higher vegetable production under both biochar amendment schemes. Biochar application mitigated the NH 4 + -N and total P leaching losses by 20%-30% and 29%-32%, respectively, compared with their counterpart treatment N60%. Nevertheless, biochar exerted no influence on the NO 3 --N leaching. In addition, soil organic matter content was recorded with 7.4%-28.7% higher following 10-20 t/ha biochar application. In conclusion, biochar application can increase economic yield of cabbage via increasing N and P use efficiency, decrease N and P leaching losses, and improve soil quality in an intensive vegetable production system.

30-Month Pot Experiment: Biochar Alters Soil Potassium Forms, Soil Properties and Soil Fungal Diversity and Composition in Acidic Soil of Southern China

“…However, there are three main explanations for the long-term promotion effect of biochar on K. First, biochar could promote the activity and quantity of soil microorganisms, including K-dissolving bacteria [39]. Second, a large amount of K absorbed on the surface of biochar can provide nutrients, to some extent, for the growth of plants [40][41][42]. Thus, we found that biochar could significantly increase the K content of leaves [43].…”

Evaluating the Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizers and Biochar on Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis by the Use of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy

“…Recent studies have proven the biochar capability of increasing Brassica oleracea L. yields, while at the same time avoiding the N and P leaching losses caused by nitrogen fertilization adopted by farmers. The biochar application resulted in mitigating the ammonium, and phosphorous leaching losses by 20-30% and 29-32%, respectively [31]. Another scientific work evaluated wood biochar on two genotypes of cabbage.…”

The Effect of Bamboo Charcoal Application on Soil Nutrients and Heavy Metals in Rice

“…This may be bacause that bamboo charcoal itself has a high P content, which increases the level of available P, but the application of large amounts of bamboo charcoal to the soil also leads to a subsequent increase in alkaline oxides in the soil and an increase in soil pH, resulting in a decrease in available P in the soil [26]. Sun et al [27] reported that the application of biochar to soils did not result in significant changes in available P in the soil in the short term.…”