Effects of maize straw‐derived biochar application on soil temperature, water conditions and growth of winter wheat

Abstract

Biochar application to soil has been widely accepted as an approach to enhance soil carbon sequestration, promote nutrient use efficiency and improve crop yields. Maize straw‐derived biochar application is also a novel practice for the sustainable use of straw waste. However, it remains unclear whether biochar modifies soil temperature, thereby influencing winter wheat growth. Field experiments were conducted for 2 years to answer this question. Maize straw‐derived biochar was applied at rates of 0 (B0), 20 (B20), 40 (B40) and 60 (B60) t ha−1 in the field plots. Biochar application increased the soil temperature compared to the unamended control plot for all growth stages. The highest soil temperatures occurred at 40‐cm depth in the B40 treatment and 20‐cm depth in the B60 treatment. Biochar application also enhanced the soil water content of the winter wheat fields during the growing seasons, with a maximum effect achieved at a rate of biochar application of 40 t ha−1. However, water content did not increase with increasing rate of application. Biochar application decreased the soil bulk density, and this effect was enhanced with increasing rates of biochar application. The largest grain yield was obtained in the B40 treatment, resulting from an increase in aboveground biomass and effective spike number. Our study suggests that biochar application potentially improves the grain yield of winter wheat from the increased soil temperature. This conclusion needs to be confirmed by a long‐term study on biochar application. Highlights The effects of rates of biochar application on wheat growth and yield were evaluated. Response of soil temperatures to biochar application improves understanding of underlying mechanisms involved. Warmer soil temperature and lower soil bulk density with large rates of biochar were unfavourable for water storage and wheat growth. Biochar application at a rate of 40 t ha−1 was optimal to enhance wheat growth and grain yield.

Influence of Rice Husk Biochar and Compost Amendments on Salt Contents and Hydraulic Properties of Soil and Rice Yield in Salt-Affected Fields

“…After cultivation of five crops, the application of biochar increased straw biomass by 14.7% and total aboveground biomass by 12.5% compared with RRR. The role of biochar in improving soil quality and increasing crop yield were previously reported [67][68][69]. Prendergast-Miller et al [70] and Ventura et al [71] illustrated that wood chip biochar improved root biomass and root length intensity, and consequently enhanced plant biomass of spring barley crop in a sandy loam soil [70] and of an apple orchard in a silty clay loam soil [71].…”

Effect of Biochar on Soil Temperature under High Soil Surface Temperature in Coal Mined Arid and Semiarid Regions

“…Yan et al [25] also found that 9.6% decrease occurred at a high rate (60 t ha −1 ) of the biochar application rate. Similarly, the highest decrease in bulk density in our case is also attributed to low density and higher porosity which favored the stable aggregation of soil particles, but some authors have warned that too many higher application rates of biochar could affect the water storage capacity of the soil [25,28]. The soil thermal conductivity was linearly decreased with increasing the rate of WSB addition at 10% or 20% soil moisture content (p < 0.05; Table 1).…”

“…The distinct reduction in soil bulk density at same moisture content can be attributed to the low density and high porosity of WSB [27]. Yan et al [25] also found that 9.6% decrease occurred at a high rate (60 t ha −1 ) of the biochar application rate. Similarly, the highest decrease in bulk density in our case is also attributed to low density and higher porosity which favored the stable aggregation of soil particles, but some authors have warned that too many higher application rates of biochar could affect the water storage capacity of the soil [25,28].…”

“…However, the effect of BC on soil temperature under high soil surface temperature and low air moisture has not been explained well. Only few recent reports [16,24,25] have highlighted the BC-soil temperature relationship in temperate/tropical croplands but not in arid or semi-arid climates. Therefore, this laboratory scale study investigated the effect of wheat straw biochar (WSB) at different application rates on soil temperature with different soil depths and soil moisture under high surface temperature (50 • C) and low air moisture (40%).…”

Biochar and its importance on nutrient dynamics in soil and plant

“…Upon application to the soil, biochar improves soil fertility and crop productivity by increasing the soil nutrient contents and the mobility of nutrients. It enhances microbial activity (Meier et al 2019), improves aeration and water retention (Kambo and Dutta 2015;Razzaghi et al 2020), buffers soil reactions (Laghari et al 2016), reduces bulk density (Yan et al 2019a), and maintains soil aggregate structure (Zhang et al 2020). Moreover, biochar reduces nutrient leaching and loss of nutrients by volatilization through altering the soil pH and by enhancing the ion exchange capacity (DeLuca et al 2015).…”