Biochar application to temperate soils : effects on soil fertility and crop growth under greenhouse conditions
Abstract
Abstract Biochar (BC) application as a soil amendment has aroused much interest and was found to considerably improve soil nutrient status and crop yields on poor, tropical soils. However, information on the effect of BC on temperate soils is still insufficient, with effects expected to differ from tropical soils. We investigated the effects of BC on soil nutrient dynamics, crop yield, and quality in a greenhouse pot experiment. We compared three agricultural soils (Planosol, Cambisol, Chernozem), and BCs of three different feedstocks (wheat straw [WS], mixed woodchips [WC], vineyard pruning [VP]) slowly pyrolyzed at 525°C, of which the latter was also pyrolyzed at 400°C. The BCs were applied at two rates (1% and 3%, which would correspond to 30 and 90 t ha–1 in the field). Three crops, namely mustard (Sinapis alba L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) were grown successively within one year. The investigated soil properties included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation‐exchange capacity (CEC), calcium‐acetate‐lactate (CAL)–extractable P (PCAL) and K (KCAL), C, N, and nitrogen‐supplying potential (NSP). The results show a pH increase in all soils. The CEC increased only on the Planosol. The C : N ratio increased at 3% application rate. Despite improving the soil nutrient status partly, yields of the first crop (mustard) and to a lesser extent of the second crop (barley) were significantly depressed through BC application (by up to 68%); the yield of clover as third crop was not affected. Only the BC from WS maintained yields in the range of the control and even increased barley yield by 6%. The initial yield reduction was accompanied by notable decreases (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) and increases (Mo) in micronutrient concentrations of plant tissues while nitrogen concentrations were hardly affected. The results of the pot experiment show that despite additional mineral fertilization, short‐term growth inhibition may occur when applying BC without further treatment to temperate soils.
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Many recent studies have documented a number of benefits with biochar amendment to soil, including increased cation exchange capacity (CEC), reduced N leaching, enhanced microbial proliferation, liming, and other advantages.
“Many recent studies have documented a number of benefits with biochar amendment to soil, including increased cation exchange capacity (CEC), reduced N leaching, enhanced microbial proliferation, liming, and other advantages (Cornelissen et al., 2013;Kloss et al., 2014;Lehmann et al., 2011b;Mia et al., 2014;Ventura et al., 2012).”
From Biochar implications for sustainable agriculture and environment: A review (2019) · cites this paper as Kloss et al., 2014
The influence of biochar additions on nutrient availability to plants is not entirely clear as both increasing and decreasing nutrient uptake and biomass production have been reported depending on the quality and rate of biochar applied.
“However, the influence of biochar additions on nutrient availability to plants is not entirely clear as both increasing and decreasing nutrient uptake and biomass production have been reported depending on the quality and rate of biochar applied (Bruun et al., 2012;Kloss et al., 2014;Streubel et al., 2011).”
From Biochar implications for sustainable agriculture and environment: A review (2019) · cites this paper as Kloss et al., 2014
The availability of some nutrients to plants, particularly in acidic soils, such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Mo can be increased by biochar incorporation.
“The availability of some nutrients to plants, particularly in acidic soils, such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Mo can be increased by biochar incorporation (Atkinson et al., 2010;Kloss et al., 2014;Steiner et al., 2007b;Zhai et al., 2014).”
From Biochar implications for sustainable agriculture and environment: A review (2019) · cites this paper as Kloss et al., 2014
Since most of biochars show high C/N ratios (vary widely between 7 and 400), application of biochar may, indeed, increase soil C/N ratio, which may lead to N deficiency in plants and that may be reflected in lower plant yield.
“Since most of biochars show high C/N ratios (vary widely between 7 and 400), application of biochar may, indeed, increase soil C/N ratio, which may lead to N deficiency in plants and that may be reflected in lower plant yield (Kloss et al., 2014;Rondon et al., 2007).”
From Biochar implications for sustainable agriculture and environment: A review (2019) · cites this paper as Kloss et al., 2014
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Kloss, S., Zehetner, F., Wimmer, B., Buecker, J., Rempt, F., & Soja, G.
- Affiliations
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (AT)
- BOKU University (AT)
- Corresponding author
- Zehetner, Franz
- Venue
- Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-10-23
- Volume
- 177
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3-15
- ISSN
- 1436-8730 (ISSN-L)
- 1522-2624
- OpenAlex
- W2073740037
- Cited by
- 237
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 25.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Agricultural Science and Fertilization
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Plant Growth and Agriculture Techniques
- Keywords
- biochar, temperate soils, soil amendment, soil fertility, crop yield, soil nutrient dynamics, soil pH, cation exchange capacity, phosphorus availability, available potassium, micronutrient uptake, wheat straw biochar, mustard, barley, red clover, Planosols, Cambisol, black soil, greenhouse pot experiment
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