Long-term influence of maize stover and its derived biochar on soil structure and organo-mineral complexes in Northeast China
- 16 May 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Environmental Science and Pollution Research
- Vol. 27 (22), 28374-28383
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08171-y
Abstract
The influence of biochar on the soil structure and aggregate stability has been debated in previous studies. To probe the action of biochar on soil aggregates, a 5-year field experiment was implemented in the brown earth soil of northeastern China. We determined the aggregate distribution (> 2000 μm, 250–2000 μm, 53–250 μm, and < 53 μm) and organic carbon (OC) and organo-mineral complex contents both in the topsoil (0–20 cm) and within the soil aggregates. Three treatments were studied as follows: control (basal application of mineral NPK fertilizer), biochar (biochar applied at a rate of 2.625 t ha−1), and stover (maize stover applied at a rate of 7.5 t ha−1), and all treatments received the same fertilization. The biochar and stover applications decreased the soil bulk and particle densities significantly (p < 0.05) and enhanced the soil total porosity. Both amendments significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the total OC, heavy OC fractions, and organo-mineral complex quantities in the bulk soil as well as in all the studied aggregate fractions. Biochar and stover applications promoted the formation of small macroaggregates. A greater amount of organic matter was contained in the macroaggregates, which led to the formation of more organo-mineral complexes, thereby improving soil aggregate stability. However, the different mechanisms underlying the effect of biochar and stover on organo-mineral complexes need further research. Biochar and stover applications are both effective methods of improving the soil structure in Northeast China.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Key Research and Development Project (2017YFD0200800)
- the earmarked fund for Modern Agroindustry Technology Research System (No. CARS-01-46)
- the Innovative Talents Promotion Plan of Ministry of Science and Technology (No. 2017RA2211)
- e Project of Promoting Talents in Liaoning Province, China (XLYC1802094)
- the Natural Science Foundation of China (21577131, 21876027)
- the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (2017A030311019)
- the Science and Technology Innovation Support Program for Young and Middle-aged Talents, Shenyang (RC180204)
This publication has 53 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of biochars on the bioavailability of cadmium and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate to Brassica chinensis L. in contaminated soilsScience of The Total Environment, 2019
- Past, present, and future of biocharBiochar, 2019
- Effect of biochar on the physical and structural properties of a sandy soilCATENA, 2018
- The Challenge of Improving Coastal Mudflat Soil: Formation and Stability of Organo‐mineral ComplexesLand Degradation & Development, 2017
- Biochar addition drives soil aggregation and carbon sequestration in aggregate fractions from an intensive agricultural systemJournal of Soils and Sediments, 2017
- Carbon fluxes from plants to soil and dynamics of microbial immobilization under plastic film mulching and fertilizer application using 13C pulse-labelingSoil Biology and Biochemistry, 2015
- Application of biochars to sandy and silty soil failed to increase maize yield under common agricultural practiceSoil and Tillage Research, 2014
- Controls on black carbon storage in soilsGlobal Biogeochemical Cycles, 2007
- Physical fractionation of soil and structural and functional complexity in organic matter turnoverEuropean Journal of Soil Science, 2001
- Aggregate Structure and Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in Native and Cultivated SoilsSoil Science Society of America Journal, 1986