Research articles
ScienceAsia 48 (2022): 673-680 |doi:
10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2022.101
Biochar application affects dynamics of soil microbial biomass
and maize grain yield
Lixia Zhua,*, Ge Tianb, Liang Zhangb, Xin Zhaoa, Jiajia Wanga, Chenghao Wanga, Peiyao Wanga, Erli Tiana
ABSTRACT: A pot experiment was carried out to determine effects of biochar on soil microbial biomass carbon and
nitrogen during maize growing season, and grain yields were also studied after harvest. Biochar (BC) was applied
at the rates of 0 (BC0), 10 (BC10), 20 (BC20), and 30 g/kg (BC30). The soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and
nitrogen (MBN) were assessed; the maize aboveground biomass and grain yields were also evaluated. The MBC was
significantly increased by 15.2%?71.8% compared with BC0 in 0?10 cm soil layer, and MBC generally increased with
increasing biochar application rates compared with the control in each soil layer. Soil MBN and the ratio of MBC to
MBN varied with the maize growing season. Soil MBC and MBN were relatively high at the 6-leaf stage, then decreased
slowly, and remained stable across the whole growing season. No significant effect of biochar on microbial quotient was
observed across growing stages. BC30 significantly increased aboveground biomass by 11.8% compared with BC0. The
grain yields increased with increasing biochar rate, and the increases in BC20 and BC30 reached 11.2% and 14.1%,
respectively. The application of biochar could generally increase soil microbial biomass, improving soil fertility and
crop yield.
Download PDF
155 Downloads 1759 Views
| a |
College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001 China |
| b |
School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001 China |
* Corresponding author, E-mail: justin2118@163.com
Received 7 Jul 2021, Accepted 13 Apr 2022
|
