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Contrasting effects of manure and green waste biochars on the properties of an acidic ferralsol and productivity of a subtropical pasture

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Abstract

Background and Aim

We hypothesised that amending an acidic ferralsol with biochar would improve the productivity of a subtropical dairy pasture via reducing soil acidity related constraints and result in improved nitrogen use efficiency. We examined two contrasting biochars with different carbon, nutrient content and acid neutralising values.

Methods

Field plots were amended with one of three biochar treatments (Nil, feedlot manure biochar [FM], green waste biochar [GW]) in combination with presence or absence of NPK fertiliser and presence or absence of liming. The FM and GW biochars had a carbon content of 44 and 76 %, available phosphorous of 5,960 and 93 mg kg−1, and liming values of 13 and 5.6 %, respectively. The pasture was managed to supply year round high quality feed for dairy production.

Results

The FM biochar increased total pasture productivity by 11 % and improved the agronomic nitrogen use efficiency by 23 %. It also reduced soil acidity but did not significantly affect the pH dependent soil cation exchange capacity. The GW biochar did not improve pasture productivity. Both biochars resulted in an increase in the soil carbon density.

Conclusions

The high available phosphorous content of FM biochar makes it an effective amendment for acidic ferralsols. Greenwaste biochar did not have sufficient acid neutralising capacity or phosphorous content to reduce soil acidity constraints. Both biochars enhance soil carbon storage in pasture systems on ferralsol.

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Abbreviations

Soil C:

Soil carbon

FM biochar:

Feedlot manure biochar

GW biochar:

Greenwaste biochar

CEC:

Cation exchange capacity

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the technical assistance provided by RH Bryant, A Janestski, S Petty, B Keen and J Rust in the conduct of these field studies. This work was undertaken as a component project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research entitled ‘Improving the utilisation of water and soil resources for tree crop production in coastal areas of Vietnam and NSW’ (ACIAR project SMCN 2003-035). The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their suggestions for improvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar, NSW, 2477, Australia

    P. G. Slavich, K. Sinclair, S. G. Morris, S. W. L. Kimber & L. Van Zwieten

  2. Pacific Pyrolysis P/L, Somersby, NSW, 2250, Australia

    A. Downie

  3. Rural Climate Solutions, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    L. Van Zwieten

Authors
  1. P. G. Slavich
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  2. K. Sinclair
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  3. S. G. Morris
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  4. S. W. L. Kimber
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  5. A. Downie
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  6. L. Van Zwieten
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Van Zwieten.

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Responsible Editor: Johannes Lehmann.

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Slavich, P.G., Sinclair, K., Morris, S.G. et al. Contrasting effects of manure and green waste biochars on the properties of an acidic ferralsol and productivity of a subtropical pasture. Plant Soil 366, 213–227 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1412-3

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