Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of biochar application on nitrogen nutrition of rice, greenhouse-gas emissions and soil organic carbon dynamics in two paddy soils of China

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aims

Two field microcosm experiments and 15N labeling techniques were used to investigate the effects of biochar addition on rice N nutrition and GHG emissions in an Inceptisol and an Ultisol.

Methods

Biochar N bioavailability and effect of biochar on fertilizer nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) were studied by 15N-enriched wheat biochar (7.8803 atom% 15N) and fertilizer urea (5.0026 atom% 15N) (Experiment I). Corn biochar and corn stalks were applied at 12 Mg ha−1 to study their effects on GHG emissions (Experiment II).

Results

Biochar had no significant impact on rice production and less than 2 % of the biochar N was available to plants in the first season. Biochar addition increased soil C and N contents and decreased urea NUE. Seasonal cumulative CH4 emissions with biochar were similar to the controls, but significantly lower than the local practice of straw amendment. N2O emissions with biochar were similar to the control in the acidic Ultisol, but significantly higher in the slightly alkaline Inceptisol. Carbon-balance calculations found no major losses of biochar-C.

Conclusion

Low bio-availability of biochar N did not make a significantly impact on rice production or N nutrition during the first year. Replacement of straw amendments with biochar could decrease CH4 emissions and increase SOC stocks.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asai H, Samson BK, Stephan HM, Songyikhangsuthor K, Homma K, Kiyono Y, Inoue Y, Shiraiwa T, Horie T (2009) Biochar amendment techniques for upland rice production in Northern Laos. 1. Soil physical properties, leaf SPAD, and grain yield. Field Crop Res 111:81–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banger K, Tian HQ, Lu CQ (2012) Do nitrogen fertilizers stimulate or inhibit methane emissions from rice fields? Glob Chang Biol 18:3259–3267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blackwell P, Krull E, Butler G, Herbert A, Solaiman Z (2010) Effect of banded biochar on dryland wheat production and fertiliser use in south-western Australia: an agronomic and economic perspective. Aust J Soil Res 48:531–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronson KF, Neue HU, Singh U, Abao EB Jr (1997) Automated chamber measurements of methane and nitrous oxide flux in a flooded rice soil.1. Residue, nitrogen, and water management. Soil Sci Soc Am J 61:981–987

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bruun EW, Ambus P, Egsgaard H, Hauggaard-Nielsen H (2012) Effects of slow and fast pyrolysis biochar on soil C and N turnover dynamics. Soil Biol Biochem 46:73–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cai ZC, Xing GX, Yan XY, Xu H, Tsuruta H, Yagi K, Minami K (1997) Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice paddy fields as affected by nitrogen fertilisers and water management. Plant Soil 196:7–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cassman KG, Dobermann A, Walters DT (2002) Agroecosystems, nitrogen-use efficiency, and nitrogen management. Ambio 31(2):132–140

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deenik JL, Diarra A, Uehara G, Campbell S, Sumiyoshi Y, Antal MJ (2011) Charcoal ash and volatile matter effects on soil properties and plant growth in an acid Ultisol. Soil Sci 176:336–345

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeLuca TH, Mackenzie MD, Gundale MJ (2009) Biochar effects on soil nutrient transformation. In: Lehmann J, Joseph S (eds) Biochar for environmental management, science and technology. Earthscan, London, pp 251–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubey SK (2003) Spatio-kinetic variation of methane oxidizing bacteria in paddy soil at mid-tillering: effect of N-fertilizers. Nutr Cycl Agroecosys 65:53–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng YZ, Xu YP, Yu YC, Xie ZB, Lin XG (2012) Mechanisms of biochar decreasing methane emission from Chinese paddy soils. Soil Biol Biochem 46:80–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaskin JW, Speir RA, Harris K, Das KC, Lee RD, Morris LA (2010) Effect of peanut hull and pine chip biochar on soil nutrients, corn nutrient status and yield. Agron J 102:623–633

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser B, Lehmann J, Zech W (2002) Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal - a review. Biol Fert Soils 35(4):219–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haefele SM, Konboon Y, Wongboon W, Amarante S, Maarifat AA, Pfeiffer EM, Knoblauch C (2011) Effects and fate of biochar from rice residues in rice based systems. Field Crop Res 121:430–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson RS, Hanson TE (1996) Methanotroph bacteria. Microbiol Rev 60:439–471

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2007a) Climate change: Changes in Atmospheric Constituents and in Radiative Forcing. In: Forster P, Ramaswamy V, Artaxo P, Berntsen T, Betts R, Fahey DW, Haywood J, Lean J, Lowe DC, Myhre G, Nganga J, Prinn R, Raga G, Schulz M, Dorland RV, Solomon S, Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (eds) The physical science basis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2007b) Climate Change: Agriculture. In: Smith P, Martino D, Cai Z, Gwary D, Janzen H, Kumar P, McCarl B, Ogle S, O’Mare F, Rice C, Scholes B, Sirotenko O, Metz B, Davidson OR, Bosch PR, Dave R, Meyer LA (eds) Mitigation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones DL, Murphy DV, Khalid M, Ahmad W, Edward-Jones G, DeLuca TH (2011) Short-term biochar induced increase in soil CO2 release is both biotically and abiotically mediated. Soil Biol Biochem 43:1723–1731

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones DL, Rousk J, Edwards-Jones G, DeLuca TH, Murphy DV (2012) Biochar-mediated changes in soil quality and plant growth in a three year field trial. Soil Biol Biochem 45:113–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaewpradit W, Toomsan B, Cadisch G et al (2009) Mixing groundnut residues and rice straw to improve rice yield and N use efficiency. Field Crop Res 110:130–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kammann C, Ratering S, Eckhard C, Müller C (2012) Biochar and Hydrochar Effects on Greenhouse Gas (Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, and Methane) Fluxes from Soils. J Environ Qual 41:1052–1066

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kern J, Hellebrand HJ, Scholz V, Linke B (2010) Assessment of nitrogen fertilization for the CO2 balance during the production of poplar and rye. Renew Sust Energ Rev 14:1453–1460

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khalil MI, Inubushi K (2007) Possibilities to reduce rice straw-induced global warming potential of a sandy paddy soil by combining hydrological manipulations and urea-N fertilizations. Soil Biol Biochem 39:2675–2681

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knicker H (2010) Black nitrogen - an important fraction in determining the recalcitrance of Charcoal. Org Geochem 41:947–950

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knoblauch C, Maarifat AA, Pfeiffer EM, Haefele SM (2011) Degradability of black carbon and its impact on trace gas fluxes and carbon turnover in paddy soils. Soil Biol Biochem 43:1768–1778

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuzyakov Y, Subbotina I, Chen HQ, Bogomolova I, Xu XL (2009) Black carbon decomposition and incorporation into soil microbial biomass estimated by 14C labelling. Soil Biol Biochem 41:210–219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kyuma K (2004) Fertilility Considerations in Paddy Soils (II) –Phosphorus and other Nutrients. Paddy Soil Science, Kyoto University Press and Trans Pacific Press, Kyoto, pp 169–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann J (2007) A handful carbon. Nature 447:143–144

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li XL, Zhang GB, Xu H, Cai ZC, Yagi K (2009) Effect of timing of joint application of hydroquinone and dicyandiamide on nitrous oxide emission from irrigated lowland rice paddy field. Chemosphere 75:1417–1422

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang B, Lehmann J, Solomon D et al (2006) Black carbon increases cation exchange capacity in soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 70:1719–1730

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu YX, Yang M, Wu YM, Wang HL, Chen YX, Wu WX (2011) Reducing CH4 and CO2 emissions from waterlogged paddy soil with biochar. J Soils Sediments 11:930–939

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu RK (2000) Methods of soil and agro-chemical analysis. China Agric Sci Tech Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Major J, Rondon M, Molina D, Riha SJ, Lehmann J (2010) Maize yield and nutrition during 4 years of biochar application to a Colombian savanna oxisol. Plant Soil 333:117–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar D (2003) Methane and nitrous oxide emission from irrigated rice fields: proposed mitigation strategies. Curr Sci India 84:1317–1326

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mathews HD, Caldeira K (2008) Stabilizing climate requires near-zero emissions. Geophys Res Lett 35:L04705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson RE (1982) Carbonate and gypsum. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of Soil Analysis, part 2, chemical and microbiological properties (second edition). American Society of Agronomy, Inc. and Soil Science Society of America, Inc. publisher, Madison, pp 191–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen BT, Lehmann J (2009) Black carbon decomposition under varying water regimes. Org Geochem 40:846–853

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Northwest Agricultural College (NWAC), South China Agricultural College (SCAC) (1980) Research methods of agro-chemistry. China Agricuture Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Seneviratne G, van Holm LHJ (1998) CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from a wetted tropical upland soil following surface mulch application. Soil Biol Biochem 30:1619–1622

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shindo H (1991) Elementary compostion, humus composition and decomposition in soil of charred grassland plants. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 37:651–657

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh BP, Hatton BJ, Singh B, Cowie AL, Kathuria A (2010) Influence of biochars on nitrous oxide emission and nitrogen leaching from two contrasting soils. J Environ Qual 39:1224–1235

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solaiman ZM, Murphy DV, Abbott LK (2012) Biochars influence seed germination and early growth of seedlings. Plant Soil 353:273–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner C, Glaser B, Teixeira WG, Lehmann J, Blum WEH, Zech W (2008) Nitrogen retention and plant uptake on a highly weathered central Amazonian Ferralsol amended with compost and charcoal. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 171:893–899

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suratno W, Murdiyarso D, Suratmo FG, Anas I, Saeni MS, Rambe A (1998) Nitrous oxide flux from irrigated rice fields in West Java. Environ Pollut 102:159–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taghizadeh-Toosi A, Clough TJ, Sherlock RR, Condron LM (2012) Biochar adsorbed ammonia is bioavailable. Plant Soil 350:57–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uzoma KC, Inoue M, Andry H, Fujimaki H, Zahoor A, Nishihara E (2011) Effect of cow manure biochar on maize productivity under sandy soil condition. Soil Use Manag 27:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Zwieten L, Kimber S, Morris S, Chan KY, Downie A, Rust J, Joseph S (2010) Effects of biochar from slow pyrolysis of papermill waste on agronomic performance and soil fertility. Plant Soil 327:235–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang LF, Cai ZC (2008) Nitrous oxide production at different soil moisture contents in an arable soil in China. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 54:786–793

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Wang Y (2003) Quick measurement of CH4, CO2, N2O emissions from short-plant ecosystems. Adv Atmos Sci 20:842–844

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JY, Zhang M, Xiong ZQ, Liu PL, Pan GX (2011) Effects of biochar addition on N2O and CO2 emissions from two paddy soils. Biol Fert Soils 47(8):887–896

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe A, Yoshida M, Kimura M (1998) Contribution of rice straw carbon to CH4 emission from rice paddies using 13C-enriched rice straw. J Geophys Res 103:8237–8242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woolf D, Amonette JE, Street-Perrott FA, Lehmann J, Joseph S (2010) Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change. Nat Commun 1:56. doi:10.1038/ncomms1053

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xie ZB, Liu G, Bei QC et al (2010) CO2 mitigation potential in farmland of China by altering current organic matter amendment pattern. Sci China Earth Sci 53:1351–1357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan X, Du L, Shi S, Xing G (2000) Nitrous oxide emission from wetland rice soil as affected by the application of controlled-availability fertilizers and mid-season aeration. Biol Fert Soils 32:60–66

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan XY, Yaki K, Akiyama H, Akimoto H (2005) Statistical analysis of the major variables controlling methane emission from rice fields. Glob Chang Biol 11:1131–1141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yanai Y, Toyota K, Okazaki M (2007) Effects of charcoal addition on N2O emissions from soil resulting from rewetting air-dried soil in short-term laboratory experiments. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 53:181–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao ZS, Zheng XH, Dong HB, Wang R, Mei BL, Zhu JG (2012) A 3-year record of N2O and CH4 emissions from a sandy loam paddy during rice seasons as affected by different nitrogen application rates. Agr Ecosyst Environ 152:1–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang AF, Cui LQ, Pan GX et al (2010a) Effect of biochar amendment on yield and methane and nitrous oxide emissions from a rice paddy from Tai Lake plain, China. Agr Ecosyst Environ 139:469–475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang HZ, Huang Y, Liu G et al (2010b) Effects of biochar on corn growth, nutrient uptake and soil chemical properties in seeding stage. Ecol Environ Sci 19:2713–2717 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang AF, Bian RJ, Pan GX et al (2012) Effects of biochar amendment on soil quality, crop yield and greenhouse gas emission in a Chinese rice paddy: a field study of 2 consecutive rice growing cycles. Field Crop Res 127:153–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman AR, Gao B, Ahn MY (2011) Positive and negative carbon mineralization priming effects among a variety of biochar-amended soils. Soil Biol Biochem 43:1169–1179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We wish to express our gratitude to the Natural Science Foundation of China (41171191, 40871146), Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-YW-Q1-07, KZCX2-EW-409), Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2008BAD95B05) and Blue Moon Fund, USA for financial support. The constructive comments of the two anonymous reviewers are highly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture,Jiangsu Biochar Engineering Center, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, People’s Republic of China

    Zubin Xie, Yanping Xu, Gang Liu, Qi Liu & Jianguo Zhu

  2. Soil Ecology Lab, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Zubin Xie, Cong Tu & Shuijin Hu

  3. Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, People’s Republic of China

    Yanping Xu & Qi Liu

  4. Chemical and Materials Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, MSIN: K8-96, Richland, WA, 99352, USA

    James E. Amonette

  5. Institute of Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    Georg Cadisch

  6. Life Science, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 20 Dove Drive, Singapore, 138682, Singapore

    Jean W. H. Yong

Authors
  1. Zubin Xie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yanping Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qi Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jianguo Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Cong Tu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. James E. Amonette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Georg Cadisch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Jean W. H. Yong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Shuijin Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zubin Xie.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Per Ambus.

Zubin Xie, Yanping Xu and Shuijin Hu contributed the same to the paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xie, Z., Xu, Y., Liu, G. et al. Impact of biochar application on nitrogen nutrition of rice, greenhouse-gas emissions and soil organic carbon dynamics in two paddy soils of China. Plant Soil 370, 527–540 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1636-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1636-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation