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Nitrogen dynamics following field application of biochar in a temperate North American maize-based production system

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Abstract

Background and aims

Biochar additions to tropical soils have been shown to reduce N leaching and increase N use efficiency. No studies exist verifying reduced N leaching in field experiments on temperate agricultural soils or identifying the mechanism for N retention.

Methods

Biochar derived from maize stover was applied to a maize cropping system in central New York State at rates of 0, 1, 3, 12, and 30 t ha-1 in 2007. Secondary N fertilizer was added at 100, 90, 70, and 50 % of the recommended rate (108 kg N ha-1). Nitrogen fertilizer enriched with 15 N was applied in 2009 to the 0 and 12 t ha-1 of biochar at 100 and 50 % secondary N application.

Results

Maize yield and plant N uptake did not change with biochar additions (p > 0.05; n = 3). Less N (by 82 %; p < 0.05) was lost after biochar application through leaching only at 100 % N fertilization. The reason for an observed 140 % greater retention of applied 15 N in the topsoil may have been the incorporation of added 15 N into microbial biomass which increased approximately three-fold which warrants further research. The low leaching of applied fertilizer 15 N (0.42 % of applied N; p < 0.05) and comparatively high recovery of applied 15 N in the soil (39 %) after biochar additions after one cropping season may also indicate greater overall N retention through lower gaseous or erosion N losses with biochar.

Conclusions

Addition of biochar to fertile soil in a temperate climate did not improve crop growth or N use efficiency, but increased retention of fertilizer N in the topsoil.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the support by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA Agreement 9891), a USDA Hatch grant, and a grant from the Cornell Graduate School to D.G. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the donors. We thank Elena Miller-ter-Kuile and Shelby Rajkovich for help in conducting the experiment; we would also thank Bethany Guerena and several anonymous referees for their valuable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    David Güereña, Johannes Lehmann, Kelly Hanley, Akio Enders & Charles Hyland

  2. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Susan Riha

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  1. David Güereña
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  2. Johannes Lehmann
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Correspondence to Johannes Lehmann.

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Güereña, D., Lehmann, J., Hanley, K. et al. Nitrogen dynamics following field application of biochar in a temperate North American maize-based production system. Plant Soil 365, 239–254 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1383-4

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