The Potential Effect of Biochar Application on Microbial Activities and Availability of Mineral Nitrogen in Arable Soil Stressed by Drought
Application of biochar to arable soils represents a new
approach to restore soil health and quality. Many studies reported the
positive effect of biochar application on soil fertility and
development of soil microbial community. Moreover biochar may
affect the soil water retention, but this effect has not been sufficiently
described yet. Therefore this study deals with the influence of
biochar application on: microbial activities in soil, availability of
mineral nitrogen in soil for microorganisms, mineral nitrogen
retention and plant production. To demonstrate the effect of biochar
addition on the above parameters, the pot experiment was realized.
As a model crop, Lactuca sativa L. was used and cultivated from
December 10th 2014 till March 22th 2015 in climate chamber in
thoroughly homogenized arable soil with and without addition of
biochar. Five variants of experiment (V1 – V5) with different regime
of irrigation were prepared. Variants V1 – V2 were fertilized by
mineral nitrogen, V3 – V4 by biochar and V5 was a control. The
significant differences were found only in plant production and
mineral nitrogen retention. The highest content of mineral nitrogen
in soil was detected in V1 and V2, about 250 % in comparison with
the other variants. The positive effect of biochar application on soil
fertility, mineral nitrogen availability was not found. On the other
hand results of plant production indicate the possible positive effect
of biochar application on soil water retention.
[1] N. D. Anayeva, E.A. Suysan, O.V. Chernova, S. Wirth, “Microbial
respiration activities of soils from different climatic regions of
European Russia”, European Journal of Soil Biology, vol. 44, no. 2,
pp. 147-157, 2008. C. Bimüller et al., “Prolonged summer droughts
retard soil N processing and stabilization in organo-mineral fractions”,
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 68, pp. 241-251, 2014.
[2] J. Bloem, D. W. Hopkins and A. Bendetti, Microbiological methods for
assessing soil quality. Cambridge: CABI Pub., 2006.
[3] L. G. Bundy and J. J. Meisinger, Nitrogen availability indices –
Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Microbiological and Biochemical
properties, SSSA Book Series: Madison, pp. 951-984, 1994.
[4] F. J. Cook and V. A. Orchard, “Relationships between soil respiration
and soil moisture”, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 40, pp. 1013-
1018, 2008.
[5] S. Delin and M. Stenberg, “Effect of nitrogen fertilization on nitrate
leaching in relation to grain yield response on loamy sand in Sweden”,
European Journal of Agronomy, vol. 52, part B, pp. 291-296, 2014. [6] L. F. Diaz, M. de Bertoldi, W. Bidlingmaier and E. Stentiford, Compost
science and technology, Boston: MA Elsevier, 2007, ch. 7.
[7] Y. Ding, Y. Liu, W. Wu, D. Shi, M. Yang and Z. Zhong, “Evalution of
biochar effects on nitrogen retention and leaching in multi-layred soil
columns”, Water Air Soil Pollut, vol. 213, no. 1-4, pp. 47-55, 2010.
[8] J. Elbl, J. Záhora, P. Škarpa, O. Urbánková and H. Dvořáčková, “The
different effects of drought on soil microbial activities and soil
hydrophobicity in permanent grass cover and arable land” Ad Alta, vol.
4, no. 2, pp. 57-61, 2014a.
[9] J. Elbl, L. Plošek, A. Kintl, J. Záhora, S. Javoreková, I. Charousová, L.
Kalhotka, and O. Urbánková, “Effects of drought on microbial activity
in rhizosphere, soil hydrophobicity and leaching of mineral nitrogen
from arable soil depending on method of fertilization,” World Academy
of Science, Engineering and Technology, vol. 8, no. 8, pp. 741-747,
2014b.
[10] J. Elbl, L. Plošek, A. Kintl, J. Přichystalová, J. Záhora, J.K. Friedel,
“The effect of increased doses of compost on leaching of mineral
nitrogen from arable land”, Polish Journal of Environmental Studies,
vol. 23, no. 3, pp 697-703, 2014c.
[11] J. Elbl, L. Plošek, J. Záhora, A. Kintl and M. Stroblová, “Effect of
increased doses of compost to prepare reclamation substrate on soil
respiration and content of mineral nitrogen in the soil”, Ad Alta, vol. 3,
no. 2, pp. 88-91, 2013.
[12] K. R. Fingerman, G. Berndes, S. Orr, B.D. Richter and P. Vugteveen,
“Impact assessment at the bioenergy-water nexus”, Biofuel Bioprod.
Bior., vol. 5, pp. 375–386 (2011).
[13] J. L. Gabriel, R. M. Carpena and M. Quemada,” The role of cover crops
in irrigated systems: Water balance, nitrate leaching and soil mineral
nitrogen accumulation”, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, vol.
155, pp. 50-61, 2012.
[14] J. Galloway and E. Cowling, “Reactive nitrogen and the world: 200
years of change”, AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, vol.
31, no. 2, pp. 64-71, 2002.
[15] J. Lehmann, M.C. Rillig, J. Thies, C.A. Masiello, W.C. Hockaday and
D. Crowley, “Biochar effects on soil biota – A review”, Soil Biology &
Biochemistry, vol. 43, pp. 1812-1836, 2011.
[16] G. Ojeda, S. Mattana, A. Avila, J. M. Alcariz, M. Volkmann and J.
Bachmann, „Are soil-water functions affected by biochar application?“,
Geoderma, vol. 249-250, pp. 1-11, 2015.
[17] L. Plošek, J. Elbl, A. Kintl, J. Záhora and J. Hynšt, “Influence of added
compost on leakage of mineral nitrogen and biomass production”,
Waste forum, vol. 20, pp. 20-28, 2013.
[18] L. Plošek, F. Nsanganwimana, B. Pourrut, J. Elbl, J. Hynšt, A. Kitnl, D.
Kubná and J. Záhora, “The effect of compost addition on chemical and
nitrogen characteristics, respiration activity and biomass production in
prepared reclamation substrates”, World Academy of Science,
Engineering and Technology, vol. 7, no. 11, pp. 483-488, 2013.
[19] M. Sanaullah, E. Blagodatskaya, A. Chabbi, C. Rumpel and Y.
Kuzyakov, “Drought effects on microbial biomass and enzyme
activities in the rhizosphere of grasses depend on plant community
composition”, Applied Soil Ecology, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 38-44, 2011.
[20] S. Saarnio, K. Heimonen and R. Kettunenm, “Biochar addition
indirectly affects N2O emissions via soil moisture and plant N uptake”,
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 58, pp. 99-106, 2013.
[21] C. Steiner, W. G. Teixeira, J. Lehmann, and W. Zech, “Microbial
response of charcoal amendments of highly weathered soils and
Amazonian Dark Earths in Central Amazonia - preliminary results.” In:
Glaser, B., Woods, W.I. (Eds.), Amazonian Dark Earths: Exploration in
Space and Time. Springer-Verlag, pp. 195–212, 2004.
[22] M. Šimek, S. Virtanen, V. Krištůfek, A. Simojoki and M. Yli-Halla,
“Evidence of rich microbial communities in the subsoil of boreal acid
sulphate soil conductive to greenhouse gas emissions”, Agriculture,
Ecosystems & Environment, vol. 140, no. 1-2, pp. 113-122, 2011.
[23] B. Wolf and G. H. Snyder, Sustainable soils, Binghamton: Food Poduct
Press, 2003.
[1] N. D. Anayeva, E.A. Suysan, O.V. Chernova, S. Wirth, “Microbial
respiration activities of soils from different climatic regions of
European Russia”, European Journal of Soil Biology, vol. 44, no. 2,
pp. 147-157, 2008. C. Bimüller et al., “Prolonged summer droughts
retard soil N processing and stabilization in organo-mineral fractions”,
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 68, pp. 241-251, 2014.
[2] J. Bloem, D. W. Hopkins and A. Bendetti, Microbiological methods for
assessing soil quality. Cambridge: CABI Pub., 2006.
[3] L. G. Bundy and J. J. Meisinger, Nitrogen availability indices –
Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Microbiological and Biochemical
properties, SSSA Book Series: Madison, pp. 951-984, 1994.
[4] F. J. Cook and V. A. Orchard, “Relationships between soil respiration
and soil moisture”, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 40, pp. 1013-
1018, 2008.
[5] S. Delin and M. Stenberg, “Effect of nitrogen fertilization on nitrate
leaching in relation to grain yield response on loamy sand in Sweden”,
European Journal of Agronomy, vol. 52, part B, pp. 291-296, 2014. [6] L. F. Diaz, M. de Bertoldi, W. Bidlingmaier and E. Stentiford, Compost
science and technology, Boston: MA Elsevier, 2007, ch. 7.
[7] Y. Ding, Y. Liu, W. Wu, D. Shi, M. Yang and Z. Zhong, “Evalution of
biochar effects on nitrogen retention and leaching in multi-layred soil
columns”, Water Air Soil Pollut, vol. 213, no. 1-4, pp. 47-55, 2010.
[8] J. Elbl, J. Záhora, P. Škarpa, O. Urbánková and H. Dvořáčková, “The
different effects of drought on soil microbial activities and soil
hydrophobicity in permanent grass cover and arable land” Ad Alta, vol.
4, no. 2, pp. 57-61, 2014a.
[9] J. Elbl, L. Plošek, A. Kintl, J. Záhora, S. Javoreková, I. Charousová, L.
Kalhotka, and O. Urbánková, “Effects of drought on microbial activity
in rhizosphere, soil hydrophobicity and leaching of mineral nitrogen
from arable soil depending on method of fertilization,” World Academy
of Science, Engineering and Technology, vol. 8, no. 8, pp. 741-747,
2014b.
[10] J. Elbl, L. Plošek, A. Kintl, J. Přichystalová, J. Záhora, J.K. Friedel,
“The effect of increased doses of compost on leaching of mineral
nitrogen from arable land”, Polish Journal of Environmental Studies,
vol. 23, no. 3, pp 697-703, 2014c.
[11] J. Elbl, L. Plošek, J. Záhora, A. Kintl and M. Stroblová, “Effect of
increased doses of compost to prepare reclamation substrate on soil
respiration and content of mineral nitrogen in the soil”, Ad Alta, vol. 3,
no. 2, pp. 88-91, 2013.
[12] K. R. Fingerman, G. Berndes, S. Orr, B.D. Richter and P. Vugteveen,
“Impact assessment at the bioenergy-water nexus”, Biofuel Bioprod.
Bior., vol. 5, pp. 375–386 (2011).
[13] J. L. Gabriel, R. M. Carpena and M. Quemada,” The role of cover crops
in irrigated systems: Water balance, nitrate leaching and soil mineral
nitrogen accumulation”, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, vol.
155, pp. 50-61, 2012.
[14] J. Galloway and E. Cowling, “Reactive nitrogen and the world: 200
years of change”, AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, vol.
31, no. 2, pp. 64-71, 2002.
[15] J. Lehmann, M.C. Rillig, J. Thies, C.A. Masiello, W.C. Hockaday and
D. Crowley, “Biochar effects on soil biota – A review”, Soil Biology &
Biochemistry, vol. 43, pp. 1812-1836, 2011.
[16] G. Ojeda, S. Mattana, A. Avila, J. M. Alcariz, M. Volkmann and J.
Bachmann, „Are soil-water functions affected by biochar application?“,
Geoderma, vol. 249-250, pp. 1-11, 2015.
[17] L. Plošek, J. Elbl, A. Kintl, J. Záhora and J. Hynšt, “Influence of added
compost on leakage of mineral nitrogen and biomass production”,
Waste forum, vol. 20, pp. 20-28, 2013.
[18] L. Plošek, F. Nsanganwimana, B. Pourrut, J. Elbl, J. Hynšt, A. Kitnl, D.
Kubná and J. Záhora, “The effect of compost addition on chemical and
nitrogen characteristics, respiration activity and biomass production in
prepared reclamation substrates”, World Academy of Science,
Engineering and Technology, vol. 7, no. 11, pp. 483-488, 2013.
[19] M. Sanaullah, E. Blagodatskaya, A. Chabbi, C. Rumpel and Y.
Kuzyakov, “Drought effects on microbial biomass and enzyme
activities in the rhizosphere of grasses depend on plant community
composition”, Applied Soil Ecology, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 38-44, 2011.
[20] S. Saarnio, K. Heimonen and R. Kettunenm, “Biochar addition
indirectly affects N2O emissions via soil moisture and plant N uptake”,
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 58, pp. 99-106, 2013.
[21] C. Steiner, W. G. Teixeira, J. Lehmann, and W. Zech, “Microbial
response of charcoal amendments of highly weathered soils and
Amazonian Dark Earths in Central Amazonia - preliminary results.” In:
Glaser, B., Woods, W.I. (Eds.), Amazonian Dark Earths: Exploration in
Space and Time. Springer-Verlag, pp. 195–212, 2004.
[22] M. Šimek, S. Virtanen, V. Krištůfek, A. Simojoki and M. Yli-Halla,
“Evidence of rich microbial communities in the subsoil of boreal acid
sulphate soil conductive to greenhouse gas emissions”, Agriculture,
Ecosystems & Environment, vol. 140, no. 1-2, pp. 113-122, 2011.
[23] B. Wolf and G. H. Snyder, Sustainable soils, Binghamton: Food Poduct
Press, 2003.
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:70623", author = "Helena Dvořáčková and Jakub Elbl and Irina Mikajlo and Antonín Kintl and Jaroslav Hynšt and Olga Urbánková and Jaroslav Záhora", title = "The Potential Effect of Biochar Application on Microbial Activities and Availability of Mineral Nitrogen in Arable Soil Stressed by Drought", abstract = "Application of biochar to arable soils represents a new
approach to restore soil health and quality. Many studies reported the
positive effect of biochar application on soil fertility and
development of soil microbial community. Moreover biochar may
affect the soil water retention, but this effect has not been sufficiently
described yet. Therefore this study deals with the influence of
biochar application on: microbial activities in soil, availability of
mineral nitrogen in soil for microorganisms, mineral nitrogen
retention and plant production. To demonstrate the effect of biochar
addition on the above parameters, the pot experiment was realized.
As a model crop, Lactuca sativa L. was used and cultivated from
December 10th 2014 till March 22th 2015 in climate chamber in
thoroughly homogenized arable soil with and without addition of
biochar. Five variants of experiment (V1 – V5) with different regime
of irrigation were prepared. Variants V1 – V2 were fertilized by
mineral nitrogen, V3 – V4 by biochar and V5 was a control. The
significant differences were found only in plant production and
mineral nitrogen retention. The highest content of mineral nitrogen
in soil was detected in V1 and V2, about 250 % in comparison with
the other variants. The positive effect of biochar application on soil
fertility, mineral nitrogen availability was not found. On the other
hand results of plant production indicate the possible positive effect
of biochar application on soil water retention.", keywords = "Arable soil, biochar, drought, mineral Nitrogen.", volume = "9", number = "8", pages = "911-5", }
