Biochar as a soil amendment positively interacts with nitrogen fertiliser to improve barley yields in the UK

Gathorne‐Hardy, Alfred; Knight, J; Woods, J

doi:10.1088/1755-1307/6/7/372052

Cited by 14 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Major et al (2010) reported that maize grain yield did not increase significantly in the first year following addition of 20 t ha -1 of biochar (biomass-derived black C), but increased by 28%, 30% and 140% over the control for the 3 years following. Gathorne-Hardy et al (2009) reported that biochar addition alone did not show a significant effect on barley yield, but applications of 50 t biochar and 80 kg N fertiliser ha -1 increased barley grain yield by 30%, which could be attributed to increased N-use efficiency.…”

Section: Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptakementioning

confidence: 95%

The ameliorating effects of biochar and compost on soil quality and plant growth on a Ferralsol

et al. 2015

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Deteriorating soil fertility and the concomitant decline in agricultural productivity are major concerns in many parts of the world. A pot experiment was conducted with a Ferralsol to test the hypothesis that application of biochar improves soil fertility, fertiliser-use efficiency, plant growth and productivity, particularly when combined with compost. Treatments comprised: untreated control; mineral fertiliser at rates of 280 mg nitrogen, 70 mg phosphorus and 180 mg potassium pot–1 (F); 75% F + 40 g compost pot–1 (F + Com); 100% F + 20 g willow biochar pot–1 (F + WB); 75% F + 10 g willow biochar + 20 g compost pot–1 (F + WB + Com); 100% F + 20 g acacia biochar pot–1 (F + AB); and 75% F + 10 g acacia biochar + 20 g compost pot–1 (F + AB + Com). Application of compost with fertiliser significantly increased plant growth, soil nutrient status and plant nutrient content, with shoot biomass (as a ratio of control value) decreasing in the order F + Com (4.0) > F + WB + Com (3.6) > F + WB (3.3) > F + AB + Com (3.1) > F + AB (3.1) > F (2.9) > control (1.0). Maize shoot biomass was positively significantly correlated with chlorophyll content, root biomass, plant height, and specific leaf weight (r = 0.99, 0.98, 0.96 and 0.92, respectively). Shoot and root biomass had significant correlations with soil water content, plant nutrient concentration, and soil nutrient content after harvesting. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first component provided a reasonable summary of the data, accounting for ~84% of the total variance. As the plants grew, compost and biochar additions significantly reduced leaching of nutrients. In summary, separate or combined application of compost and biochar together with fertiliser increased soil fertility and plant growth. Application of compost and biochar improved the retention of water and nutrients by the soil and thereby uptake of water and nutrients by the plants; however, little or no synergistic effect was observed.

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Section: Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptakementioning

confidence: 95%

The ameliorating effects of biochar and compost on soil quality and plant growth on a Ferralsol

et al. 2015

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“…Previous studies reported 75% increase in maize biomass relative to NPK fertilizer alone when biochar and NPK fertilizer were combined at different ecological zones in southern China (Zhu et al 2015). Studies by Gathorne-Hardy et al (2009) also reported over 30% increase in barley yield when biochar and N fertilizer were co-applied. Currently, studies on biochar, nitrogen fertilizer and their interactive effects on upland rice yield, soil nutrient status and nitrogen use efficiency are scanty in southwest Nigeria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effects of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer on soil physicochemical properties, nitrogen use efficiency and upland rice (Oryza sativa) yield grown on an Alfisol in Southwestern Nigeria

Oladele

Adeyemo

Awodun

et al. 2019

Int J Recycl Org Waste Agricult

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Purpose Biochar and inorganic fertilizer when co-applied have been reported to increase crop yield and enhance soil fertility. However, studies on this complementary effect on soil properties and rain-fed upland rice performance in Sub-Saharan Africa are still scanty. Methods Field factorial studies conducted over 2 years was set up to investigate the interactions between rice husk biochar and inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer on a sandy clay loam Alfisol. A two-factor (4 × 4) in RCBD where rice husk biochar was incorporated at four doses, 0, 3, 6, and 12 t/ha −1 , inorganic N fertilizer (urea) at four rates, 0, 30, 60 and 90 N kg/ha −1 , and their combinations was adopted. Results Results showed that combination of biochar and N fertilizer exerted significant (P > 0.05) interactive effect on rice harvest index, grain and straw yield and N-use efficiency. Interaction between biochar and N fertilizer increased agronomic efficiency by 140% and grain nutrient recovery by 191% over 2 years. Combination of biochar and N fertilizer reduced soil bulk density, increased water holding capacity and soil chemical status such as pH, N, P, K, Corg, Ca, ECEC and base saturation, all within the top 10 cm depth of the soil. Conclusions Overall, the results established that rice husk biochar can be used as a soil conditioner to enhance upland rice yield on an Alfisol. The combined dose of 3-6 t/ha −1 biochar and 30 kg/ha −1 of N fertilizer is thus recommended for upland rice farmers in the study area.

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“…The meta-analysis of Jeffery et al (2011) reported an overall grand mean crop yield increase of 10% with the range between -28 and 39%, while others report yield impacts ranging from -71% to 324% ). The largest yield increases have been reported where a combination of biochar and fertilizer has been used (Gathorne-Hardy et al 2009;Peng et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Reconnaissance-Scale Gis-Based Multicriteria Decision Analysis to Support Sustainable Biochar Use: Poland as a Case Study

Latawiec

Peake

Baxter

et al. 2017

Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management

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Although increasing numbers of research papers regarding biochar are being published worldwide, in some countries growing interest in biochar has only recently been observed; this is true of Poland. We analysed information on biochar research in Poland alongside lessons learned elsewhere in order to identify the significant opportunities and risks associated with biochar use. This data fed into a GIS-based multicriteria analysis to identify areas where biochar application could deliver greatest benefit. We found that 21.8% of agricultural land in Poland has at least moderate indication for biochar use (soil organic matter below 2% and ph below 5.5), while 1.5% was categorized as a priority as it also exhibited contamination. Potential barriers identified included biomass availability and associated risks of indirect land-use change due to possible national and transnational biomass production displacement. Biochar use could have positive global consequences as a climate change mitigation strategy, particularly relevant in a country with limited alternatives. Scaling up a mitigation technology that is viable on account of its co-benefits might be cost-effective, which could, in turn, adjust national perspectives and stronger involvement in developing mitigation policies at the regional level. Biochar has much promise in temperate conditions and further research should therefore be assigned to explore biochar’s environmental and socio-economic impacts.

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Biochar as a soil amendment positively interacts with nitrogen fertiliser to improve barley yields in the UK

Cited by 14 publications

References 0 publications

The ameliorating effects of biochar and compost on soil quality and plant growth on a Ferralsol

The ameliorating effects of biochar and compost on soil quality and plant growth on a Ferralsol

Effects of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer on soil physicochemical properties, nitrogen use efficiency and upland rice (Oryza sativa) yield grown on an Alfisol in Southwestern Nigeria

A Reconnaissance-Scale Gis-Based Multicriteria Decision Analysis to Support Sustainable Biochar Use: Poland as a Case Study

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