ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Biochar Combined with N-fertilization
on Soil CO2 Emissions, Crop Yields
and Relationships with Soil Properties
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1
Department of Biometeorology and Hydrology, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovakia
2
Department of Soil Science, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovakia
3
Agrophysical Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia
Submission date: 2019-09-30
Final revision date: 2020-01-16
Acceptance date: 2020-01-29
Online publication date: 2020-05-05
Publication date: 2020-06-08
Corresponding author
Ján Horák
Department of biometeorology and hydrology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Hospodárska 7, 949 76, Nitra, Slovak Republic
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(5):3597-3609
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ABSTRACT
Biochar is considered a valuable tool for improving soil fertility with a lower carbon footprint
remaining in the background of sufficient and healthy production, particularly in tropical and subtropical
conditions and especially on sandy soils. The aim of many scientists is to confirm this fact in other
climatic regions of the world and on soils with different textures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to
determine the effect of biochar applied separately or in combination with N-fertilizer (first to eliminate
the wide C:N ratio after biochar application, which can have a priming effect on the soil organic matter
and, secondly, to follow the standard N fertilization practice in Slovakia, where the amount of fertilizer
applied is calculated according to the crop) to silty loam (the dominant soil texture in Slovakia) Luvisol
(the most intensively used soil type in Slovakian agriculture) at Dolná Malanta, Slovakia, on (i) CO2
emissions, and (ii) grain yields in 2014-2016. The cumulative CO2 emissions from the soil for the
treatments with biochar (applied with or without N-fertilizers) were from 2% to 27% lower compared to
control. In 2014, grain yield was from 5% to 42% higher for the treatments with the lower biochar rate
at all fertilization levels. On the contrary, a lower increase in grain yield was observed in the second
year at the treatments with the higher biochar rate and higher rate of fertilizer. In 2016 – in comparison
to 2014 and 2015 – no effect of biochar on CO2 flux reduction and grain yield increase was observed.