Abstract
The benefits of biochar (BC) application to fertile, non-acidic soils in temperate climate regions might not always be as evident as for highly weathered tropical soils. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of BC on soil characteristics, nutrient uptake and crop yield in field experiments on two temperate soils (Cambisol and Chernozem) in Austria. Maize and wheat (Cambisol), and barley and sunflower (Chernozem) were grown in successive vegetation periods following different BC application rates (0, 24 and 72 t ha-1 at the start of the experiment), supplemented with identical mineral N supply in 33 m² plots. BC treatments showed varying impacts on nutrient uptake of the investigated crops. The first growing season in the Chernozem region was affected by a prolonged drought period, which resulted in positive effects of BC on soil water-holding capacity (WHC) and barley crop yield (+ 10%) for the 72 t ha-1 BC + N treatment compared to a control with identical nutrient supply but without BC. However, maize and wheat grain yield decreased by 46 and 70%, respectively, after the highest BC application rate (72 t ha-1) in an additional treatment without supplementary N-fertilisation. Still, even with high BC application rates we did not observe any adverse effects on crop yield and nutrient uptake, as long as the soil was supplied with sufficient N according to local agricultural practice.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar treatments had varying effects on nutrient uptake across the crops.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“BC treatments showed varying impacts on nutrient uptake of the investigated crops”
Claim · model-written summary
Under drought, 72 t ha-1 biochar plus nitrogen increased barley yield by 10% versus equal nitrogen without biochar.
- Taxon
- barley
.jpg?width=60)
Hordeum vulgaree0 - Treatment
- 72 t ha-1 BC + N treatmente0
- Outcome
- crop yielde0
- Direction
- positive effectse0
- Value
- 10%e0
- Comparator
- control with identical nutrient supply but without BCe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“positive effects of BC on soil water-holding capacity (WHC) and barley crop yield (+ 10%) for the 72 t ha-1 BC + N treatment compared to a control with identical nutrient supply but without BC”
Claim · model-written summary
Without supplementary nitrogen, 72 t ha-1 biochar decreased maize grain yield by 46%.
- Treatment
- highest BC application rate (72 t ha-1)e0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 46e0
- Qualifier
- without supplementary N-fertilisatione0
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“maize and wheat grain yield decreased by 46 and 70%, respectively, after the highest BC application rate (72 t ha-1) in an additional treatment without supplementary N-fertilisation”
Claim · model-written summary
Without supplementary nitrogen, 72 t ha-1 biochar decreased wheat grain yield by 70%.
- Taxon
- wheat
Triticum aestivume0 - Treatment
- highest BC application rate (72 t ha-1)e0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 70%e0
- Qualifier
- without supplementary N-fertilisatione0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“maize and wheat grain yield decreased by 46 and 70%, respectively, after the highest BC application rate (72 t ha-1) in an additional treatment without supplementary N-fertilisation”
Claim · model-written summary
With sufficient nitrogen, high biochar rates had no adverse effect on crop yield or nutrient uptake.
- Treatment
- high BC application ratese0
- Outcome
- crop yield and nutrient uptakee0
- Direction
- did not observe any adverse effectse0
- Qualifier
- sufficient Ne0
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“even with high BC application rates we did not observe any adverse effects on crop yield and nutrient uptake, as long as the soil was supplied with sufficient N”
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