Abstract
Biochar has been widely proposed as a relatively novel approach to improve soil quality and increase crop productivity, but its underlying mechanisms are not well understood. A large root system in plants is either a constitutive or an inducible trait dependent on the uptake of resources and the production of shoot dry matter. Here a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar amendment on the dynamic growth and development of maize (Zea mays L.), both above- and belowground, and to explore the relationship between soil condition, root traits and shoot biomass over two growing seasons on the Loess Plateau in northern China. Biochar was added to a maize field at rates of 0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha–1 without mulching and at rates of 0 and 20 t ha–1 with film mulching before sowing the first crop. The application of straw biochar with 30 t ha–1 decreased soil bulk density by 12% and increased soil total porosity by 13% in the 0–10-cm soil layer 6 months after biochar addition. Biochar amendment increased soil organic carbon, total soil nitrogen, carbon : nitrogen ratio, and available phosphorus and potassium at the end of each growing season. Although, root growth was inhibited at a rate of 30 t ha–1 in the early stage of the first year, biochar amendment exhibited a positive effect in other stages, resulting in higher root weight density, root length density and root surface-area density. These responses led to higher growth rates, maize biomass, grain yields and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as the rate of biochar addition increased. Film mulching with biochar amendment achieved the greatest root and shoot biomass and grain yield in both crops, despite differences in climate conditions. Biochar aged in the field for 2 years had the same effect on soil properties and crop production, suggesting that the application of straw biochar may be a promising option for increasing productivity in semi-arid farmland.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Straw biochar at 30 t ha–1 decreased soil bulk density by 12%.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“The application of straw biochar with 30 t ha–1 decreased soil bulk density by 12%”
Claim · model-written summary
Straw biochar at 30 t ha–1 increased soil porosity by 13%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“The application of straw biochar with 30 t ha–1 decreased soil bulk density by 12% and increased soil total porosity by 13%”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar increased soil organic carbon, nitrogen, C:N ratio, and available phosphorus and potassium.
- Treatment
- Biochar amendmente0
- Outcome
- soil organic carbon, total soil nitrogen, carbon : nitrogen ratio, and available phosphorus and potassiume0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“Biochar amendment increased soil organic carbon, total soil nitrogen, carbon : nitrogen ratio, and available phosphorus and potassium”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar at 30 t ha–1 inhibited early root growth in the first year.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“root growth was inhibited at a rate of 30 t ha–1 in the early stage of the first year”
Claim · model-written summary
At other stages biochar increased root weight, length, and surface area density.
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente0
- Outcome
- root weight density, root length density and root surface-area densitye0
- Direction
- highere0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“biochar amendment exhibited a positive effect in other stages, resulting in higher root weight density, root length density and root surface-area density”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize growth rates, biomass and grain yields rose with biochar rate.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“higher growth rates, maize biomass, grain yields and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as the rate of biochar addition increased”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake rose with biochar rate.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“higher growth rates, maize biomass, grain yields and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as the rate of biochar addition increased”
Claim · model-written summary
Film mulching with biochar gave the greatest root and shoot biomass and grain yield.
- Treatment
- Film mulching with biochar amendmente0
- Outcome
- root and shoot biomass and grain yielde0
- Direction
- greateste0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“Film mulching with biochar amendment achieved the greatest root and shoot biomass and grain yield in both crops”
Claim · model-written summary
Two-year-aged biochar had the same effect on soil properties and crop production.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“Biochar aged in the field for 2 years had the same effect on soil properties and crop production”
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