Abstract
Abstract Woody biochar (WB) is a low carbon (C)-emitting organic resource that can be used to increase C sequestration by effectively storing C in the soil. However, there is a lack of research on optimal WB application levels for improving the annual net ecosystem C budget (NECB) in red pepper cropping systems. In this study, WB was applied annually at 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 Mg d.w ha −1 for 2 years in a red pepper cropping field. The annual NECB, including C input and output, red pepper biomass productivity, and soil properties, was investigated. The total C input from fertiliser and WB application over the two years was the highest at WB10, followed by WB5 > WB2.5 > WB0. In both years, CO 2 emissions increased with increasing WB application levels, whereas CH 4 emissions exhibited negative fluxes across all treatments, with a negligible impact on C output. WB application increased the cumulative fruit productivity and total biomass productivity. The optimal and sustainable WB application levels for improving the annual NECB were estimated to be 7.3–11.4 Mg d.w ha −1 when removing the whole biomass after harvest and 1.8–6.7 Mg d.w ha −1 when returning it to the soil. Increasing WB application levels significantly improved soil physicochemical properties, such as bulk density and soil organic carbon (SOC) content. Optimising the WB application level may improve organic matter management by enhancing NECB, red pepper productivity, and soil properties. Our results offer guidance for sustainable optimisation of WB application in red pepper cropping systems. Graphical Abstract
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Total carbon input was highest at WB10, followed by WB5, WB2.5 and WB0.
- Taxon
- red pepper
Capsicum annuum var. annuumt0 - Treatment
- WB10e0
- Outcome
- total C inpute0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Comparator
- WB5 > WB2.5 > WB0e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The total C input from fertiliser and WB application over the two years was the highest at WB10, followed by WB5 > WB2.5 > WB0.”
t0“red pepper cropping systems”
Claim · model-written summary
CO2 emissions increased as woody biochar application increased in both years.
- Taxon
- red pepperCapsicum annuum var. annuumt0
- Treatment
- WB application levelse0
- Outcome
- CO 2 emissionse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In both years, CO 2 emissions increased with increasing WB application levels”
t0“red pepper cropping systems”
Claim · model-written summary
CH4 emissions showed negative fluxes for every treatment and made a negligible contribution to carbon output.
- Taxon
- red pepperCapsicum annuum var. annuumt0
- Outcome
- CH 4 emissionse0
- Direction
- negative fluxese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“CH 4 emissions exhibited negative fluxes across all treatments, with a negligible impact on C output.”
t0“red pepper cropping systems”
Claim · model-written summary
Woody biochar increased cumulative pepper fruit productivity.
- Taxon
- red pepperCapsicum annuum var. annuumt0
- Treatment
- WB applicatione0
- Outcome
- cumulative fruit productivitye0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“WB application increased the cumulative fruit productivity and total biomass productivity.”
t0“red pepper cropping systems”
Claim · model-written summary
Woody biochar increased total biomass productivity.
- Taxon
- red pepperCapsicum annuum var. annuumt0
- Treatment
- WB applicatione0
- Outcome
- total biomass productivitye0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“WB application increased the cumulative fruit productivity and total biomass productivity.”
t0“red pepper cropping systems”
Claim · model-written summary
The estimated optimal biochar rate for annual carbon budget was 7.3–11.4 Mg dry weight per hectare with whole biomass removal.
- Taxon
- red pepperCapsicum annuum var. annuumt0
- Outcome
- optimal and sustainable WB application levelse0
- Value
- 7.3–11.4 Mg d.w ha −1e0
- Qualifier
- when removing the whole biomass after harveste0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The optimal and sustainable WB application levels for improving the annual NECB were estimated to be 7.3–11.4 Mg d.w ha −1 when removing the whole biomass after harvest”
t0“red pepper cropping systems”
Claim · model-written summary
The estimated optimal biochar rate was 1.8–6.7 Mg dry weight per hectare with biomass returned to soil.
- Taxon
- red pepperCapsicum annuum var. annuumt0
- Outcome
- returning it to the soile0
- Value
- 1.8–6.7 Mg d.w ha −1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“1.8–6.7 Mg d.w ha −1 when returning it to the soil”
t0“red pepper cropping systems”
Claim · model-written summary
Increasing biochar significantly improved soil bulk density and organic carbon.
- Taxon
- red pepperCapsicum annuum var. annuumt0
- Treatment
- Increasing WB application levelse0
- Outcome
- bulk density and soil organic carbon (SOC) contente0
- Direction
- improvede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Increasing WB application levels significantly improved soil physicochemical properties, such as bulk density and soil organic carbon (SOC) content.”
t0“red pepper cropping systems”
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biochar · yield · Capsicum annuum (sweet pepper)Positive and negative results
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See all 5 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.