Application of biochar in saline soils enhances soil resilience and reduces greenhouse gas emissions in arid irrigation areas

IF 6.8 1区农林科学 Q1 SOIL SCIENCE Soil & Tillage Research Pub Date : 2025-08-01 Epub Date: 2025-02-21 DOI:10.1016/j.still.2025.106500

Shixiong Ren , Jiawang Zhong , Kai Wang , Rong Liu , Hao Feng , Qin’ge Dong , Yuchen Yang

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Abstract

Quantifying soil health is crucial for evaluating and guiding soil management strategies. Soil salinization has become one of the main threats to soil health. However, the effects of biochar application on the improvement of saline soils and greenhouse gas emissions remain controversial. This study focused on spring maize fields in the Hetao Irrigation District and conducted a two-year field experiment from 2021 to 2022. Biochar derived from maize stalks at a pyrolysis temperature of 400℃ was a evenly spread over the soil surface, manually incorporated, and then rotary tilled to ensure thorough mixing within the 0–30 cm soil layer. Five field treatments were set up: CK (no fertilizer), BC0 (0 t ha⁻¹ biochar), BC7.5 (7.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar), BC15 (15.0 t ha⁻¹ biochar), and BC22.5 (22.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar). The results showed that appropriate biochar (15.0 t ha⁻¹) addition increased soil profile nitrate nitrogen content, 0–40 cm soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, 0–120 cm soil water storage (SWS) and electrical conductivity, as well as maize plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, grains per row, 100-grain weight, yield, and water use efficiency (WUE). However, excessive biochar application (22.5 t ha⁻¹) reduced the effectiveness of soil water storage, led to salt accumulation, decreased soil profile nitrate nitrogen content, and increased maize water consumption. Additionally, biochar application reduced N₂O emission peaks, N₂O emission factors, and cumulative emissions, while promoting soil CH₄ absorption. Biochar reduced cumulative soil CO₂ emissions, but excessive application (22.5 t ha⁻¹) increased CO₂ cumulative emissions. Sole nitrogen fertilizer application significantly increased global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI), but the combination of nitrogen fertilizer and biochar significantly reduced GWP and GHGI. These findings provide a theoretical basis for improving the health of saline soils and mitigating climate change.

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在干旱灌区盐渍土中施用生物炭可提高土壤恢复力，减少温室气体排放

土壤健康的量化是评价和指导土壤管理战略的关键。土壤盐碱化已成为威胁土壤健康的主要因素之一。然而，生物炭对盐渍土改良和温室气体排放的影响仍存在争议。本研究以河套灌区春玉米田为研究对象，于2021 - 2022年进行了为期两年的田间试验。将热解温度为400℃的玉米秸秆提取的生物炭均匀地铺在土壤表面，人工掺入，然后旋转耕作，确保0-30 cm土层内混合充分。设置5个田间处理：CK（不施肥）、BC0（0 t ha−1生物炭）、BC7.5（7.5 t ha−1生物炭）、BC15（15.0 t ha−1生物炭）和BC22.5（22.5 t ha−1生物炭）。结果表明：适当添加15.0 t ha−1的生物炭可提高土壤剖面硝态氮含量、0 ~ 40 cm土壤有机碳和全氮含量、0 ~ 120 cm土壤蓄水量和电导率，提高玉米株高、叶面积指数、干物质积累量、行粒数、百粒重、产量和水分利用效率。然而，过量施用生物炭（22.5 t ha−1）降低了土壤水分储存的有效性，导致盐积累，降低了土壤剖面硝态氮含量，增加了玉米的耗水量。此外，施用生物炭降低了N2O排放峰值、N2O排放因子和累积排放量，同时促进了土壤对CH4的吸收。生物炭减少了土壤累积CO2排放，但过量施用（22.5 t ha - 1）增加了土壤累积CO2排放。单施氮肥显著提高了全球变暖潜势（GWP）和温室气体排放强度（GHGI），氮肥与生物炭配施显著降低了全球变暖潜势（GWP）和GHGI。这些发现为改善盐渍土健康和减缓气候变化提供了理论依据。

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来源期刊

Soil & Tillage Research 农林科学-土壤科学

CiteScore

13.00

自引率

6.20%

发文量

266

审稿时长

5 months

期刊介绍： Soil & Tillage Research examines the physical, chemical and biological changes in the soil caused by tillage and field traffic. Manuscripts will be considered on aspects of soil science, physics, technology, mechanization and applied engineering for a sustainable balance among productivity, environmental quality and profitability. The following are examples of suitable topics within the scope of the journal of Soil and Tillage Research: The agricultural and biosystems engineering associated with tillage (including no-tillage, reduced-tillage and direct drilling), irrigation and drainage, crops and crop rotations, fertilization, rehabilitation of mine spoils and processes used to modify soils. Soil change effects on establishment and yield of crops, growth of plants and roots, structure and erosion of soil, cycling of carbon and nutrients, greenhouse gas emissions, leaching, runoff and other processes that affect environmental quality. Characterization or modeling of tillage and field traffic responses, soil, climate, or topographic effects, soil deformation processes, tillage tools, traction devices, energy requirements, economics, surface and subsurface water quality effects, tillage effects on weed, pest and disease control, and their interactions.