Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2023, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 156-163.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.2023.01.17

• Environmental Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of corncob biochar application on soil characteristics and pepper growth under continuous cropping

WANG Weiwei1(), MEI Yi1, WU Yongcheng1, WAN Hongjian2, CHEN Changjun3, ZHENG Qingsong3, ZHENG Jiaqiu1,*()   

  1. 1. Jiangsu Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Coastal Areas, Yancheng 224002, Jiangsu, China
    2. Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
    3. College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
  • Received:2021-12-10 Online:2023-01-25 Published:2023-02-21

Abstract:

In order to investigate the effects of biochar application on soil physiochemical properties, soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and and plant growth indexes, different rates (5, 10, 20, 30 t·hm-2) of corncob biochar were added to pepper continuous cropping soils in the present study. It was shown that application of appropriate rate of biochar significantly (P<0.05) increased the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus and available potassium as compared with the CK treatment without biochar application, yet decreased the total potassium content in soil. The soil MBC/MBN and MBC/SOC were significantly (P<0.05) decreased with application of biochar as compared with CK. When the biochar addition rate was above or equal to 10 t·hm-2, the soil MBC and MBN contents were significantly (P<0.05) increased as compared with CK. When the biochar addition rate was 10-20 t·hm-2, the soil MBN/TN was significantly (P<0.05) increased as compared with CK. The correlationship analysis showed that the soil MBC and MBN were significantly (P<0.01) positively correlated with soil total nitrogen, organic carbon, total phosphorus and available phosphorus, and were significantly (P<0.01) negatively correlated with soil total potassium. When the application rate of biochar was 5-20 t·hm-2, the pepper yield per plant was significantly (P<0.05) increased as compared with CK, and the highest value was recorded under the application rate of 20 t·hm-2. But, the higher application rate did not support the further increase of pepper yield. In conclusion, the modest biochar application could improve soil micro-environment and soil fertility, promote pepper growth and increase pepper yield.

Key words: biochar, continuous cropping soil, soil physical and chemical properties, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen

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