Effect of Biochar and Biochar Combined with N-Fertiliser on Soil Organic Carbon Content

Abstract

An experiment of different application rates of biochar and biochar combined with nitrogen fertiliser was conducted at experimental field on a Haplic Luvisol located in Nitra region of Slovakia during the growing season of spring barley (2014). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochar and biochar combined with nitrogen fertilisation on the soil organic carbon (SOC). The treatments consisted of 0, 10 and 20 t/ha of biochar application (B0, B10 and B20) combined with 0, 40 and 80 kg/ha N of nitrogen fertiliser applied (N0, N40 and N80). The results showed that SOC content at the beginning and end of the trial was always higher at the plots amended with biochar as compared to control plots (B0N0, B0N40 and B0N80); however, statistically significant effects were observed only at the beginning of the trial as well as at the end of trial in B20N40 treatments. Overall, the highest values of SOC contents were obtained at the beginning as well as at the end of the trial when 10 and 20 t/ha of biochar was applied together with 40 kg/ha N.