Short-term biochar effects on greenhouse gas emissions and phosphorus availability for maize

Abstract

Due to environmental issues, many methods of exploiting renewable natural resources are alternatives to reduce the dependence on non-renewable agricultural inputs. Phosphate fertilization on weathered tropical soil and waste reuse, for example, requires better management strategies. Thus, biochar from organic residues can be a strategy to reduce pressure on natural resources, in addition to having the potential to mitigate climate change. This study aimed to evaluate the availability of P in tropical soils from the interaction of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the aboveground and root systems of the plant and its impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The results indicated that the addition of biochar was an alternative for C sequestration and GHG mitigation, causing no damage to the plant. The applied biochar amount had, for the most part, emission equal to or less than the control treatment (soil only). The sugarcane straw biochar (BCS) showed higher emissions, mainly in the presence of P and AMF. Biologically speaking, there was no significant effect in the presence of mycorrhizae. However, with regard to plant production, treatments where mycorrhizae were inoculated, longer and wider leaves were found. In the production of maize (Zea mays L.) plant material (aboveground and root), the upper and lower values were related to the poultry manure biochar (BPM), and the presence of P, the values were lower, indicating that, for the good development of the plant, only the presence of the biochar is sufficient, without requiring the addition of phosphate fertilizer.