This study investigated the effects of maize (Zea mays L.) straw biochar on phosphorus (P) availability in two soils with different P sorption capacities (iron and aluminum dominated slight acid Red earth and calcium dominated alkaline Fluvo-aquic soil). A 42-day incubation experiment was conducted to study how applications of biochar at different rates (0, 2, 4, and 8 % soil, w/w), in combination with and without mineral KH2PO4 fertilizer, affected contents of soil Olsen-P and soil microbial biomass P (SMB-P) and phosphomonoesterase activity. In addition, P sorption characteristics of soils amended with biochar, as well as main properties of the biochar and the soils, were determined. Application of 8% biochar after 42 days of incubation substantially increased soil Olsen-P from 3 to 46 mg kg−1 in Red earth and from 13 to 137 mg kg−1 in Fluvo-aquic soil and increased SMB-P from 1 to 9 mg kg−1 in Red earth and from 9 to 21 mg kg−1 in Fluvoaquic soil. The increasewas mainly due to high concentrations of P in the ash fraction (77%of total biochar P). Biochar effect on soil Olsen-P and SMB-P increased by higher biochar application rates and by lower P sorption capacity. Biochar application significantly reduced acid phosphomonoesterase activity in Red earth and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity in Fluvo-aquic soil due to large amount of inorganic P added. We conclude that maize straw biochar is promising to potentially improve soil P availability in low-P soils, but further research at field scale is needed to confirm this.
CITATION STYLE
Zhai, L., Cai, Z. J., Liu, J., Wang, H., Ren, T., Gai, X., … Liu, H. (2015). Short-term effects of maize residue biochar on phosphorus availability in two soils with different phosphorus sorption capacities. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 51(1), 113–122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-014-0954-3
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