Biochar-induced concomitant decrease in ammonia volatilization and increase in nitrogen use efficiency by wheat. (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mandal, Sanchita; Thangarajan, Ramya; Bolan, Nanthi S.; Sarkar, Binoy; Khan, Naser; Ok, Yong Sik; Naidu, Ravi
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 142(2016)
• Page Start: 120
• Page End: 127
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: Ammonia volatilization -- Biochar -- Nitrogen dynamics -- PH -- Urea -- Wheat; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.04.086
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Mitigation of NH3 volatilization up to 70.56% by using biochar was demonstrated. Biochar application increased N uptake by plants up to 76.11%. Proposed the mechanisms for biochar-induced reduction in NH3 volatilization. The soil environmental factors influencing NH3 volatilization were investigated. Abstract: Ammonia (NH3 ) volatilization is a major nitrogen (N) loss from the soil, especially under tropical conditions, NH3 volatilization results in low N use efficiency by crops. Incubation experiments were conducted using five soils (pH 5.5–9.0), three N sources such as, urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), and poultry manure (PM) and two biochars such as, poultry litter biochar (PL-BC) and macadamia nut shell biochar (MS-BC). Ammonia volatilization was higher at soil with higher pH (pH exceeding 8) due to the increased hydroxyl ions. Among the N sources, urea recorded the highest NH3 volatilization (151.6 mg kg −1 soil) followed by PM (124.2 mg kg −1 soil) and DAP (99 mg kg −1 soil). Ammonia volatilization was reduced by approximately 70% with PL-BC and MS-BC. The decreased NH3 volatilization with biochars is attributed to multiple mechanisms such as NH3 adsorption/immobilization, and nitrification. Moreover, biochar increased wheat dry weight and N uptake as high as by 24.24% and 76.11%, respectively. This study unravels the immense potential of biochar in decreasing N volatilization from soils and simultaneously improving use efficiency by wheat.