Abstract
Soil functional zone management strategies including ridge tillage have been shown to increase in-row (IR) compared with between-row (BR) soil nitrogen (N) availability due to the development of contrasting soil properties and carbon (C) and N cycling processes. However, potential N losses may also increase for IR positions, representing an environmental tradeoff. Although biochar has putative contributions to tightening N cycles, its effect within spatially distinct management zones has not been quantified. This study evaluated the potential for biochar to reduce soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions and leachate nitrate (NO 3 - ) concentrations as influenced by changes in soil properties after 5 yr of ridge tillage in a silty clay loam soil. Soil columns for IR and BR positions were treated with and without biochar at 10 Mg ha -1 in a 100-d laboratory incubation (n = 4 replications). Results indicate that biochar increased average daily N 2 O emissions in IR by 30% but decreased them by 39% in BR. In both positions, biochar decreased NO 3 - concentrations in soil solution and leachate by 11 to 20% and 10 to 15%, respectively. Our findings suggest that long-term changes in soil C and N cycling processes may increase the potential for N 2 O emissions in IR compared with BR positions. Although most biochar studies have not accounted for within-field soil variability, our results indicate that biochar may differentially affect soil N 2 O emissions depending on spatially distinct soil management history. Findings from this laboratory study stress the need for field research evaluating spatial differences in biochar N 2 O mitigation potential.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 62-69 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Environmental Quality |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2018 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Water Science and Technology
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Pollution
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
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Potential nitrogen losses in relation to spatially distinct soil management history and biochar addition. / Baechle, Ben; Davis, Adam S.; Pittelkow, Cameron M.
In: Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 47, No. 1, 01.01.2018, p. 62-69.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Potential nitrogen losses in relation to spatially distinct soil management history and biochar addition
AU - Baechle, Ben
AU - Davis, Adam S.
AU - Pittelkow, Cameron M.
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Soil functional zone management strategies including ridge tillage have been shown to increase in-row (IR) compared with between-row (BR) soil nitrogen (N) availability due to the development of contrasting soil properties and carbon (C) and N cycling processes. However, potential N losses may also increase for IR positions, representing an environmental tradeoff. Although biochar has putative contributions to tightening N cycles, its effect within spatially distinct management zones has not been quantified. This study evaluated the potential for biochar to reduce soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions and leachate nitrate (NO 3 - ) concentrations as influenced by changes in soil properties after 5 yr of ridge tillage in a silty clay loam soil. Soil columns for IR and BR positions were treated with and without biochar at 10 Mg ha -1 in a 100-d laboratory incubation (n = 4 replications). Results indicate that biochar increased average daily N 2 O emissions in IR by 30% but decreased them by 39% in BR. In both positions, biochar decreased NO 3 - concentrations in soil solution and leachate by 11 to 20% and 10 to 15%, respectively. Our findings suggest that long-term changes in soil C and N cycling processes may increase the potential for N 2 O emissions in IR compared with BR positions. Although most biochar studies have not accounted for within-field soil variability, our results indicate that biochar may differentially affect soil N 2 O emissions depending on spatially distinct soil management history. Findings from this laboratory study stress the need for field research evaluating spatial differences in biochar N 2 O mitigation potential.
AB - Soil functional zone management strategies including ridge tillage have been shown to increase in-row (IR) compared with between-row (BR) soil nitrogen (N) availability due to the development of contrasting soil properties and carbon (C) and N cycling processes. However, potential N losses may also increase for IR positions, representing an environmental tradeoff. Although biochar has putative contributions to tightening N cycles, its effect within spatially distinct management zones has not been quantified. This study evaluated the potential for biochar to reduce soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions and leachate nitrate (NO 3 - ) concentrations as influenced by changes in soil properties after 5 yr of ridge tillage in a silty clay loam soil. Soil columns for IR and BR positions were treated with and without biochar at 10 Mg ha -1 in a 100-d laboratory incubation (n = 4 replications). Results indicate that biochar increased average daily N 2 O emissions in IR by 30% but decreased them by 39% in BR. In both positions, biochar decreased NO 3 - concentrations in soil solution and leachate by 11 to 20% and 10 to 15%, respectively. Our findings suggest that long-term changes in soil C and N cycling processes may increase the potential for N 2 O emissions in IR compared with BR positions. Although most biochar studies have not accounted for within-field soil variability, our results indicate that biochar may differentially affect soil N 2 O emissions depending on spatially distinct soil management history. Findings from this laboratory study stress the need for field research evaluating spatial differences in biochar N 2 O mitigation potential.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040465188&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85040465188&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2134/jeq2017.06.0246
DO - 10.2134/jeq2017.06.0246
M3 - Article
C2 - 29415105
AN - SCOPUS:85040465188
VL - 47
SP - 62
EP - 69
JO - Journal of Environmental Quality
JF - Journal of Environmental Quality
SN - 0047-2425
IS - 1
ER -