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Nitrogen availability, water-filled pore space, and N2O-N fluxes after biochar application and nitrogen fertilization

Disponibilidade de nitrogênio, espaço poroso preenchido por água e fluxos de N2O-N após aplicação de biochar e fertilização nitrogenada

Abstract

The objective of this work was to investigate the impact of the application of wood biochar, combined with N fertilizations, on N2O-N fluxes, nitrogen availability, and water-filled pore space (WFPS) of a clayey Oxisol under rice (wet season) and common bean (dry season) succession. Manual static chambers were used to quantify N2O-N fluxes from soil immediately after a single application of wood biochar (32 Mg ha-1) and after four crop seasons with N applications (90 kg ha-1 N). Soil ammonium (N-NH4+) and nitrate (N-NO3-) availability, as well as WFPS, was measured together with N2O-N fluxes. There was no interaction between biochar and N fertilization regarding N2O-N fluxes in any of the four seasons monitored, although these fluxes were clearly enhanced by N applications. At 1.5 and 2.5 years after biochar application, the WFPS decreased. In addition, in the seasons characterized by low WFPS, N2O-N fluxes and soil N-NO3- and N-NH4+ availability were enhanced after N applications. Long-term experiments in the field are important to quantify the impacts of biochar on N2O-N fluxes and to determine the dynamics of these fluxes on soil-related variables.

Index terms:
cropping systems; gas fluxes; greenhouse gases; nitrate and ammonium; soil amendment; soil porosity

Resumo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar o impacto da aplicação de biochar de madeira, combinada com fertilizações nitrogenadas, nos fluxos de N2O-N, na disponibilidade de nitrogênio e no espaço poroso preenchido por água (EPPA), em um Latossolo argiloso sob sucessão com arroz (época chuvosa) e feijão (época seca). Câmaras estáticas manuais foram utilizadas para quantificar os fluxos de N2O-N no solo logo após uma única aplicação de biochar (32 Mg ha-1) e após quatro épocas de cultivo com aplicações de N (90 kg ha-1 de N). A disponibilidade de amônio (N-NH4+) e de nitrato (N-NO3-) no solo, bem como o EPPA, foi medida juntamente com os fluxos de N2O-N. Não houve interação entre biochar e fertilização nitrogenada quanto aos fluxos de N2O-N, em nenhuma das quatro épocas monitoradas, apesar de esses fluxos terem aumentado com as aplicações de N. Aos 1,5 e 2,5 anos após a aplicação do biochar, o EPPA diminuiu. Além disso, nas épocas caracterizadas por reduzido EPPA, os fluxos de N2O-N e a disponibilidade de N-NO3- e N-NH4+ no solo aumentaram após as aplicações de N. Experimentos em campo de longa duração são importantes para quantificar o impacto do uso de biochar sobre os fluxos de N2O-N e para determinar a dinâmica desses fluxos sobre as variáveis relacionadas ao solo.

Termos para indexação:
sistemas de cultivo; fluxo de gases; gases de efeito estufa; nitrato e amônio; condicionador de solo; porosidade do solo

Introduction

Biochar is the charred by-product of biomass pyrolysis (Sohi et al., 2010SOHI, S.P.; KRULL, E.; LOPEZ-CAPEL, E.; BOL, R. A review of biochar and its use and function in soil. In: SPARKS, D.L. (Ed.). Advances in agronomy. San Diego: Academic Press, 2010. v.105, p.47-82. DOI: 10.1016/S0065-2113(10)05002-9.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(10)05...
). Wood biochars are generally alkaline and rich in micropores, characteristics that, in theory, can contribute to increase ammonium absorption and soil water retention, enhancing their availability to plants and lowering potential nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from cropping systems (Clough & Condron, 2010CLOUGH, T.J.; CONDRON, L.M. Biochar and the nitrogen cycle: introduction. Journal of Environmental Quality, v.39, p.1218-1223, 2010. DOI: 10.2134/jeq2010.0204.
https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2010.0204...
). N2O is a powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential nearly 310 times higher than that of carbon dioxide (CO2). It is also an important component of gas emissions coming from agricultural lands, accounting for around 14% of the total anthropogenic CO2-equivalent emitted globally (Bernstein et al., 2007BERNSTEIN, L.; BOSCH, P.; CANZIANI, O.; CHEN, Z.; CHRIST, R.; DAVIDSON, O.; HARE, W.; HUQ, S.; KAROLY, D.; KATTSOV, V.; KUNDZEWICZ, Z.; LIU, J.; LOHMANN, U.; MANNING, M.; MATSUNO, T.; MENNE, B.; METZ, B.; MIRZA, M.; NICHOLLS, N.; NURSE, L.; PACHAURI, R.; PALUTIKOF, J.; PARRY, M.; QIN, D.; RAVINDRANATH, N.; REISINGER, A.; REN, J.; RIAHI, K.; ROSENZWEIG, C.; RUSTICUCCI, M.; SCHNEIDER, S.; SOKONA, Y.; SOLOMON, S.; STOTT, P.; STOUFFER, R.;. SUGIYAMA, T.; SWART, R.; TIRPAK, D.; VOGEL, C.; YOHE, G.; PACHAURI, R.K.; REISINGER, A. (Ed.). Climate Change 2007: synthesis report. Geneva: IPCC, 2007. 104p. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Available at: <http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/syr/en/contents.html>. Accessed on: June 21 2011.
http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data...
). The N2O from agricultural fields is primarily a direct consequence of mineral and organic fertilization. In Brazil, agricultural fields are the source of 88% of the total anthropogenic N2O (Brasil, 2013BRASIL. Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação. Estimativas anuais de emissões de gases de efeito estufa no Brasil. Brasília, 2013. Available at: <http://www.mct.gov.br/index.php/content/view/347281.html>. Accessed on: Oct. 1 2014.
http://www.mct.gov.br/index.php/content/...
).

Although a number of studies have shown that biochar can reduce N2O emissions (Lehmann et al., 2006LEHMANN, J.; GAUNT, J.; RONDON, M. Bio-char sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems: a review. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, v.11, p.403-427, 2006. DOI: 10.1007/s11027-005-9006-5.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-005-9006-...
; Spokas et al., 2009SPOKAS, K.A.; KOSKINEN, W.C.; BAKER, J.M.; REICOSKY, D.C. Impacts of woodchip biochar additions on greenhouse gas production and sorption/degradation of two herbicides in a Minnesota soil. Chemosphere, v.77, p.574-581, 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.06.053.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.20...
; Atkinson, 2010ATKINSON, C.J.; FITZGERALD, J.D.; HIPPS, N.A. Potential mechanisms for achieving agricultural benefits from biochar application to temperate soils: a review. Plant and Soil, v.337, p.1-18. 2010. DOI: 10.1007/s11104-010-0464-5.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0464-...
; Cayuela et al., 2010CAYUELA, M.L.; OENEMA, O.; KUIKMAN, P.J.; BAKKER, R.R.; GROENIGEN, J.W. van. Bioenergy by-products as soil amendments? Implications for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. Global Change Biology Bioenergy, v.2, p.201-213, 2010. DOI: 10.1111/j.1757-1707.2010.01055.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1757-1707.2010...
; Sohi et al., 2010SOHI, S.P.; KRULL, E.; LOPEZ-CAPEL, E.; BOL, R. A review of biochar and its use and function in soil. In: SPARKS, D.L. (Ed.). Advances in agronomy. San Diego: Academic Press, 2010. v.105, p.47-82. DOI: 10.1016/S0065-2113(10)05002-9.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(10)05...
; Zhang et al., 2010ZHANG, A.; CUI, L.; PAN, G.; LI, L.; HUSSAIN, Q.; ZHANG, X.; ZHENG, J.; CROWLEY, D. Effect of biochar amendment on yield and methane and nitrous oxide emissions from a rice paddy from Tai Lake plain, China. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, v.139, p.469-475, 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2010.09.003.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2010.09.0...
), others have not confirmed this effect (Karhu et al., 2011KARHU, K.; MATTILA, T.; BERGSTRÖM, I.; REGINA, K. Biochar addition to agricultural soil increased CH4 uptake and water holding capacity - results from a short-term pilot field study. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, v.140, p.309-313, 2011. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2010.12.005.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2010.12.0...
; Scheer et al., 2011SCHEER, C.; GRACE, P.R.; ROWLINGS, D.W.; KIMBER, S.; VAN ZWIETEN, L. Effect of biochar amendment on the soil-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases from an intensive subtropical pasture in northern New South Wales, Australia. Plant Soil, v.345, p.47-58, 2011. DOI: 10.1007/s11104-011-0759-1.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0759-...
). In a recent metanalysis, Cayuela et al. (2013)CAYUELA, M.L.; ZWIETEN, L. van; SINGH, B.P.; JEFFERY, S.; ROIG, A.; SÁNCHEZ-MONEDERO, M.A. Biochar's role in mitigating soil nitrous oxide emissions: a review and meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, v.191, p.5-16, 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2013.10.009.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2013.10.0...
found that biochar reduces, on average, 54% of soil N2O emissions; however, of the 30 studies analyzed by these authors, only 5 were field trials (Scheer et al., 2011SCHEER, C.; GRACE, P.R.; ROWLINGS, D.W.; KIMBER, S.; VAN ZWIETEN, L. Effect of biochar amendment on the soil-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases from an intensive subtropical pasture in northern New South Wales, Australia. Plant Soil, v.345, p.47-58, 2011. DOI: 10.1007/s11104-011-0759-1.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0759-...
; Taghizadeh-Toosi et al., 2011TAGHIZADEH-TOOSI, A.; CLOUGH, T.J.; CONDRON, L.M.; SHERLOCK, R.R.; ANDERSON, C.R.; CRAIGIE, R.A. Biochar incorporation into pasture soil suppresses in situ nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant urine patches. Journal of Environmental Quality, v.40, p.468-476, 2011. DOI: 10.2134/jeq2010.0419.
https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2010.0419...
; Liu et al., 2012LIU, X.; QU, J.; LI, L.; ZHANG, A.; JUFENG, Z.; ZHENG, J.; PAN, G. Can biochar amendment be an ecological engineering technology to depress N2O emission in rice paddies? - A cross site field experiment from South China. Ecological Engineering, v.42, p.168-173, 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.01.016.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.0...
; Zhang et al., 2012aZHANG, A.; BIAN, R.; PAN, G.; CUI, L.; HUSSAIN, Q.; LI, L.; ZHENG, J.; ZHENG, J.; ZHANG, X.; HAN, X.; YU, X. Effects of biochar amendment on soil quality, crop yield and greenhouse gas emission in a Chinese rice paddy: a field study of 2 consecutive rice growing cycles. Field Crops Research, v.127, p.153-160, 2012a. DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2011.11.020.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.11.02...
, 2012bZHANG, A.; LIU, Y.; PAN, G.; HUSSAIN, Q.; LI, L.; ZHENG, J.; ZHANG, X. Effect of biochar amendment on maize yield and greenhouse gas emissions from a soil organic carbon poor calcareous loamy soil from Central China Plain. Plant Soil, v.351, p.263-275, 2012b. DOI: 10.1007/s11104-011-0957-x.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0957-...
). In short-term studies under pasture conditions, for example, Scheer et al. (2011)SCHEER, C.; GRACE, P.R.; ROWLINGS, D.W.; KIMBER, S.; VAN ZWIETEN, L. Effect of biochar amendment on the soil-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases from an intensive subtropical pasture in northern New South Wales, Australia. Plant Soil, v.345, p.47-58, 2011. DOI: 10.1007/s11104-011-0759-1.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0759-...
observed no effect of biochar application, whereas Taghizadeh-Toosi et al. (2011)TAGHIZADEH-TOOSI, A.; CLOUGH, T.J.; CONDRON, L.M.; SHERLOCK, R.R.; ANDERSON, C.R.; CRAIGIE, R.A. Biochar incorporation into pasture soil suppresses in situ nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant urine patches. Journal of Environmental Quality, v.40, p.468-476, 2011. DOI: 10.2134/jeq2010.0419.
https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2010.0419...
found that it decreased N2O-N fluxes. In a two-year field trial on a Chinese rice paddy system, Liu et al. (2012)LIU, X.; QU, J.; LI, L.; ZHANG, A.; JUFENG, Z.; ZHENG, J.; PAN, G. Can biochar amendment be an ecological engineering technology to depress N2O emission in rice paddies? - A cross site field experiment from South China. Ecological Engineering, v.42, p.168-173, 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.01.016.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.0...
and Zhang et al. (2012a)ZHANG, A.; BIAN, R.; PAN, G.; CUI, L.; HUSSAIN, Q.; LI, L.; ZHENG, J.; ZHENG, J.; ZHANG, X.; HAN, X.; YU, X. Effects of biochar amendment on soil quality, crop yield and greenhouse gas emission in a Chinese rice paddy: a field study of 2 consecutive rice growing cycles. Field Crops Research, v.127, p.153-160, 2012a. DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2011.11.020.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.11.02...
reported a decrease in N2O-N fluxes when N fertilization was combined with biochar amendment. Conversely, in another two-year field trial, Verhoeven & Six (2014)VERHOEVEN, E.; SIX, J. Biochar does not mitigate field-scale N2O emissions in a Northern California vineyard: an assessment across two years. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, v.191, p.27-38, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2014.03.008.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2014.03.0...
found no effect of biochar in reducing N2O-N fluxes from a commercial wine grape vineyard. Clearly, the effects of biochar and of its combination with N fertilization on N2O emissions, in field studies, are the result of complex interactions and need to be more thoroughly explored. Furthermore, the assessment of soil-related variables, such as soil nitrate and ammonium availability, as well as of the water-filled pore space, are fundamental to elucidate the origin of N2O-N fluxes in a cropping system.

Mukherjee & Lal (2014)MUKHERJEE, A.; LAL, R. The biochar dilemma. Soil Research, v.52, p.217-230, 2014. DOI: 10.1071/SR13359.
https://doi.org/10.1071/SR13359...
reported contradictory results for laboratory and field observations, calling for a more careful extrapolation of laboratory data to field conditions. In this context, temporal dynamics of N2O emissions are of particular relevance for biochar studies. Cayuela et al. (2013)CAYUELA, M.L.; ZWIETEN, L. van; SINGH, B.P.; JEFFERY, S.; ROIG, A.; SÁNCHEZ-MONEDERO, M.A. Biochar's role in mitigating soil nitrous oxide emissions: a review and meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, v.191, p.5-16, 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2013.10.009.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2013.10.0...
also showed that reductions in N2O emission are directly proportional to the amount of biochar applied. It should be noted that, very often, the amount of biochar applied in laboratory studies is much higher than what is feasible under field conditions. For example, in an incubation experiment, Spokas et al. (2009)SPOKAS, K.A.; KOSKINEN, W.C.; BAKER, J.M.; REICOSKY, D.C. Impacts of woodchip biochar additions on greenhouse gas production and sorption/degradation of two herbicides in a Minnesota soil. Chemosphere, v.77, p.574-581, 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.06.053.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.20...
only found a significant decrease in N2O emissions with a biochar amendment rate higher than 20% (w/w), which is improbable under field conditions. Therefore, the over-presence of laboratory studies and the lack of long-term field studies on the effects of realistic biochar rates on N2O emissions is a problem. In the present study, a by-product of charcoal production from a timber plantation was tested as a soil amendment for cropping systems. This type of biochar is potentially available in large quantities in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) region, but its value for agriculture is still unclear.

The objective of this work was to investigate the impact of the application of wood biochar, combined with N fertilizations, on N2O-N fluxes, nitrogen availability, and water-filled pore space of a clayey Oxisol under rice (wet season) and common bean (dry season) succession.

Materials and Methods

The field trial was established in June 9, 2009, on a clayey Rhodic Oxisol, at the Capivara farm, belonging to Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, located in the municipality of Santo Antônio de Goiás, in the state of Goiás, in the Central West region of Brazil (16°29'17"S, 49°17'57"W). The trial was conducted under center-pivot irrigation. Since 2001, the area had been cultivated under no-tillage with an intercrop between corn (Zea mays L.) and forage [Urochloa ruziziensis (R.Germ. & C.M.Evrard) Morrone & Zuloaga] throughout the wet season, from November to March, followed by irrigated common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) during the dry season, from June to August. Immediately after the establishment of the field trial, irrigated common bean was cultivated as the first crop throughout the dry season, followed by rice (Oryza sativa L.) during the wet season.

For the establishment of the field trial, the soil was ploughed twice to a depth of 20 cm in order to incorporate crop residues. Biochar was milled to pass through a 2-mm sieve, broadcasted manually over the soil surface, and incorporated to a 10-15-cm soil depth using a harrow. Chemical properties of the biochar and the experimental design are presented in Carvalho et al. (2013a)CARVALHO, M.T. de M.; MADARI, B.E.; BASTIAANS, L.; OORT, P.A.J. van; HEINEMANN, A.B.; SILVA, M.A.S. da; MAIA, A. de H.N.; MEINKE, H. Biochar improves fertility of a clay soil in the Brazilian Savannah: short term effects and impact on rice yield. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, v.114, p.101-107, 2013a.. The evaluated treatment was the effect of the biochar rate of 32 Mg ha-1, with or without the application of 90 kg ha-1 N, on N2O-N fluxes and on soil-related variables, at four cropping seasons (S) after biochar application: from June 16 to September 21, 2009; from November 3 to February 22, 2010; from November 8 to February 21, 2011; and from November 28 to March 19, 2012. These seasons were equivalent to the periods: S0.0, immediately after biochar application to the soil; and S0.5, S1.5, and S2.5, after 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 years from the application, respectively. At sowing, all plots received the same rate of P2O5-K2O (kg ha-1) according to the demand of each cropping system, as follows: 15-20 in S0.0, 120-60 in S0.5, 60-30 in S1.5, and 30-30 in S2.5. Mineral N (urea) was divided into two or three applications, at sowing and around crop flowering. In S0.0, 5 and 85 kg ha-1 N were applied at sowing and 30 days after sowing (DAS), respectively. In S0.5, 45 kg ha-1 N were applied at sowing and then at 40 DAS. In S1.5, 45 kg ha-1 N were applied at sowing and 22.5 kg ha-1 N at 30 and 50 DAS. Finally, in S2.5, 36 kg ha-1 N were applied at sowing and 27 kg ha-1 N at 30 and 50 DAS.

Along the dry season, in S0.0, 10 mm of water were applied at every three days throughout the growing season, from June 17 to September 9, 2009, resulting in a total amount of ~573 mm of water supplied via irrigation and rainfall (316 and 257 mm, respectively). During the wet season, irrigation was applied only after more than six days of dry weather, in order to avoid crop failure. In S0.5, the amount of irrigation was 78 mm, with a total amount of water of ~966 mm supplied via irrigation and rainfall. In S1.5 the total amount of water supplied via irrigation and rainfall was of ~1,040 mm, whereas, in S2.5, it was of ~1,022 mm.

Measurements of N2O-N fluxes were taken in 16 plots using manual static chambers. One static chamber per plot was used in S0.0 and S0.5, and two static chambers per plot in S1.5 and S2.5. The manual static chamber consisted of a metal base (0.38-m width x 0.58-m length) covering a soil area of 0.22 m2 and of a plastic cap (0.1-m height) fixed on the metal base, similar to the chambers used by Carvalho et al. (2013b)CARVALHO, M.T. de M.; MADARI, B.E.; LEAL, W.G. de O.; COSTA, A.R. da; MACHADO, P.L.O. de A.; SILVEIRA, P.M. da; MOREIRA, J.A.A.; HEINEMANN, A.B. Nitrogen fluxes from irrigated common-bean as affected by mulching and mineral fertilization. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, v.48, p.478-486, 2013b. DOI: 10.1590/S0100-204X2013000500003.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X201300...
. In S2.5, the plastic covers were substituted by metal ones with the same dimensions previously described. The cover was always protected with an insulation foil in order to keep temperature inside the chamber as stable as possible at the sampling moment. When closed, the chamber had 19.8-L volume. Fluxes were measured weekly, in three to six consecutive DAS and N fertilization events. Gas samples were taken between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., as recommended by Alves et al. (2012)ALVES, B.J.R.; SMITH, K.A.; FLORES, R.A.; CARDOSO, A.S.; OLIVEIRA, W.R.D.; JANTALIA, C.P.; URQUIAGA, S.; BODDEY, R.M. Selection of the most suitable sampling time for static chambers for the estimation of daily mean N2O flux from soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, v.46, p.129-135, 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.11.022.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.1...
. Gases accumulated in the static chamber in 30 min were collected using a manual vacuum pump. Gas samples were then analyzed via gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (ECD), model Auto system XL GC (PerkinElmer do Brasil Ltda., São Paulo, SP, Brazil) calibrated with certified N2O standards of 350 and 1,000 ppb (White Martins Gases Industriais Ltda., Brasília, DF, Brazil). The air temperature was measured simultaneously with N2O-N flux sampling. Fluxes of N2O-N (µg m2 per hour) were calculated according to Rochette et al. (2004)ROCHETTE, P.; ANGERS, D.A.; BÉLANGER, G.; CHANTIGNY, M.H.; PRÉVOST, D.; LÉVESQUE, G. Emissions of N2O from alfalfa and soybean crops in Eastern Canada. Soil Science Society of America Journal, v.68, p.493-506, 2004. DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2004.4930.
https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2004.4930...
.

Soil moisture and ammonium (N-NH4+) and nitrate (N-NO3-) concentrations were determined from 100-g soil samples, collected within the 0-10-cm soil depth, simultaneously with N2O-N sampling. Around 10 g of soil were weighed before and after drying for 24 hours at 105ºC. The water-filled pore space (WFPS) was calculated by considering the soil moisture (g g-1) at the moment of N2O-N sampling, soil bulk density (g cm-3), and mineral particle density (g cm-3). Mineral particle density (2.53 g cm-3) was determined once, prior to the establishment of the field trial. Soil bulk density was obtained for each plot at every growing season and was calculated from the soil dry matter mass of undisturbed samples collected with a metal ring of known volume. The WFPS was determined according to Paul & Clark (1996)PAUL, E.A.; CLARK, F.E. Soil microbiology and biochemistry. 2nd ed. California: Academic Press, 1996. 340p.. The available ammonium and nitrate were extracted from soil samples by shaking 20 g of soil with 60 mL of 1 mol L-1 KCl, for 60 min, according to Mulvaney (1996)MULVANEY, R.L. Nitrogen: inorganic forms. In: SPARKS, D.L.; PAGE, A.L.; HELMKE, P.A.; LOEPPERT, R.H.; SOLTANPOUR, P.N.; TABATABAI, M.A.; JOHNSTON, C.T.; SUMNER, M.E. (Ed.). Methods of soil analysis: part 3: chemical methods. Madison: Soil Science Society of America: American Society of Agronomy, 1996. p.1162-1171.. Extraction was followed by determination through flow injection analysis (Ocean Optics, Inc., Dunedin, FL, USA); the final result was given in mg L-1. To estimate mineral N (mg kg-1), soil moisture at the moment of sampling was taken into account.

The effect of N fertilization, biochar application, and their interaction on N2O-N fluxes and on soil-related variables (N-NH4+, N-NO3-, and WFPS) was assessed using linear mixed modelling. The averaged fluxes for the pre-established periods within each season, for three to six consecutive days after N fertilizations - fertilization 1, at sowing, and fertilizations 2 and 3, at the top dressings performed around flowering - were compared through contrasts. The plot was considered as a random effect, in order to account for the correlations among measurements taken in the same plot during the cropping seasons and periods after N fertilization, which characterizes a data set of repeated measures. The analysis for each cropping season was performed separately. The model applied to analyze the data is described as: yijk = µ + Ni + Charj + Ni x Charj + uijk + eijk, in which µ is the overall mean; yijk is the observation of the response variable y corresponding to the i-th level of N fertilization (i = 0, 90 kg ha-1 N) and to the j-th level of biochar amendment (j = 0, 32 Mg ha-1) of replicate k (k = 1, 2, 3, 4); Ni is the effect of the i-th N level; Charj is the effect of the j-th biochar level; Ni x Charj is the interaction effect between the i-th N level and the j-th biochar level; uijk ~ N (0, Σ) is the random effect to account for potential correlations among repeated measurements taken within the same plot (ijk = 1, ..., 16); and eijk ~ N (0, σ2) is the random error associated with each observation yij.

Whenever the F-tests indicated significant interaction effects, at 5% probability, the F-tests for biochar effects were performed within N treatments. However, significant effects were not found for the interaction; therefore, only F-tests for the main effects were presented. Correlations between measured fluxes and soil-related variables within each season were determined with Pearson's correlation coefficient. Analyses were performed using the linear mixed model procedure (Proc Mixed) and the correlation procedure (Proc Corr) of the SAS software (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).

Results and Discussion

The N2O-N fluxes and soil-related variables were not significantly affected by the interaction between biochar and N fertilizer, in any of the monitored crop seasons (Table 1). The most significant effects on N2O-N fluxes and soil-related variables were due to N application. In general, N application significantly enhanced N2O-N fluxes, except in the S0.0 and S1.5 (Figure 1) seasons. Soil N-NH4+ and N-NO3- availability increased significantly with N application, in most of the cropping seasons, except in S0.0, when only soil N-NO3- availability was significantly increased by N fertilization (Figure 2).

Table 1
F-test p-values for the effects of N fertilization, of biochar application, and of their interaction on N2O-N fluxes and on soil-related variables of a clayey Oxisol, along four cropping seasons, in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) region(1) (1) N2O-N, nitrous oxide fluxes (μg m-2 per hour); N-NH4+, available soil ammonium (mg kg-1); N-NO3-, available soil nitrate (mg kg-1); WFPS, soil water-filled pore space (%); S0.0, immediately after biochar application; S0.5, after 0.5 year from the application; S1.5, after 1.5 year; and S2.5, after 2.5 years. nd, not determined. .

Figure 1
N2O-N fluxes of a clayey Oxisol treated or not with 32 Mg ha-1 biochar and 90 kg ha-1 N (N), along three to six consecutive days after N fertilizations (Fertilization 1, at sowing; and Fertilizations 2 and 3, around flowering) and along the entire cropping season (Season), in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) region. A, immediately after biochar application (S0.0); and after B, 0.5 (S0.5); C, 1.5 (S1.5); and D, 2.5 (S2.5) years. Columns represent averaged fluxes, and error bars represent the standard error (n=4). *Significant effects of N and Char treatments, as in Table 1.

Figure 2
Soil ammonium (N-NH4+) and nitrate (N-NO3-) availability of a clayey Oxisol treated or not with 32 Mg ha-1 biochar and 90 kg ha-1 N (N), along three to six consecutive days after N fertilizations (Fertilization 1, at sowing; and Fertilizations 2 and 3, around flowering) and along the entire cropping season (Season), in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) region. A, immediately after biochar application (S0.0); and after B, 0.5 (S0.5); C, 1.5 (S1.5); and D, 2.5 (S2.5) years. Columns represent averaged fluxes, and error bars represent the standard error (n=4). *Significant effects of N and Char treatments, as in Table 1.

The WFPS was around 50-70% in S0.0 and around 50-60% in S0.5 (Figure 3). In S1.5, the WFPS was around 60-80%, being significantly reduced by N application or increased by biochar amendment; however, when considering the entire season, the WFPS was significantly reduced by both biochar and N applications. Finally, in S2.5, the WFPS was around 50-70%, significantly lower in the treatments with N application. The inherent field capacity of a clayey Oxisol in the Cerrado region is around 40% of the WFPS (Andrade & Stone, 2011ANDRADE, R. da S.; STONE, L.F. Estimativa da umidade na capacidade de campo em solos sob Cerrado. Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental, v.15, p.111-116, 2011. DOI: 10.1590/S1415-43662011000200001.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-4366201100...
). The positive correlation between N2O-N fluxes and the WFPS in N application treatments in S1.5 (R2 = 0.23, p≤0.011) and, to a lesser extent, in S0.0 (R2 = 0.27, p≤0.099), indicates that the WFPS is a relevant soil variable related to N2O emission. Additionally, due to the highest WFPS observed in S1.5 (around 80%) and to the continuous pivot irrigation in S0.0, denitrification was probably the dominant process of N transformations in these specific seasons.

Figure 3
Soil water-filled pore space (WFPS) of a clayey Oxisol treated or not with 32 Mg ha-1 biochar and 90 kg ha-1 N (N), along three to six consecutive days after N fertilizations (Fertilization 1, at sowing; and Fertilizations 2 and 3, around flowering) and along the entire cropping season (Season), in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) region. A, immediately after biochar application (S0.0); and after B, 0.5 (S0.5); C, 1.5 (S1.5); and D, 2.5 (S2.5) years. Columns represent averaged fluxes, and error bars represent the standard error (n=4). *Significant effects of N and Char treatments, as in Table 1.

The WFPS in S1.5 was up to two times higher than the inherent field capacity of the evaluated Oxisol. Under these conditions, mostly anaerobic, the N lost to the atmosphere due to mineral N fertilization is likely to occur through N2, resulting in a reduced probability to detect N2O-N fluxes. As observed in the present study, no effect of the N fertilizer on N2O-N fluxes was detected in S1.5. Furthermore, in a well-structured Oxisol, aggregation favors aeration but can also create permanent anaerobic hot spots intra-aggregate, where the reduction of N2O into N2 can occur, as shown by Leffelaar (1986)LEFFELAAR, P.A. Dynamics of partial anaerobiosis, denitrification, and water in a soil aggregate experimental. Soil Science, v.42, p.352-366, 1986. DOI: 10.1097/00010694-198612000-00004.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-1986120...
. The formation of these hot spots can explain the lack of a significant effect of N application on N2O-N fluxes in S0.0, which was conducted under intermittent pivot irrigation. Moreover, if soil pH increases immediately after the application of biochar, as reported by Carvalho et al. (2013a)CARVALHO, M.T. de M.; MADARI, B.E.; BASTIAANS, L.; OORT, P.A.J. van; HEINEMANN, A.B.; SILVA, M.A.S. da; MAIA, A. de H.N.; MEINKE, H. Biochar improves fertility of a clay soil in the Brazilian Savannah: short term effects and impact on rice yield. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, v.114, p.101-107, 2013a., then the activity of denitrifiers was favored in S0.0, regardless of N fertilization. In the presence of biochar, denitrifiers can increase the reduction of N2O into N2, as reported by Taghizadeh-Toosi et al. (2011)TAGHIZADEH-TOOSI, A.; CLOUGH, T.J.; CONDRON, L.M.; SHERLOCK, R.R.; ANDERSON, C.R.; CRAIGIE, R.A. Biochar incorporation into pasture soil suppresses in situ nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant urine patches. Journal of Environmental Quality, v.40, p.468-476, 2011. DOI: 10.2134/jeq2010.0419.
https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2010.0419...
and Mukherjee et al. (2014)MUKHERJEE, A.; LAL, R.; ZIMMERMAN, A.R. Effects of biochar and other amendments on the physical properties and greenhouse gas emissions of an artificially degraded soil. Science of the Total Environment, v.487, p.26-36, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.141.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014...
.

The lowest magnitude of the WFPS over the seasons was observed in S0.5 (Figure 3). Moreover, in S2.5, the WFPS was significantly lower and the N2O-N fluxes were positively correlated with soil N-NO3- availability, in the treatments with N application (Table 2). Only in S2.5, were the N2O-N fluxes in the treatments without biochar positively correlated with N-NH4+ availability (R2 = 0.15, p≤0.08). It should be highlighted that N-NH4+ is an important substrate for the nitrification process in the soil. Apart from the higher soil mineral N availability due to N application (Figure 2), the obtained results indicate that the enhancement of N2O-N fluxes is probably attributed to the predominant aerobic-soil conditions. Contrary to what was observed in the S0.0 and S1.5 seasons, in S0.5 and S2.5 increased nitrification processes are most likely the main causes for significant N2O emissions in the treatments with N application.

Table 2
Pearson’s correlation coefficients for the relation between N2O-N fluxes and soil-related variables of a clayey Oxisol treated or not with 32 Mg ha-1 biochar and 90 kg ha-1 N, along four cropping seasons, in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) region(1) (1) S0.0, immediately after biochar application; S0.5, after 0.5 year from the application; S1.5, after 1.5 year; and S2.5, after 2.5 years. * and **Significant by the t-test at 5 and 1% probability, respectively. .

Regarding treatments with biochar amendment, soil N-NO3- was the soil-related variable that positively correlated with N2O-N fluxes, in all three rainfed cropping seasons - S0.5 (R2 = 0.53, p≤0.0001), S1.5 (R2 = 0.31, p≤0.0005), and S2.5 (R2 = 0.35, p≤0.0001) - and, to a lesser extent, in the irrigated season - S0.0 (R2 = 0.30, p≤0.07) (Table 2). The strongest Pearson's correlation coefficient was observed in S0.5, when the WFPS was relatively the lowest over all seasons. In addition, biochar significantly reduced the WFPS in S1.5 and S2.5 (Figure 3). In soils where nitrification is the main pathway for N2O production, such as under aerobic conditions, the presence of biochar can even intensify the process of nitrification, as shown by Sánchez-García et al. (2014)SÁNCHEZ-GARCÍA, M.; ROIG, A.; SÁNCHEZ-MONEDERO, M.A.; CAYUELA, M.L. Biochar increases soil N2O emissions produced by nitrification-mediated pathways. Frontiers in Environmental Science, v.2, p.1-10, 2014. DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2014.00025.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2014.00025...
.

The use of biochar amendment, however, had no significant effect on N2O-N fluxes from N fertilizer, under the conditions in the present study. Similarly, Verhoeven & Six (2014)VERHOEVEN, E.; SIX, J. Biochar does not mitigate field-scale N2O emissions in a Northern California vineyard: an assessment across two years. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, v.191, p.27-38, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2014.03.008.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2014.03.0...
found no reduction in N2O emission in a sandy clay loam soil treated with 10 Mg ha-1 walnut shell and pine chip biochar, in a cropping system under Mediterranean climate. According to these authors, pine chip biochar enhanced N2O-N fluxes when compared with the treatment with no amendment, during the two growing seasons after biochar application. This result differs from that obtained by Zhang et al. (2012a)ZHANG, A.; BIAN, R.; PAN, G.; CUI, L.; HUSSAIN, Q.; LI, L.; ZHENG, J.; ZHENG, J.; ZHANG, X.; HAN, X.; YU, X. Effects of biochar amendment on soil quality, crop yield and greenhouse gas emission in a Chinese rice paddy: a field study of 2 consecutive rice growing cycles. Field Crops Research, v.127, p.153-160, 2012a. DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2011.11.020.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.11.02...
, who found a reduction of around 51-56% in N2O-N fluxes from a typical Chinese rice paddy soil. This reduction was observed in the first and second cropping seasons, on a 39% clayey soil, after the application of 40 Mg ha-1 wheat straw biochar together with 300 kg ha-1 N, in comparison with the application of N fertilization alone. A reduction in N2O emission from the N fertilizer applied with wheat straw biochar in rice paddy systems was also reported by Liu et al. (2012)LIU, X.; QU, J.; LI, L.; ZHANG, A.; JUFENG, Z.; ZHENG, J.; PAN, G. Can biochar amendment be an ecological engineering technology to depress N2O emission in rice paddies? - A cross site field experiment from South China. Ecological Engineering, v.42, p.168-173, 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.01.016.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.0...
. This effect is probably related to an increase in soil aeration due to a decrease in soil bulk density with biochar amendment.

The results obtained in the present study show that, regardless of biochar amendment, N fertilization was the major factor associated with N2O-N fluxes in the cropping system. These findings differ from those of Liu et al. (2014)LIU, X.; YE, Y.; LIU, Y.; ZHANG, A.; ZHANG, X.; LI, L.; PAN, G.; KIBUE, G.W.; ZHENG, J.; ZHENG, J. Sustainable biochar effects for low carbon crop production: a 5-crop season field experiment on a low fertility soil from Central China. Agricultural Systems, v.129, p.22-29, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2014.05.008.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2014.05.0...
, who observed a decrease in N2O emission when 300 kg ha-1 N fertilizer were combined with 40 Mg ha-1 wheat straw biochar, in a five-year irrigated maize-wheat cropping system on a Chinese calcareous soil.

Conclusions

  1. Wood biochar amendment (1.6% w/w) does not interact with N fertilization and does not affect N2O-N fluxes, up to 2.5 years after its application on a clayey Oxisol in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) region, under aerobic conditions.

  2. Mineral N application enhances N2O-N fluxes, as well as soil N-NH4+ and N-NO3- availability, especially during seasons characterized by lower water-filled pore space (WFPS).

  3. Long-term studies in the field are important to quantify the impacts of biochar on N2O-N fluxes and to determine the dynamics of these fluxes on soil-related variables, such as WFPS.

Acknowledgments

To Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa, project No. 03100109), to Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (CNPq) and to the Climate Food and Farming Research Network (CLIFF) launched by Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), for financial support; and to Marcio, Ailton, Romildo, and Erick, for the establishment and maintenance of the field trial.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Sept 2016

History

  • Received
    31 Aug 2015
  • Accepted
    15 Apr 2016
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