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Weak Effects of Biochar and Nitrogen Fertilization on Switchgrass Photosynthesis, Biomass, and Soil Respiration

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  • Dafeng Hui

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA)

  • Chih-Li Yu

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA)

  • Qi Deng

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA
    Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management, South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China)

  • Priya Saini

    (Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA)

  • Kenya Collins

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA)

  • Jason De Koff

    (Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA)

Abstract

Application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer plus biochar may increase crop yield, but how biochar will interact with N fertilization to affect bioenergy crop switchgrass physiology, biomass, and soil CO 2 emission (i.e., soil respiration) from switchgrass fields remains unclear. Here, we assessed this issue by conducting a field experiment near Nashville TN with two levels of biochar treatment (a control without biochar addition and biochar addition of 9 Mg ha −1 ), and four N fertilization levels (0 kg N ha −1 , 17 kg N ha −1 , 34 kg N ha −1 , and 67 kg N ha −1 , labeled as ON, LN, MN, and HN, respectively). Results showed that both biochar addition and N fertilization did not influence switchgrass leaf photosynthesis and biomass, but biochar addition enhanced leaf transpiration, and reduced water use efficiency. Soil respiration was reduced by biochar addition, but significantly enhanced by N fertilization. Biochar and N fertilization interactively influenced soil respiration and seasonal variation of soil respiration was mostly controlled by soil temperature. Our results indicated that switchgrass can maintain high productivity without much N input, at least for several years. The findings from this study are useful to optimize N fertilization and biochar addition in the switchgrass fields for maintaining relatively high productive switchgrass biomass while reducing soil CO 2 emission.

Suggested Citation

  • Dafeng Hui & Chih-Li Yu & Qi Deng & Priya Saini & Kenya Collins & Jason De Koff, 2018. "Weak Effects of Biochar and Nitrogen Fertilization on Switchgrass Photosynthesis, Biomass, and Soil Respiration," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:8:y:2018:i:9:p:143-:d:169898
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yufang Shen & Lixia Zhu & Hongyan Cheng & Shanchao Yue & Shiqing Li, 2017. "Effects of Biochar Application on CO 2 Emissions from a Cultivated Soil under Semiarid Climate Conditions in Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Dominic Woolf & James E. Amonette & F. Alayne Street-Perrott & Johannes Lehmann & Stephen Joseph, 2010. "Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. David M. Filiberto & John L. Gaunt, 2013. "Practicality of Biochar Additions to Enhance Soil and Crop Productivity," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-11, October.
    4. Ilya Gelfand & Ritvik Sahajpal & Xuesong Zhang & R. César Izaurralde & Katherine L. Gross & G. Philip Robertson, 2013. "Sustainable bioenergy production from marginal lands in the US Midwest," Nature, Nature, vol. 493(7433), pages 514-517, January.
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