Application of straw-derived biochar: a sustainable approach to improve soil quality and crop yield and reduce N2O emissions in paddy soil

The burning of agricultural straw is a pressing environmental issue, and identifying effective strategies for the rational utilization of straw resources is decisive for achieving sustainable development. Owing to its high carbon content and exceptional stability, straw biochar produced via pyrolysis has emerged as a key focus in multidisciplinary research. However, the efficacy of biochar in mitigating nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from paddy soils is not consistent. A 2-year field experiment was conducted and investigated the impact of biochar derived from two feedstocks (rice straw and wheat straw, pyrolyzed at 450 °C) on N2O emissions, global warming potential (GWP), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), crop yield, and soil quality. The static chamber technique was used for collecting N2O gas samples, and concentrations were analyzed through gas chromatography methods. The treatment combinations included BR0 (control), BR1 (NPK at the recommended dose, 120:60:40 kg ha−1), BR2 (wheat straw biochar, 5 t ha−1), and BR3 (rice straw biochar, 5 t ha−1). The results exhibited that cumulative N2O emissions from BR2 and BR3 treatments decreased by 10.55% and 13.75% respectively, compared to BR1. Lower GWP and GHGI were observed under both biochar treatments compared with BR1. The highest rice grain yield (3.48 Mg ha−1) and NUE (76.72%) were recorded from BR3, which also exhibited the lowest yield-scaled N2O emission. We observed positive correlations between soil nitrate, ammonia and water-filled pore spaces, while NUE showed negative correlations with N2O emissions. Significant (p < 0.05) improvements in soil quality were also detected in both the biochar treated plots, indicated by increased soil pH, water holding capacity, porosity, and nutrient contents. Overall, the results suggest that applying biochar at a rate of 5 t ha−1 in paddy soil is a viable nutrient management strategy with the potential to reduce reliance on inorganic fertilizers, mitigate N2O emissions, and contribute to sustainable food production. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024.