Biochar and Biochar-Based Nitrogenous Fertilizers: Short-Term Effects on Chemical Properties of Soils

Because of its large surface area and rich functional groups, biochar has been used as an inhibitor to regulate the release of nitrogen from inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers. The experimental treatments included a control condition (CK; no nitrogen and no biochar), ammonium nitrate and no biochar (AN), biochar and no nitrogen (BC), blending-processed biochar-based nitrogenous fertilizer (BP-BNF), adsorption-processed BNF (AP-BNF), and reaction-processed BNF (RP-BNF). The properties of biochar and BNFs and their effects on chemical properties of soils, winter wheat growth, and grain yield were investigated. The order of the nutrient-loading capabilities and quantities and retention intensities of BNFs compared to AN was RP- >AP- >BP-BNF. Biochar and BNFs had no significant effects on the soil nutrient indexes; however, the productive tiller, 1000 grain weight, and biomass and grain yield of winter wheat increased by 5.50, 8.46, 23.85 and 23.42%, respectively, owing to the addition of BNFs. Additionally, the quantity of nitrogen in grain increased significantly with BNF treatments. By quantifying nitrogen utilization, a conclusion was drawn that the RP-BNF treatment was the most effective of the three kinds of BNFs. (C) 2018 Friends Science Publishers