Combined biochar and nitrogen application stimulates enzyme activity and root plasticity

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Xiaona Song
  • Bahar S. Razavi
  • Bernard Ludwig
  • Kazem Zamanian
  • Huadong Zang
  • Yakov Kuzyakov
  • Michaela A. Dippold
  • Anna Gunina

External Research Organisations

  • University of Göttingen
  • University of Kassel
  • China Agricultural University
  • Kiel University
  • Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN)
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number139393
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume735
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2020
Externally publishedYes

Abstract

Biochar (BC) and nitrogen (N) fertilizers are frequently applied to improve soil properties and increase crop productivity. Nonetheless, our mechanistic understanding of plant-soil interactions under single or combined application of BC and N remains incomplete. For the first time, we applied a split-root system to evaluate how BC or N contributes to the changes in soil enzyme activities, N and phosphorus (P) cycling as well as root plasticity. Left and right parts of rhizoboxes were filled with silty-clay loamy soil amended with BC (15 g kg−1 soil, from wheat straw, 300 °C), N (0.05 g KNO3-N kg−1 soil) or a control (no amendments), resulting in the following combinations: BC/Control, N/Control, BC/N. Soil enzyme activities, available N and P, root morphology and plant biomass were analyzed after plant harvest. Plant biomass (shoot + root) ranged from 0.56 g pot−1 (BC/Control) to 0.91 g pot−1(BC/N). The decreased soil bulk density and increased P availability in the BC compartment (BC/Control and BC/N) stimulated root length by 1.4–1.8 times – an effect that was independent of N availability in the same rhizobox. Biochar stimulated activities of β-glucosidase and leucine aminopeptidase (by 33–39%) compared to N due to the coupling of C, N and P cycles in BC/N treated soil. Nitrogen fertilization also increased β-glucosidase activity compared to the unfertilized control, whereas root elongation remained unaffected. Thus, the combined application of BC/N had more efficient benefits for plant growth than BC or N alone. This is linked with i) the stimulation of enzyme activities at the BC locations to reduce N limitation for both microorganisms and plants, and ii) an increase of fine root production to improve N uptake efficiency. Thus, combined BC/N application is potentially especially sustainable to overcome nutrient limitation as well as to maintain crop productivity because it accelerates root-microbial interactions.

Keywords

    Microorganisms, Mineral fertilizer, Nutrient cycling, Pyrogenic C, Root morphology, Split-root system

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

Combined biochar and nitrogen application stimulates enzyme activity and root plasticity. / Song, Xiaona; Razavi, Bahar S.; Ludwig, Bernard et al.
In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 735, 139393, 15.09.2020.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Song, X., Razavi, B. S., Ludwig, B., Zamanian, K., Zang, H., Kuzyakov, Y., Dippold, M. A., & Gunina, A. (2020). Combined biochar and nitrogen application stimulates enzyme activity and root plasticity. Science of the Total Environment, 735, Article 139393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139393
Song X, Razavi BS, Ludwig B, Zamanian K, Zang H, Kuzyakov Y et al. Combined biochar and nitrogen application stimulates enzyme activity and root plasticity. Science of the Total Environment. 2020 Sept 15;735:139393. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139393
Song, Xiaona ; Razavi, Bahar S. ; Ludwig, Bernard et al. / Combined biochar and nitrogen application stimulates enzyme activity and root plasticity. In: Science of the Total Environment. 2020 ; Vol. 735.
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AU - Song, Xiaona

AU - Razavi, Bahar S.

AU - Ludwig, Bernard

AU - Zamanian, Kazem

AU - Zang, Huadong

AU - Kuzyakov, Yakov

AU - Dippold, Michaela A.

AU - Gunina, Anna

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2020/9/15

Y1 - 2020/9/15

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