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Article << Previous     |     Next >>   Contents Vol 50(3)

Clay and biochar amendments decreased inorganic but not dissolved organic nitrogen leaching in soil

Daniel N. Dempster A C, Davey L. Jones B and Daniel V. Murphy A

A Soil Biology Group, School of Earth and Environment, UWA Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
B Environment Centre Wales, Bangor University, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.
C Corresponding author. Email: dempster.dn@gmail.com

Soil Research 50(3) 216-221 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/SR11316
Submitted: 29 November 2011  Accepted: 29 March 2012   Published: 25 May 2012


 
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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) leaching from coarse-textured soils frequently leads to productivity losses and negative environmental consequences. Historically, clay amendment has been used on coarse-textured soils to decrease water repellence and nutrient leaching. More recently, biochar has been proposed as an alternative soil amendment to decrease N leaching while simultaneously storing carbon. As biochar has a greater nutrient-retention capacity, we hypothesised that biochar derived from Eucalyptus marginata would be a more effective amendment than clay at minimising N leaching. The soil used was a coarse-textured agricultural sand with the following treatments: (1) biochar incorporated homogenously into the 0–10 cm soil layer, (2) clay incorporated similarly, (3) biochar added as a layer at 10 cm depth, (4) clay added similarly, or (5) a control. Amendments were added at 25 t/ha and watered periodically over 21 days and watered with the equivalent to 30 mm. Clay and biochar amendments significantly decreased cumulative NH4+ leaching by ~20% and NO3 leaching by 25%. Biochar decreased NO3 leaching significantly more than clay, possibly due to decreased nitrification. Dissolved organic N leaching was not influenced by any treatment. Leaching of N was unaffected by amendment application method. We conclude that to decrease N leaching, land managers should apply the most readily available of the amendments in the most convenient manner.

Additional keywords: black carbon, charcoal, dissolved organic nitrogen, DON, mineralisation.


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