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The effect of wheat-straw derived biochar on the soil pH and emissions of CO2 and CH4 from tea garden soil
Received:June 20, 2017  
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KeyWord:tea garden;urea;wheat-straw derived biochar;pH;CO2;CH4
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
JIANG Meng-die College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China  
HE Zhi-long College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China  
SUN Yun College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China  
ZHOU Wei College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China  
HU Rong-gui College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Ecological Environment Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China 
 
LIN Shan College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China linshan@mail.hzau.edu.cn 
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Abstract:
      Laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effect of biochar addition on the amelioration of acidified tea garden soil and the resultant greenhouse gas emissions. Different amounts of wheat-straw derived biochar(no biochar(B0):0 g·kg-1; low biochar(B1):10 g·kg-1; medium biochar(B2):30 g·kg-1; and high biochar(B3):50 g·kg-1; with or without urea(N or N0)) were added to tea garden soil. The effects of these biochar additions on soil pH, as well as CO2 and CH4 emissions was measured. The results indicate that the addition of biochar significantly improved the acidified tea garden soil pH(P<0.05). The soil pH was found to increase with an increasing application rate of biochar, with the soil pH value for N0B1, N0B2, and N0B3 increasing by 0.18, 0.53, and 1.06, respectively. A high biochar(B3) application rate resulted in higher cumulative emissions of CO2 and CH4. A 3% addition of biochar was enough to improve soil pH within a short period of time. When biochar was combined with urea for addition to the soil, higher soil pH values and CO2 emissions were observed, while CH4 emissions were inhibited compared to biochar addition alone. Therefore, the addition of biochar has a more positive effect on the amelioration of acidic soils when soil acidification is not serious. A lower addition rate of biochar is recommended to improve soil pH, while decreasing the emission of greenhouse gases.