Assessment of Carbon and Nitrogen Budgets for Biochar Amended Soils in Corn-Soybean Rotation System.

Assessment of Carbon and Nitrogen Budgets for Biochar Amended Soils in Corn-Soybean Rotation System

Rajesh Chintala*, Eric Mbonimpa, Thomas Schumacher, Sandeep Kumar, David Clay, Stephanie Hansen, Douglas Malo

Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University,  

Brookings, South Dakota, USA

In the context of global climate change, sustainable agronomic management approaches are necessary to maintain or improve the soil stocks of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) to secure long-term soil health and improved crop productivity. The incorporation of biochar materials to soil has been found to be a promising sustainable farming practice to stabilize the soil C and N stocks. A field study has been initiated to investigate the impact of biochars on C and N budgets of corn-soybean rotation system. Three biochar types were produced from corn stover (Zea mays L.), Pondeorosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Lawson and C. Lawson) wood residue, and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) using carbon optimized gasification. Biochars were applied at 1% rate (0-3 inches soil depth) to Maddock soil (Sandy, Mixed, Frigid Entic Hapludolls) of an eroded upper landscape position and a Brookings soil (Fine-Silty, Mixed, Superactive, Frigid Pachic Hapludolls) of depositional landscape position under corn-soybean rotation. Annual C and N input, output, and net input were determined using the data of  above- and below-ground primary production, plant uptake of N, soil C and N storage (microbial biomass, d¹³C, and d¹⁵N) , and gaseous N losses.

Contact: Rajesh Chintala, Department of Plant Science, SNP 247, Box 2140c, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57006. Email: rajesh.chintala@sdstate.edu